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IT band syndrome after knee replacement

Posted by Faith M @collielady, Jul 26, 2018

I had both knees replaces last month. Right on 6/4 and left on 6/13. The right knee has done great. But the left has had issues. This week both PT and the surgeon's nurse said I have IT band syndrome. PT put a strip of K-tape down the side of my leg and suggests ice massage to the area. And the nurse showed me a stretching exercise to do. I am wondering if others have had this problem and how it was handled and how long it took to get better. The pain behind my knee prevents me from raising my leg while walking.

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nicelymanifest | @nicelymanifest | Oct 15, 2021
In reply to @judyangel "Thanks for the info. As I live in CA this would not help me. My MRI..." + (show)
@judyangel

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

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I have this exact problem as many others have. Key as far as I understand is that after 3 months the pain at a site of injury is deemed chronic, and is increasingly correlated with the state of that injury. Basically, the mind habitually creates the tension as a protective mechanism without verifying it is needed. My feeling is that the continuing numbness of skin is the factor that keeps the brain protecting. Problem is that the protection limits movement and can derail the patella.

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1 reply
paulomanbo | @paulomanbo | Apr 3, 2022
In reply to @topdog11 "Is the pain behind your knee associated with the IT Syndrome? I have pain behind my..." + (show)
@topdog11

Is the pain behind your knee associated with the IT Syndrome? I have pain behind my knee that feels like it is full of liquid and when I bend it is squeezing that liquid and that hurts like crazy. I also have pain behind my knee when I walk that feels like a tendon, ligament or something is being stretched to its limit and then pops, then with my next steps it starts again. I was wondering if one of the two pains could be IT problems. If either of these is what you are experiencing, I have been having this pain since about week 8 and I am now about 16 weeks out and still have it.

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Hi. Did you get to the bottom of the pain behind the knee. I have the same sensation where something like a tendon gets stuck then “pops”
I’m in my 5th month
Many thanks
Paul

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nicelymanifest | @nicelymanifest | Apr 4, 2022
In reply to @nicelymanifest "I have this exact problem as many others have. Key as far as I understand is..." + (show)
@nicelymanifest

I have this exact problem as many others have. Key as far as I understand is that after 3 months the pain at a site of injury is deemed chronic, and is increasingly correlated with the state of that injury. Basically, the mind habitually creates the tension as a protective mechanism without verifying it is needed. My feeling is that the continuing numbness of skin is the factor that keeps the brain protecting. Problem is that the protection limits movement and can derail the patella.

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This is PRECISELY my experience and thought path. Thanks! It is not just that pain is involved, but that the brain tightens. The books on pain never covered this additional matter. When the patella derails, it feeds a problem scenario back to the brain that then feels it needs to sustain the tightness. Proof perfect that the mind is fragmented in operation and often does not fit all pieces of the jigsaw together. The degree of pain is termed a biopsychosocial matter. My brain is hypervigilent so it LOVES to protect me fiercely. Which then creates the pain and derailing problem.

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deemariienc | @deemariienc | Apr 28, 2022

Yes! I had double knee replacement and after about three months had terrible IT pain in the right leg (that knee was always the problem child and still is).
My PT worked religiously with myofascial release and it got better with each treatment and is now gone. So, I recommend finding a PT who is trained in myofascial release. I know it sounds hokey, but it works.

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nicelymanifest | @nicelymanifest | Apr 29, 2022

Sounds good. What area and how deeply was MFR administered? All sorts of attempts by myself seem to yield no benefit.

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sjot4u | @sjot4u | Sep 1, 2022
In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hi @collielady, I'd like to invite back @tmeurer, @strokemyoak and @lynnmorgan0916 who also discussed IT band..." + (show)
@JustinMcClanahan

Hi @collielady, I'd like to invite back @tmeurer, @strokemyoak and @lynnmorgan0916 who also discussed IT band pain in the past as well to share their experiences. I also have a few discussions that include videos you may want to check out as well:

- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/live-qa-runners-lower-extremity-injuries-and-how-to-prevent-them/
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/it-band/

@collielady, I also had my knee replaced in 2006. My recovery was long and hard due to scar tissue, so I can empathize the struggles of rehab with you. How is your range-of-motion going? I have to image the IT band syndrome is really affecting your ability to progress in your flexing and straightening of your joint.

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I had a total knee replacement 3.5 years ago. Due to excessive exercise and walking ~6-8miles/week, I have an overuse injury. I use RICE to help the knee but the ITB is still aggravated. I do not hike and can only walk 1.7 miles. I reduced my exercise regimen to mostly upper body and chair exercises. Afterwards I elevate and ice. How long will it take to get back to “normal “? If I rest it’s fine but once I work out the band gets tight. I have no problem with ROM. Thanks

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2 replies
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Sep 2, 2022
In reply to @sjot4u "I had a total knee replacement 3.5 years ago. Due to excessive exercise and walking ~6-8miles/week,..." + (show)
@sjot4u

I had a total knee replacement 3.5 years ago. Due to excessive exercise and walking ~6-8miles/week, I have an overuse injury. I use RICE to help the knee but the ITB is still aggravated. I do not hike and can only walk 1.7 miles. I reduced my exercise regimen to mostly upper body and chair exercises. Afterwards I elevate and ice. How long will it take to get back to “normal “? If I rest it’s fine but once I work out the band gets tight. I have no problem with ROM. Thanks

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I used to get ITB syndrome when I was a runner. Best advice I got was to stretch it. If you google "stretches for the ITB" you'll probably find a few. Good luck! Joe

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gh120 | @gh120 | Nov 1, 2022

Hello, I am at week 9 and have IT Banding too. I am wondering if you ever got better and how long it took to recover? This is Awful the pain is so bad. My knee swells up everyday so far.

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jcdoecke | @jcdoecke | Nov 26, 2022

I had TKA four years ago and immediately developed a condition called spongy foot. The condition is generally caused by a pinched nerve in the treated leg. Can it be repaired?

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Nov 27, 2022
In reply to @jcdoecke "I had TKA four years ago and immediately developed a condition called spongy foot. The condition..." + (show)
@jcdoecke

I had TKA four years ago and immediately developed a condition called spongy foot. The condition is generally caused by a pinched nerve in the treated leg. Can it be repaired?

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Welcome @jcdoecke, Sorry to hear you developed a spongy foot after your TKA four years ago. I saw this article from 2020 that you might find helpful.
"Mayo Clinic is investigating infrapatellar saphenous nerve neuroma as a source of pain after total knee arthroplasty."
-- Saphenous nerve neuroma after total knee arthroplasty:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/orthopedic-surgery/news/saphenous-nerve-neuroma-after-total-knee-arthroplasty/mac-20482753

There is also another discussion that you might find helpful here:
-- Sponge Feet, Tingling and Burning: What can help me to get sleep?:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sponge-feet/

Do you have pain along with the spongy feeling?

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