IT band syndrome after knee replacement

I have had bilateral TKA's (RT knee = 7/2020) & (LT knee = 9/2020). By Jan. 2021, I was back running about 6 miles every other day with no problem. I'm 75 years old & have been a runner all my life. The first problem I had with IT band pain was in my RT knee 11 mos after the 7/2020 surgery and was brought on by doing hill work. The RT knee pain was pretty bad. I quit running. Then the IT band pain started in my left knee, but was not so severe. The problem I'm told is that before the TKA's, with no articular cartilage in your knee, the IT band tightens/shortens to compensate. Then after the TKA, the prosthesis they put in your knee makes the knee joint about the same as a normal knee would be, but now the IT band is too tight. I'm told it's a relatively normal problem and will go away eventually. Now I'm 3 1/2 months since the onset of the pain & it hasn't disappeared completely. A DPM told me my running shoes were to blame, i.e. the midsole was not stiff enough & I was overly pronating. I bought the correct shoes, exercised my gluteus medius, and am doing IT band stretching exercises every day. I am back running 2 miles every other day & am not in pain per se, but my knees still feel a little tight. I asked the surgeon's office to send in a PT order & I start tomorrow. I've read articles of people having the same problem, even 1 1/2 years after the surgery, and it took 4+ months for the problem to finally resolve itself. One thing I've been told is to keep yourself limber, do the right exercises as much as possible, & don't sit for too long. Good Luck. Virginia

What is “IT” band pain?

What is TKA?

Total Knee Replacement

I would like to know where this Dr. is.. I have had pain with every step 4 plus years. Can't find anyone to help. Lateral pain in knee. Walking is hard. Had a nerve block. Didn't help. Have had 2 knee replacements on same knee. I'm pretty sure it is IT band but all the Drs I have been to don't seem to be able to help.

@judyangel Good afternoon. Just a thought about the IT band syndrome. While the band is not muscle tissue it can be stretched by what is called MFR or Myofascial Release Therapy. The treatment is the same as used on scar tissue. If you have not explored this type of treatment, it may be worth your while. It may be helpful for you to get a cyber visit from @jenniferhunter. She can zero in on just what you might expect.

May you have release from pain and discomfort.
Chris

@judyangel if I recall correctly the doctor was either at Brigham and Women’s in Boston, or Beth Israel, also in Boston. Unfortunately I do not remember the doctor’s name.

Her problem turned out to be that the rod or whatever it is that comes out of the prosthesis was too long.
JK

Thanks for the info. As I live in CA this would not help me. My MRI didn't show anything like that and that my knee was in perfect position. I don't know why the nerve block hasn't helped either. Thanks JL

@judyangel Hello Judy, Chris and I are both believers in myofascial release. My physical therapist has stretched my IT bands before and she had to be a bit more aggressive at it because it is a large tight band, but it did help. She does a lot of MFR work on me chasing down all the tight places that are pulling this out of alignment or preventing normal movements. You may want o look at our MFR discussion. The first pages have a lot of links to information and videos to watch.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/
If you want to search for a John Barnes trained provider, you may at this link. http://mfrtherapists.com/

Does MFR sound like something you may wish to explore?

Thanks for your reply. I have always heard and read that the IT Band cannot be stretched. I have not been to a professional but my daughter-in-law who is a physical therapist has tried to help me with that, although she lives far away and don't see her very often.. I will have to find someone here. Thanks again JL