Two years out, still having pain an stiffness!!!! It does NOT go away. Don't get your knee replaced unless absolutely no other way for you to get help.
I am so glad this was addressed. I am in my 7 month post op too and I have that same problem. Mine is so tight until It is causing me not walk normal. Not a good feeling at all. But this video has given me some comfort in knowing that it will get better.
I'm 3 years out from having both knees replaced, and I still have extreme stiffness and pain. My knees just didn't heal properly. I think my body produced an extreme amount of scar tissue that doesn't respond to PT. I bike, hike and walk every week but the stiffness and pain has never stop. If I could go back in time I would've never had my knees replaced.
I had my knees replaced 18 years ago and have suffered with this pain ever since. No one has ever addressed it. I’m constantly massaging all around my knee and feel a band. I’ll be discussing this with my physical therapist so glad you have finally id identified where my knee pain is coming from.
I'm 5 weeks PO. I have the tight band feeling around my knee all the time. Actually, I am on a FB sight, and everyone has this feeling. I asked the physical therapist about this, and she said many explain to her the same, but many have said, all of a sudden it disappears. I have a very knowledgeable surgeon which I will see next week. This is one of the questions I was going to address. I will say when I am inflamed the swelling is worse. I try to eat as healthy as possible, but when I do have a day where I have "cheated" I have much more pain and the tight band feels worse the next day. It was difficult today getting through my exercises as I don't rely on pain pills as directed. Only one a day. So, in short, I believe wholeheartedly inflammation is a huge culprit!
I am two years and three months out from my total knee replacement surgery. I *STILL* have this feeling! Every time I go to my orthopedic surgeon, I tell him, but I guess he doesn’t believe me. It feels like the tightest tourniquet is wrapped around my knee. At least I know I’m not the only one who’s going through this pain.
Have you ever tried cupping? In our physical therapy clinic we teach patients how to do this for themselves. You can search UA-cam for some videos. It might help.
I have exactly the same feeling and experience with doctors. I’m seeing a physical therapist for low back pain so I’ll be discussing my knee pain as well.
I am 9 months out from my knee replacement and don't have pain but I do have the tightness and band feeling around my knee. I spoke to both surgeon and PT. After hearing video and reading comments, glad to know its not just me. Still have to wonder why PT and Surgeon act like its only me. I kept thinking maybe I have nerve damage or blood flow problems. I wish someone had a fix for this. Several people I know who have recent knee replacements do not have this feeling and sensation.
Thank you for this thoughtful explanation. Your comment that I might be smart to focus more on the gradual lessening rather than the daily focus on it's discomfiting presence. Thank you !
After 13 weeks, I do I’ve been having this problem. When I met with my doctor, he did a full exam of my knee and said it’s scar tissue, which will eventually go away, but it will require work on my part, such as forcing the bend further flexion, Doing single leg strength exercises, using the leg press machine and reverse leg extensions as well as regular leg extensions.
I've got a band pain just above the knee I'm 7 months post tkr I've not seen or heard of anyone else having that sort problem in all the UA-cam videos I have watched from any physiotherapist 😢
This description is so valid. 4 months post TKR and while I can do everything I want to do, I've noticed something I've not seen addressed. While I can get my knee to bend at a good degree, it is not useable at that angle, meaning I can't put any pressure on my knee while it's fully bent or I experience a pain shoot through the knee area. This keeps me from using a flexed knee to assist in rising from a chair. It just feels tight, like an overstretched rubber band. I'm guessing this is "normal" too, but wonder if it's still internally swollen or could it be more serious?
Thanks for responding. I am in my 7th month post op and sometimes my knee feels like I have duck tape wrapped around my knee. It gets so tight I have difficulty moving my left leg. I am exercising and propping it up at night. I have no pain much but still it is so uncomfortable. I do have compression socks and wrap that I wear for the swelling and fluid which helps some but I wonder will this ever get better. Please respond back. Did you have a TKR. too?
Great description. A follow up I'd like to ask is how often this sensation is accompanied by increased grinding or crunching sounds - especially at high loading degrees of flexion (like stairs or sit/stand or mini-squats). Is this fairly common (at less than 1 yr post op) to feel both, or is it a sign that needs to be investigated? And, if normal, does the grind tend to resolve as the tightness lessens over time?
There are several things that could be causing the grinding. I shared this video on my other channel: ua-cam.com/video/XTHQObAIicg/v-deo.htmlsi=qq4GfTagJ7C0VKYM Generally it is something that does get better. There are times when a surgeon puts in a larger implant and as a result the knee is tighter and more stable. This can be good but frustrating.
My knee doesn’t feel too bad but my thigh muscle is screaming in pain and makes me limp because it hurts so much in spite of massages mornings and evenings….what am I doing wrong????? And this is the day after PT…..
