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
autp17
@autp17
@autp17
Posts: 23
Joined: Nov 16, 2020
Just curious. Was this covered by insurance or did you have to pay out of pocket?
It is covered by Medicare because it like an adjustment plus the a.r.t.
What are they going to do on the revision surgery to mediate the tightness in the knees? I have the same issue with my knees that were replaced in 2017.
I have been trying knee squats to help with strength in knee area but I have had extreme pain around the knee in the process. I'm desperately trying to find a solution
Same thing happened to me when I did knee squats.Try the leg press machine at a guy .Don’t go all the way down with it.Also try the leg abductor and adductor machine.Put your back against a wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it for as long as you can.Do straight leg raises while sitting in a chair or lying on your back.These are the exercises my surgeon gave me in lue of squats .
Liked by John, Volunteer Mentor, JK, Alumna Mentor
autp17
@autp17
@autp17
Posts: 23
Joined: Nov 16, 2020
Hello everyone.Its Chicken has Lips . TKR a year
ago . Severely bothered by ITBand Syndrome from
eight weeks on . In the last six’s weeks it’s gotten
dramatically better. On the advice of my surgeon,I
rode a bike or recumbent one 2-3 days a week, lifted weights 2-3 times a week to build up the leg muscles.And I have added muscle and strength to balance the knee.Also , I got fitted for orthotics. I think that helped a lot too .Before that regimen I tried stretching,ultrasound and PT . I think strengthening the quads and adductor muscles were critical. Good Luck
I had a TKR 18 weeks ago and have had IT Band Syndrome from day one. I found Active Release Technique (ART) which has helped me. They focus on the hip and IT Band. After 1 treatment I have improved. I will need at least 4 treatments. Check into this if you are still having the problem.
JK, Alumna Mentor
@contentandwell
@contentandwell
Posts: 6578
Joined: Feb 18, 2017
Same thing happened to me when I did knee squats.Try the leg press machine at a guy .Don’t go all the way down with it.Also try the leg abductor and adductor machine.Put your back against a wall and slide down into a sitting position and hold it for as long as you can.Do straight leg raises while sitting in a chair or lying on your back.These are the exercises my surgeon gave me in lue of squats .
@chickenhaslips I have been told both by my orthopedist and my physical therapist to not use the leg press. That was confirmed in an article that I recently read on what to not use at the gym. It puts too much pressure on your spine. I thought it would be ideal after a knee replacement to help with my flex but both of those professionals were adamantly against its use.
The other things suggested all sound helpful though.
JK
ruthannejoan
@ruthannejoan
@ruthannejoan
Posts: 30
Joined: Mar 04, 2020
I had a TKR 18 weeks ago and have had IT Band Syndrome from day one. I found Active Release Technique (ART) which has helped me. They focus on the hip and IT Band. After 1 treatment I have improved. I will need at least 4 treatments. Check into this if you are still having the problem.
Great news
sprinrosa64
@sprinrosa64
@sprinrosa64
Posts: 59
Joined: Nov 23, 2020
I am 19 months post TKR surgery. The surgery went well. I have great ROM. But, from the beginning I have had a tight band feeling just under my knee, and a compressed feeling in my calf muscle. Feels like I have on the tightest knee sock imaginable with a tourniquet for a top band. I was prescribed gabapentin, didn’t help. I went through PT 3x trying different things to treat this, including astym and dry needling. I still have bruised areas on my leg and it’s been 7 months since the last session. My surgeon and PT have not been able to explain the what or why of this phenomenon. But was told at my one year appointment that there was a good chance I would just have to live with this. It takes a great deal of mental energy to rise above this pain to have a productive day. I am a 65 yr old female. Anyone else out there have any information or tips for dealing with this?
Not sure how you are doing now but this sounds like my story. TKR 2018 revision 2020 and still those PAINFUL TIGHT bands. New doctor tells me it’s nerve damage from 1st surgery. Still working to correct it. No other choice. 64 yrs old and I just want to walk up the street without tear producing pain
Liked by scgraham
Not sure how you are doing now but this sounds like my story. TKR 2018 revision 2020 and still those PAINFUL TIGHT bands. New doctor tells me it’s nerve damage from 1st surgery. Still working to correct it. No other choice. 64 yrs old and I just want to walk up the street without tear producing pain
I feel badly for all of you still experiencing pain. My TKR was six months ago and have had tight band feeling ever since, but not the pain you describe. I’m trying to adjust to it. I believe it has to do with nerve damage, as I initially had a couple days of drop foot following surgery and foot tingling for months. Fortunately both of those are better. Doctors need to do a better job beforehand explaining risks, along with % who suffer from them. I know I would have given even more consideration to this operation than I did had I known what I know now. I hope you find relief.
ruthannejoan
@ruthannejoan
@ruthannejoan
Posts: 30
Joined: Mar 04, 2020
I feel badly for all of you still experiencing pain. My TKR was six months ago and have had tight band feeling ever since, but not the pain you describe. I’m trying to adjust to it. I believe it has to do with nerve damage, as I initially had a couple days of drop foot following surgery and foot tingling for months. Fortunately both of those are better. Doctors need to do a better job beforehand explaining risks, along with % who suffer from them. I know I would have given even more consideration to this operation than I did had I known what I know now. I hope you find relief.
Absolutely right….my TKR is coming up on a year and I still experience the same thing although it is somewhat becoming less, it is not something I was expecting post surgery. My husband never had anything like this and that was what I was expecting. I will not say I regret having the surgery, but I cannot say I am glad I had it. The thing that I do have improvement is there is stability I didnt have before. I can walj better, but not for great lengths of time. My Dr said it may not be optimal healing for maybe another 6 months. Nerve damage/trauma is not discussed, if at all, and should be as it is a potential.
