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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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ert | @ert | Aug 6, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @bwilson1114, as you can see from the helpful replies from @vgen and @sprinrosa64, you are..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @bwilson1114, as you can see from the helpful replies from @vgen and @sprinrosa64, you are not alone in feeling this tightness. In fact, I moved your post to this existing discussion:
- Has anyone had a tight band feeling after total knee replacement? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-a-tight-band-feeling-after-total-knee-replacement/

I did this so you can read the previous post and connect with members easily. How long ago was your knee replacement? Have you started rehab?

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My knee replacement was 8 weeks ago. Been doing PT since day 2. Tight band just started last week.

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1 reply
brescher | @brescher | Aug 6, 2023
In reply to @ert "Glad the tight band is getting better for you. It took me by surprise. Had no..." + (show)
@ert

Glad the tight band is getting better for you. It took me by surprise. Had no idea it might last so long. Any tips for extra exercise: comfort?

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I walk 2 to 4 miles 4 days a week …
Sit in chair and with the opposite leg, push TKR leg back and just stretch the front of leg/ knee…. Or put leg on stairway and lean into it, again, to stretch….

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40brewster | @40brewster | Aug 6, 2023
In reply to @jlf2 "I had my knee replacement Feb last year and I have tight in my knee to..." + (show)
@jlf2

I had my knee replacement Feb last year and I have tight in my knee to this and pain and stiffness.
I have talked to my doctor about this
his response was well at least you can walk
I was not able to walk with out a walker befor my surgery ,they let it get that bad befor they done anything about it for me

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Had tkr both knees 7 years ago kept on going to Docs (8 of them same reply x ray and knees look good had graduated from Cain,Walker and rolatetor .wife got brain sick (can't spell worth a dam) both went to assisted living were I fell in the bathroom broke tibeya that did it been in wheel chair 18 months went to pain management and they gave 3 cortisone each knee nothing happened except I got stiffer going to try 1 more time on 1 knee in a couple of weeks when I had the knees done I thought it would be simple i'am 92 how much longer can i live good luck with your battle.Bob Mac

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loreleiks | @loreleiks | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hi @ert, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your discussion and combined it with this..." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Hi @ert, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your discussion and combined it with this discussion:

- Has anyone had a tight band feeling after total knee replacement?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-had-a-tight-band-feeling-after-total-knee-replacement

You are definitely not alone in this feeling. Members like @sprinrosa64, @vgen, and @brescher and so many others experienced the same feeling as well.

@ert, what sort of stretches and activities has PT had you doing? Are you doing anything else like other members have talked about like the pool and biking?

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I had 2 TKRs last fall. ROM and overall functioning is great. However the tight band feeling remained. I stretched and walked daily, this helped, but a few months ago started an aquatic workout class. HOORAY! The tightness is vanishing and even more strength returning.
Aquatic class workouts, jumping, kicks, running have advanced my recovery in ways stretching couldn't. I was skeptical, thinking this would be old school slow "water aerobics". But things have advanced and aquatic low impact workouts (see recent New York Times article) have all sorts of cardio options. Hey, I'm 67, live in the middle of Kansas and this rocks! For me, it has been a blessing for my recovery and overall strengthening.
Note: No surgeon or PT recommended aquatic workouts to me, a friend suggested it. Go figure. I'm glad to see Mayo suggest it here.

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1 reply
ert | @ert | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @loreleiks "I had 2 TKRs last fall. ROM and overall functioning is great. However the tight band..." + (show)
@loreleiks

I had 2 TKRs last fall. ROM and overall functioning is great. However the tight band feeling remained. I stretched and walked daily, this helped, but a few months ago started an aquatic workout class. HOORAY! The tightness is vanishing and even more strength returning.
Aquatic class workouts, jumping, kicks, running have advanced my recovery in ways stretching couldn't. I was skeptical, thinking this would be old school slow "water aerobics". But things have advanced and aquatic low impact workouts (see recent New York Times article) have all sorts of cardio options. Hey, I'm 67, live in the middle of Kansas and this rocks! For me, it has been a blessing for my recovery and overall strengthening.
Note: No surgeon or PT recommended aquatic workouts to me, a friend suggested it. Go figure. I'm glad to see Mayo suggest it here.

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Sounds great! Going to check out low impact water aerobics. Glad it is working for you!

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dpp | @dpp | Aug 7, 2023
In reply to @ert "My knee replacement was 8 weeks ago. Been doing PT since day 2. Tight band just..." + (show)
@ert

My knee replacement was 8 weeks ago. Been doing PT since day 2. Tight band just started last week.

Jump to this post

I have the same problem after my 3rd week post-Tkr . One of my coworkers and my PT did cupping therapy and that improved pain .
I also started working on building strength on my core, gluts and quads . Stationary bike also helps but be sure you don’t overdo it.

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slmichie | @slmichie1969 | Aug 20, 2023

No sure if I have commented previously. I had a
Two knee replacements in 2012 three months apart and had a total of 4 maybe 5 MUA. I still have this feeling 11 years later I've tried dry needling. PT more PT water aerobics. Cupping. To me what makes sense and a massage person agreed that with all the mua s breaking up scar tissue it just makes more and the fascia gets stuck. I actually feel like cupping helps. Mine does not hurt it just never goes away 24/7 and I think maybe my brain is getting use to it. Just recently bought a tens machine so want to try to use it more. Also for years it seemed like the rightness was above the knee. Now it seems like it is right around the knee cap all the way around. I think my gait also has a lot to do with it. I would like it to go away

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mifla | @mifla | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @stockmom "i had my left knee (Total Knee Replacement) performed yesterday. So far I am totally happy!..." + (show)
@stockmom

i had my left knee (Total Knee Replacement) performed yesterday. So far I am totally happy! My husband is a Dr also but not ortho. We did medical research and decided the MAKO was the only way to go. You can google and you will find many articles. You need a CT ahead of time and the robotic software & Dr calculate size, placement, etc. There is less soft tissue damage using the robot. There are studies you can find online w the same surgeon performing a TKR on cadavers using the robot and not using the robot. I am on Day 2 and yesterday (day of surgery) I only took 3 narcotic pills; today I have taken only Tylenol. I am very pleased so far. PT today I had 95 degrees of motion. I am walking well, using walker, but really feel I don't need it. If you are in the Tampa area I can recommend my surgeon. He also teaches other ortho doctors on the use of the MAKO robot. Best of luck but so far...on day 2..this is much better than I anticipated.

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I am a Snowbird that seasons north of Tampa and would So appreciate your recommendation on your surgeon. as well as any other tips, suggestions, words of encouragement etc about your experience with the Mako TKR. I am 74 and have a number of comorbiities so am especially anxious about TKR. Thank you

Please

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1 reply
mifla | @mifla | Oct 22, 2023
In reply to @mifla "I am a Snowbird that seasons north of Tampa and would So appreciate your recommendation on..." + (show)
@mifla

I am a Snowbird that seasons north of Tampa and would So appreciate your recommendation on your surgeon. as well as any other tips, suggestions, words of encouragement etc about your experience with the Mako TKR. I am 74 and have a number of comorbiities so am especially anxious about TKR. Thank you

Please

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respond asap as I know appointments and preps take lots of time to set up.

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marleengirl | @marleengirl | Oct 30, 2023

Hi. I’m 11 weeks in and I feel like I have a vice around my knee. Making it difficult to walk. I do my exercises but it’s stiff after sitting down again. Getting nowhere fast. I sympathise with you but you are not alone. It’s all getting me down as I’m not making any progress.

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