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

Hello, this is my first post about post op tkr pain. I am about 11 months out and still experiencing significant pain all around knee, especially exterior side. I had a diagnostic test for nerve ablation and pain doctor said I have a 50:50 chance the ablation will work. Meanwhile I use diflocanec gel 3x/day, cbd cream at night, ice 2-3x/day, Tylenol before exercise, Lyrica at night to calm the nerves, massage, wear heavy sleeve on leg/knee almost all the time, hot tub almost every day. I used to cycle 100 miles a week but now maybe 40 and then have more pain. swimming doesn’t hurt as much but it’s pretty isolating. Hoping the ablation gives me some relief. Then wait and see how year 2 goes.

Welcome @mpirruccel, Sorry to hear you are still experiencing a lot of pain all around the knee after a year since your knee replacement. It sounds like the doctor thinks the pain is due to a damaged nerve. I hope the nerve ablation provides relief from the pain. I used an exercise bike after my TKR and still use it for 30 to 45 minutes a day for 4 to 5 days a week. It really helped with my knee. You mentioned you used to cycle 100 miles a week but now 40 and then you have more pain. Do you do other leg strengthening and flexibility exercises in addition to the cycling? Are you scheduled to have the nerve ablation soon?

Sorry to hear. Sounds grim.

And yet, the medical system tends to see numbness from surgical incision transverse nerve severing as a trivial, temporary problem. They perceive it as just a bit of numb skin - they fail to comprehend that the brain of sensitive people can see it as an alarming loss of feeling and create a tightening around the area as protect. Akin to the initial swelling. following surgery. But the tightness is accompanied with pain and also can damage movement - the brain can then fail to connect this consequence with the tightening it is doing. So it sees a further reason to hold tight.

Chronic pain is often caught in such feedback loops. After partial knee surgery 15 months ago the numbness and tightness and derailing of kneecap when moving persist. But I play tennis - walking not running - and just override my feelings. Then things can calm down. Catastrophising or feeling scare can create an additional amplifying feedback mechanism.

I am tapping and stretching and rubbing the numb area every day multiple times. For sure there is nerve tingling beyond the scar line so I feel that it can hopefully help it extend further.

My knee hasn't been to bad this week but yesterday and today it seems to be extra stiff, I can feel the knee kinda crunching if that's the correct word, not really painfull just doesn't appear to want to bend much, I'm continuing with everything exercises etc, is this normal will it loosen up tomorrow or soon.?

My knee hasn't been to bad this week but yesterday and today it seems to be extra stiff, I can feel the knee kinda crunching if that's the correct word, not really painfull just doesn't appear to want to bend much, I'm continuing with everything exercises etc, is this normal will it loosen up tomorrow or soon.?

I am 11 months out and unfortunately knee is always painful. My knee clunks most but not all of time though not pain related. Seeing a new PT tomorrow for myofascial release therapy and anything else he may try to help. Keep up with your exercises as they will keep your mobility.

I am 11 months out and unfortunately knee is always painful. My knee clunks most but not all of time though not pain related. Seeing a new PT tomorrow for myofascial release therapy and anything else he may try to help. Keep up with your exercises as they will keep your mobility.

Sounds similar to myself. I can go a week with tight clicking knee state. And other times a week with much looser knee. See no pattern determining this. I am 65 and still play tennis. I do not dare run. But can read well enough to walk to most shots. Yesterday knee very tight and clicky and painful. Ended up rallying with a man in his 30s with powerful and consistent technique. Was so engrossed in hitting the ball that I found the knee state receded. Rotated - I think off the ground - to get good speed through the ball. And was matching this man's pace even if not the consistency. It was supremely energising and exciting. And the knee at the end seemed much in the same state as at the start but less so. A lot of the psychology of pain is about body image - if we sense all is fine the pain level reduces. If we catastrophise, it can increase. Hope this rambling essay makes some sense.