mhort1213
@mhort1213
@mhort1213
Posts: 31
Joined: Feb 26, 2019
Has anyone had a tight band feeling after total knee replacement?
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?
Liked by ssbionicknee
I've read all the posts here and I still have the band 8 months after TKR. My next step is steroid injections. I'm wondering IF this has ever worked for anyone? If yes, how long did it take for relief and was it permanent.
To my knowledge steroid injections give temporary benefit only.I have had them in my shoulder and elbow
I've read all the posts here and I still have the band 8 months after TKR. My next step is steroid injections. I'm wondering IF this has ever worked for anyone? If yes, how long did it take for relief and was it permanent.
Because of the band I have had steroid injections to help with my scar tissue. I took the injection after nearly 9 months. After 6 weeks I took the second one and the steroid has helped a lot. I had to go to the Dermatologist to take the steroid injections. I was not aware of this and my surgeon told me every time it will pass off and it was getting worse. I googled online and I asked my surgeon and then he tells me yes you can take the steroid and it should help. For my second knee I took the steroid after three months and I am doing so much better with only one injection. I may not require a second shot. The Dermatologist told me the chances are 5 to 10% the scar tissue can come back.
I've read all the posts here and I still have the band 8 months after TKR. My next step is steroid injections. I'm wondering IF this has ever worked for anyone? If yes, how long did it take for relief and was it permanent.
I think the steroid injections you take in the shoulder or elbow are different. I have taken those and they have helped me a lot. But, after sometime they don't have any effect. The steroids I took for the knees are just beneath the skin. They are not injected in the flesh. That is why you have to go to a Dermatologist.
Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor
@artscaping
@artscaping
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Joined: Jul 11, 2017
Thank you @jnoronha for sharing your experiences with steroids with the group and with @judybearden1. I am glad they worked for you and that you were able to use that first experiment to support the second TKR.
May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
My best
Chris
Liked by Amanda, Connect Moderator
clbs
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Posts: 25
Joined: Feb 06, 2020
Because of the band I have had steroid injections to help with my scar tissue. I took the injection after nearly 9 months. After 6 weeks I took the second one and the steroid has helped a lot. I had to go to the Dermatologist to take the steroid injections. I was not aware of this and my surgeon told me every time it will pass off and it was getting worse. I googled online and I asked my surgeon and then he tells me yes you can take the steroid and it should help. For my second knee I took the steroid after three months and I am doing so much better with only one injection. I may not require a second shot. The Dermatologist told me the chances are 5 to 10% the scar tissue can come back.
Very interesting! Where exactly did your dermatologist inject the steroids?
Because of the band I have had steroid injections to help with my scar tissue. I took the injection after nearly 9 months. After 6 weeks I took the second one and the steroid has helped a lot. I had to go to the Dermatologist to take the steroid injections. I was not aware of this and my surgeon told me every time it will pass off and it was getting worse. I googled online and I asked my surgeon and then he tells me yes you can take the steroid and it should help. For my second knee I took the steroid after three months and I am doing so much better with only one injection. I may not require a second shot. The Dermatologist told me the chances are 5 to 10% the scar tissue can come back.
That's interesting that you had to go to a dermatologist. My ortho said "he" could do it in the office. The more interesting part is that I described my problem to the dermatologist two weeks ago, and she said that was an entire different body part. Muscles vs skin and she didn't have any advice. Can you provide any more info on the shot? Similar to one you receive in your arm? Or like the injection you get "into" your knee for lubrication? TIA
Hi Judybearden1: This steroid injection is totally different. My surgeon also told me he would give. I opted not to take it with him. I doubt he knew how to give it. First of all he did not know about it. He talked to his friend doctor who told him that I need to see a dermatologist who will give me a steroid. Now, mind you, this was all because I had developed a scar keloid. My nurse friend brought it to my attention. Until then I did not know about it and when I asked my surgeon he told me it take a year to 18 months to heal. When I told him it was a keloid he contacted his friend to find out what it is.
This steroid is, as I mentioned, given in the skin, not only in one place but three places or so depending on how big the scar is. I got three pokes at a distance of about an inch and half on one knee and the same with the other. The dermatologist releases the medication little at a time on each spot. It is given just in the top layer of the skin. You can actually see the needle under the skin. So, this is not like the steroid injection that you take in your shoulder or knee before TKR, etc. which is usually one poke and you are done.
This steroid injection has helped me to bend my knee a little better, walk better and the warm feeling and numbness has reduced though not totally gone which according to the surgeon will take a year to 18 months. I had gone to another ortho surgeon for a second opinion and he told me the numbness is permanent. I don't know which surgeon to believe.
Overall, I am feeling much better although the pain has not completely gone in my left knee which was done a year ago, on Oct. 30th 2019. The second knee was done on May 20, 2020 and the pain is not totally gone but it is getting better. I feel it is too early to expect total no pain in comparison with my left knee. I walk every day for 1/2 hour, I work in the yard, do household chores, etc.
clbs
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Joined: Feb 06, 2020
Hi Judybearden1: This steroid injection is totally different. My surgeon also told me he would give. I opted not to take it with him. I doubt he knew how to give it. First of all he did not know about it. He talked to his friend doctor who told him that I need to see a dermatologist who will give me a steroid. Now, mind you, this was all because I had developed a scar keloid. My nurse friend brought it to my attention. Until then I did not know about it and when I asked my surgeon he told me it take a year to 18 months to heal. When I told him it was a keloid he contacted his friend to find out what it is.