I'm also more than two years out and that band sensation is only getting worse over time. I've had other injuries and surgeries where I've felt a similar sensation. In those cases it was scar tissue and once I was able to break it up I never had further problems. The only issue with that is that sometimes it took years to break up that scar tissue.
Am 7 months post op on my right knee and 6 weeks on the left knee but still have pain and less flexibility on the right one. The right is 105 degrees and the left 110 degrees what should I do.
Hi Tony, I have valgus knee ( X knees ) and I am planning to have a TKR. I would like to know, in your long experience with patients like me, if on this kind of surgery, there is more pain after surgery and a longer recovery too . Thanks !!
My scar is beautiful looks like a pencil line on paper. But ten years out I am feeling this occasionally and I was told it might be tendonitis. Does that sound like a reason?
14 days out of surgery… not really what I was looking to hear but this is all my fault. I probably should have read the abundance of information to have been better informed
As Tony advises in some of his talks, a TKR is a huge " invasion " of the body ( never mind the ' carpentry' / disturbance of bone, muscles, etc the operation entails). This new 'foreign body' our whole being has to accept/ adapt to this 'unwelcome' situation- this - adaption- takes time ( and patience, which most of us are NOT given full picture, in preparation for surgery). For most of us, I now feel, a 12month recovery acceptance, is reasonable outcome, which I certainly NEVER heard, before surgery. With regards the 'tightness ', I feel this will settle. 7 weeks is early. A sibling has both done, and says, " nothing will replace, the original " ...very few "experts" within profession have HAD tkr, so it's only 'theory' they are going on, and DON'T have all the answers, so be questioning of any/ all advice
The “ band” around my knee, after right/ TKR, is still there now six months after surgery. It is decreasing though, but certainly returns after too much exercise/ cycling/ gardening. I believe about 25% of patients experience this, NOT all , so this is a ‘foreign’ experience to most, post surgery. But let me assure you, it’s REAL. It prevents you straightening your leg, fully ( full extension), or bending/ kneeling. Do the exercises TONY suggests is his videos ( not all will apply to you, find those that do, as you progress), this man is the only person who makes sense in his advice, start EARLY with your rehab after TKR, you will NOT regret it, give recovery TIME, and the body will heal itself, and accept its new knee
I had a TKR done 3 years ago. First 2 years were great. Then into the 3rd year I started to have episodes of stiff knee with tight band above the knee. My knee would become swollen & painful. An x-ray showed no problem. Often this occurred getting out of my car. The attacks eventually happened more often and lasted longer. Into the 4th year now & I had an episode recently getting out of bed, my knee wouldn't bend at all. It was very painful walking. The knee was very swollen and above the knee felt like a tight vice. I had Japanese acupuncture with moxa and massage that morning. At end of treatment I was able to bend my knee much better & this improved more as the day went on. No one has been able to say what is causing this. One other symptom I experience is, 'the knee giving way' at times.
After years of knee pain prior to TKR, I have a very inflamed patellar tendon that is very painful. I’ve tried icing, heat, red light, vigorous massage, stretching,etc. I simply cannot get relief from this pain. I do not have access to modalities like ultrasound etc. Any thoughts on this?
We stopped using ultrasound in the clinic many years ago. I would say it is relatively comment to develop patellar tendonitis after or during TKR rehab. Be patient, if you have the full range of motion you need then consider resting a bit more and not working the knee as hard.
Isn't this rubber bands around my leg above my knee caused by nerve damage from the tight tourniquet they put on during surgery. No one has said a thing about this tourniquet nerve damage
Two years out, still having pain an stiffness!!!! It does NOT go away. Don't get your knee replaced unless absolutely no other way for you to get help.
I’m so sorry for you!
Can’t they do anything for you?
What happened??
I am so glad this was addressed. I am in my 7 month post op too and I have that same problem. Mine is so tight until It is causing me not walk normal. Not a good feeling at all. But this video has given me some comfort in knowing that it will get better.
Very good analysis making my situation clear. Thank-you!
I'm 3 years out from having both knees replaced, and I still have extreme stiffness and pain. My knees just didn't heal properly. I think my body produced an extreme amount of scar tissue that doesn't respond to PT. I bike, hike and walk every week but the stiffness and pain has never stop. If I could go back in time I would've never had my knees replaced.
😮
I feel it.....6 years on!!!!
.me too 5 yrs post op
I had my knees replaced 18 years ago and have suffered with this pain ever since. No one has ever addressed it. I’m constantly massaging all around my knee and feel a band. I’ll be discussing this with my physical therapist so glad you have finally id identified where my knee pain is coming from.
