Has anyone had a tight band feeling after total knee replacement?

Posted by mhort1213 @mhort1213, Feb 28, 2019

I am 8 weeks post TKR and have had this very tight band around my knee since week one. My Dr at 6 wks says it is normal and will go away. Has anyone else had this and did it go away and when?

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@deedar

Yes. I'm a little over one year TKR and still have the tight band feeling. I also have arthrofibrosis (dammit) which I suspect is the cause of my tight band feeling. I don't know this for certain, but I believe it to be true. Good luck!

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Lots of folks have tight band after a year. I do. It's usually just a regular consequence of the surgery.

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I had a TKR 10 months ago and today I played doubles tennis. I couldn't play nearly as well as I did before, but at least I played.

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I think most TKR folks have a tight band feeling. I'm at 10 months and have it.

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I’m at 4 years and still have it. Have tried every medically accepted procedure to alleviate it. Have never been officially told what it is, what caused it, etc. I think it’s just one of those side effects of surgery that happen to a very small percentage of patients.

I do have great range of motion and strength. So, have learned to be thankful for what worked well, and try not to think about what didn’t go well. That’s life.

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Knee and foot tightness for 2 1/2 years now.
ljn

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@scgraham

I’m at 4 years and still have it. Have tried every medically accepted procedure to alleviate it. Have never been officially told what it is, what caused it, etc. I think it’s just one of those side effects of surgery that happen to a very small percentage of patients.

I do have great range of motion and strength. So, have learned to be thankful for what worked well, and try not to think about what didn’t go well. That’s life.

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It may be true for a substantial number of folks who have had a TKR.

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@rickraleigh

It may be true for a substantial number of folks who have had a TKR.

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True. It seems many people on this site have this side effect from TKR. It would be helpful if before TKR a patient could be informed of common after effects. The part that was frustrating to me the first year of my recovery was the complete lack of information on this phenomenon.

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@scgraham

True. It seems many people on this site have this side effect from TKR. It would be helpful if before TKR a patient could be informed of common after effects. The part that was frustrating to me the first year of my recovery was the complete lack of information on this phenomenon.

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Well, I think if surgeons told folks everything about side effects, complications, etc., a lot fewer of them would get TKRs.

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@scgraham

I’m at 4 years and still have it. Have tried every medically accepted procedure to alleviate it. Have never been officially told what it is, what caused it, etc. I think it’s just one of those side effects of surgery that happen to a very small percentage of patients.

I do have great range of motion and strength. So, have learned to be thankful for what worked well, and try not to think about what didn’t go well. That’s life.

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I have had arthrofibrosis (scar tissue) and that tight band feeling for four years. Had an MUA (manipulation under anesthesia). That, along with intensive P.T. got me to 110 degrees for a week. Three months later had another MUA but with a scope. When the Dr. saw how much scar tissue was in there he performed lysis of adhesions. Again, daily P.T. for a month. It helped somewhat, but the knee is still not nearly what I would like. Maybe 90 degrees. Try to find an AF specialist in your area. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a magical pill or surgery to help those of us with scarring.

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@dduke

I have had arthrofibrosis (scar tissue) and that tight band feeling for four years. Had an MUA (manipulation under anesthesia). That, along with intensive P.T. got me to 110 degrees for a week. Three months later had another MUA but with a scope. When the Dr. saw how much scar tissue was in there he performed lysis of adhesions. Again, daily P.T. for a month. It helped somewhat, but the knee is still not nearly what I would like. Maybe 90 degrees. Try to find an AF specialist in your area. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a magical pill or surgery to help those of us with scarring.

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I forgot to add this link about arthrofibrosis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4246397/

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