I am 19 months post TKR surgery. The surgery went well. I have great ROM. But, from the beginning I have had a tight band feeling just under my knee, and a compressed feeling in my calf muscle. Feels like I have on the tightest knee sock imaginable with a tourniquet for a top band. I was prescribed gabapentin, didn’t help. I went through PT 3x trying different things to treat this, including astym and dry needling. I still have bruised areas on my leg and it’s been 7 months since the last session. My surgeon and PT have not been able to explain the what or why of this phenomenon. But was told at my one year appointment that there was a good chance I would just have to live with this. It takes a great deal of mental energy to rise above this pain to have a productive day. I am a 65 yr old female. Anyone else out there have any information or tips for dealing with this?
I’m 1.5 years post op on the TKR of my left knee and 6 months post op of my right knee. My knees also feel tight and heavy…like I have a 3 lb weight attached to each knee. My left one was feeling this same way when I had the surgery on my right knee. I mentioned it to my surgeon just before the surgery and he decided to manipulate the left one while I was under for the surgery. He told my husband there was a significant amount of scar tissue. It felt great…loose and not heavy afterwards. But it didn’t last. I’m seeing him again next week to see what he thinks. I went through PT each time and had good ROM when I was done but I guess I must not have been aggressive enough after I was released from PT. How long can scar tissue form after surgery?
Liked by scgraham
@mhort1213 I am also 10 weeks post surgery from bilateral TKR and have this banding I continue to be concerned with. I am 2 weeks out from MUA because I could not get pass 90 degrees on both knees at 6 weeks. I am an over creator of scar tissue, nothing to do with how hard I have worked on PT. My PT and surgeon tell me it will get better, but hearing from @scgraham makes we want to seek a second opinion on the tight banding I feel on both knees.
Did you have tightness and heaviness feeling before your MUA? I had the tightness and heaviness in my left knee. Had an MUA while I was under having my right knee replaced and it felt great afterwards for a few weeks. Dr said there was a significant amount of scar tissue even though I had recovered my ROM back to 124 just prior to the surgery. Then it tightened back up. Considering a clean out of scar tissue.
Have an appointment with my surgeon this coming Monday.
sprinrosa64
@sprinrosa64
@sprinrosa64
Posts: 59
Joined: Nov 23, 2020
as i have posted I had TKR Oct 2018 and have been terrible pain since. Different doctor tried revision, giving me no promises, this didn't change a thing other than better ROM, in the last 2yrs Ihave tried every shot,nothing. So in the beginning of Jan. I tried STEMWAVE IMPLANTS to block pain signal, well I am told I am their 1st person that it did nothing for. Actual seemed worse for a few days after removal. My advice DO YOUR RESEARCH, AND THE SEARCH CONTINUES , I WHAT TO TAKE A WALK
scgraham
@scgraham
@scgraham
Posts: 23
Joined: Mar 11, 2019
I am your age and 3.5 months out bilat knee replacement. I have tight band over left lateral knee and feels like knee cap gets pulled to the left with bending. It’s always there and while I can walk 2.5 miles near the end the band sensation is worse and have to increase effort and push with my hands on upper knee area to get it to bend to get in a car. I can get 123 for bend on that side with effort and stretching. Still do daily exercises by PT was going to try massage but canceled after 1 session due to COVID. PT told me to bend it and massage-above knee from knee to thigh to try and stretch the fascia. Can’t say anything has worked. Surgeon says it will go away. I’m beginning to think nerve damage. I hope it goes away but hearing from you and others not sure I trust that it will go away. Happy I can walk though and I can garden but not the way I used to. Takes more effort to find a position to do things and then getting up is very difficult. On the plus side I have built up my arm strength. Very disappointed that surgeon is not more up front about this type of outcome for some patients and is not aware that this problem doesn’t go away for some as I learned on this site. I wonder if the nerve block or the tourniquet used during surgery caused permanent damage.
I’ve wondered the same thing about the nerve block or tourniquet. I’m now 3 years and 4 months since my surgery, and no change on the tight band feeling and the feeling of a compressed lower leg. I’ve tried massage and myofacia release. It feels better while I’m laying there. As soon as I’m up on walking the pain returns immediately. In fact the longer I walk the more it hurts. I did not pursue nerve ablation because I heard many say it only helped a month or so, or required numerous treatments or worse, created new problems.
I’m resigned to living with this. I’ve had right and left total hip replacements with no problems whatsoever. So there’s that to be thankful for.
scgraham
@scgraham
@scgraham
Posts: 23
Joined: Mar 11, 2019
I’m 1.5 years post op on the TKR of my left knee and 6 months post op of my right knee. My knees also feel tight and heavy…like I have a 3 lb weight attached to each knee. My left one was feeling this same way when I had the surgery on my right knee. I mentioned it to my surgeon just before the surgery and he decided to manipulate the left one while I was under for the surgery. He told my husband there was a significant amount of scar tissue. It felt great…loose and not heavy afterwards. But it didn’t last. I’m seeing him again next week to see what he thinks. I went through PT each time and had good ROM when I was done but I guess I must not have been aggressive enough after I was released from PT. How long can scar tissue form after surgery?
I wish I knew something that would help. I’m 3 years and 4 months out now, and no change in the tight band feeling or the tight compression feeling in my lower leg area. I’m convinced that it is nerve damage. All surgeries have risks of complications. I’ve had both hips replaced with no complications. So go figure.
I do mention the fact that this tight band feeling is still there every time I see my doctor, in hopes that maybe there is some miracle cure for it now. I stay busy and try really hard not to acknowledge the pain as I go through the day. I’m grateful that my knee does work.
Hoping that you find something that will help you. 🙏🏼
@judybearden1
Just curious. Was this covered by insurance or did you have to pay out of pocket?