This steroid is, as I mentioned, given in the skin, not only in one place but three places or so depending on how big the scar is. I got three pokes at a distance of about an inch and half on one knee and the same with the other. The dermatologist releases the medication little at a time on each spot. It is given just in the top layer of the skin. You can actually see the needle under the skin. So, this is not like the steroid injection that you take in your shoulder or knee before TKR, etc. which is usually one poke and you are done.
This steroid injection has helped me to bend my knee a little better, walk better and the warm feeling and numbness has reduced though not totally gone which according to the surgeon will take a year to 18 months. I had gone to another ortho surgeon for a second opinion and he told me the numbness is permanent. I don't know which surgeon to believe.
Overall, I am feeling much better although the pain has not completely gone in my left knee which was done a year ago, on Oct. 30th 2019. The second knee was done on May 20, 2020 and the pain is not totally gone but it is getting better. I feel it is too early to expect total no pain in comparison with my left knee. I walk every day for 1/2 hour, I work in the yard, do household chores, etc.
Almost my entire right leg is numb from the knee to the ankle and my TKR was January 2019. Pretty sure it’s not going away. And your tight band feeling is in the scar area? I have that feeling, too, but it not anywhere near the surgical scar so perhaps, your issue is different than mine. Maybe steroids wouldn’t be the answer in my case…
ruthannejoan
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Joined: Mar 04, 2020
Almost my entire right leg is numb from the knee to the ankle and my TKR was January 2019. Pretty sure it’s not going away. And your tight band feeling is in the scar area? I have that feeling, too, but it not anywhere near the surgical scar so perhaps, your issue is different than mine. Maybe steroids wouldn’t be the answer in my case…
I also have the same tight nimbness in lower leg. Surgery was Jan 2020.
I am beginning to think the problem is more of a peronial nerve issue. I do not have foot drop, thankfully. No actual knee pain. If it truly is nerve trauma, there may still be a small hope for at least some reduction of this feeling.
I have wondered if the tourniquet used during surgery to control loss of blood and to keep the surgical field dry, may be the predominate cause as my sciatic nerve was screaming for about 3 months post surgery- the nerve bifurcates and also becomes the peronial nerve which also serves the lower leg. No dr has given me a yay or nay answer in that direction though. Hopefully taking B vitamins will help nerve healing. At least I had no infection and I can walk.
sweede536
@sweede536
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Posts: 70
Joined: Jan 20, 2020
I also have the same tight nimbness in lower leg. Surgery was Jan 2020.
I am beginning to think the problem is more of a peronial nerve issue. I do not have foot drop, thankfully. No actual knee pain. If it truly is nerve trauma, there may still be a small hope for at least some reduction of this feeling.
I have wondered if the tourniquet used during surgery to control loss of blood and to keep the surgical field dry, may be the predominate cause as my sciatic nerve was screaming for about 3 months post surgery- the nerve bifurcates and also becomes the peronial nerve which also serves the lower leg. No dr has given me a yay or nay answer in that direction though. Hopefully taking B vitamins will help nerve healing. At least I had no infection and I can walk.
I've had a tight band problem for 5 years!!! I've had nerve shots, rehad twice and more shots, nothing has worked.
I am going to have my RH replaced soon. My surgeon says he thinks it my bad hip now. He thinks when its replaced the tightness will go away. Says bad joint can cause unevenness and can cause the pain. I sure hope, living with this horrible dull tight pain for all these years has made my life miserable!
I 1 qss 1ea 1q111111¹
always thought this was a rear problem the way my doctor talked but theres a lot of this, yes no surgeon can say what causes it! I think these doctors need to devote more time in researching this problem
I've had a tight band problem for 5 years!!! I've had nerve shots, rehad twice and more shots, nothing has worked.
I am going to have my RH replaced soon. My surgeon says he thinks it my bad hip now. He thinks when its replaced the tightness will go away. Says bad joint can cause unevenness and can cause the pain. I sure hope, living with this horrible dull tight pain for all these years has made my life miserable!
I 1 qss 1ea 1q111111¹
always thought this was a rear problem the way my doctor talked but theres a lot of this, yes no surgeon can say what causes it! I think these doctors need to devote more time in researching this problem
It’s Chickenhaslips again.I gave a recommendation October 26 ,2020 .I stated the biking and weights to build up the guards ,hamstrings and adductor,abductors had helped.They have continued to help me.Has anyone else had this experience? I had a significant case of IT Band .It’s not totally gone but much improved.No more clicking or pain going up and down stairs.You really lose a lot of muscle mass with the operation.Need to build it back to balance the leg muscles and take pressure off the IT Band . Like to hear from people with a similar experience
@artscaping
@chickenhaslips Thank you for this positive information about the interference of the IT Band issue. I wish everyone had a surgeon who was hanging in there with you through the healing process. Hat’s off to you for your diligence as a patient.
May you be happy and free today.
Chris
PS…..I am framing this one!