I'm 5 weeks PO. I have the tight band feeling around my knee all the time. Actually, I am on a FB sight, and everyone has this feeling. I asked the physical therapist about this, and she said many explain to her the same, but many have said, all of a sudden it disappears. I have a very knowledgeable surgeon which I will see next week. This is one of the questions I was going to address. I will say when I am inflamed the swelling is worse. I try to eat as healthy as possible, but when I do have a day where I have "cheated" I have much more pain and the tight band feels worse the next day. It was difficult today getting through my exercises as I don't rely on pain pills as directed. Only one a day. So, in short, I believe wholeheartedly inflammation is a huge culprit!
I am two years and three months out from my total knee replacement surgery. I *STILL* have this feeling! Every time I go to my orthopedic surgeon, I tell him, but I guess he doesn’t believe me. It feels like the tightest tourniquet is wrapped around my knee. At least I know I’m not the only one who’s going through this pain.
Have you ever tried cupping? In our physical therapy clinic we teach patients how to do this for themselves. You can search UA-cam for some videos. It might help.
I have exactly the same feeling and experience with doctors. I’m seeing a physical therapist for low back pain so I’ll be discussing my knee pain as well.
I am 9 months out from my knee replacement and don't have pain but I do have the tightness and band feeling around my knee. I spoke to both surgeon and PT. After hearing video and reading comments, glad to know its not just me. Still have to wonder why PT and Surgeon act like its only me. I kept thinking maybe I have nerve damage or blood flow problems. I wish someone had a fix for this. Several people I know who have recent knee replacements do not have this feeling and sensation.
Thank you for this thoughtful explanation. Your comment that I might be smart to focus more on the gradual lessening rather than the daily focus on it's discomfiting presence. Thank you !
Thanks.
After 13 weeks, I do I’ve been having this problem. When I met with my doctor, he did a full exam of my knee and said it’s scar tissue, which will eventually go away, but it will require work on my part, such as forcing the bend further flexion, Doing single leg strength exercises, using the leg press machine and reverse leg extensions as well as regular leg extensions.
I've got a band pain just above the knee I'm 7 months post tkr I've not seen or heard of anyone else having that sort problem in all the UA-cam videos I have watched from any physiotherapist 😢
If you join any Facebook groups, you will see a ton of people feel that band.
This description is so valid. 4 months post TKR and while I can do everything I want to do, I've noticed something I've not seen addressed. While I can get my knee to bend at a good degree, it is not useable at that angle, meaning I can't put any pressure on my knee while it's fully bent or I experience a pain shoot through the knee area. This keeps me from using a flexed knee to assist in rising from a chair. It just feels tight, like an overstretched rubber band. I'm guessing this is "normal" too, but wonder if it's still internally swollen or could it be more serious?
Me too, but I'm still glad I made the choice because many have said it was thhe smartest thing they ever did. I'm holding on to that! 😊🎉😊😊
Glad to hear that it was a good outcome for you. Your words will help others.
I thought no body experienced something like this but me! Lol
It is pretty common.
Thanks for responding. I am in my 7th month post op and sometimes my knee feels like I have duck tape wrapped around my knee. It gets so tight I have difficulty moving my left leg. I am exercising and propping it up at night. I have no pain much but still it is so uncomfortable. I do have compression socks and wrap that I wear for the swelling and fluid which helps some but I wonder will this ever get better. Please respond back. Did you have a TKR. too?
Great description. A follow up I'd like to ask is how often this sensation is accompanied by increased grinding or crunching sounds - especially at high loading degrees of flexion (like stairs or sit/stand or mini-squats). Is this fairly common (at less than 1 yr post op) to feel both, or is it a sign that needs to be investigated? And, if normal, does the grind tend to resolve as the tightness lessens over time?
There are several things that could be causing the grinding. I shared this video on my other channel: ua-cam.com/video/XTHQObAIicg/v-deo.htmlsi=qq4GfTagJ7C0VKYM
Generally it is something that does get better. There are times when a surgeon puts in a larger implant and as a result the knee is tighter and more stable. This can be good but frustrating.
Anyone complain of knee pain when walking down inclines
My knee doesn’t feel too bad but my thigh muscle is screaming in pain and makes me limp because it hurts so much in spite of massages mornings and evenings….what am I doing wrong????? And this is the day after PT…..
Still have stiffness in my knee had surgery in March then went in for a MUA in May and my knee is still stiff
I'm also more than two years out and that band sensation is only getting worse over time. I've had other injuries and surgeries where I've felt a similar sensation. In those cases it was scar tissue and once I was able to break it up I never had further problems. The only issue with that is that sometimes it took years to break up that scar tissue.
Hi I'm 18 months from my tkr have the same feeling on the outside and below my knee physio cannot say what's causing the pain and tightness 😢
I have a couple videos on my other channel talking about this: ua-cam.com/video/CyAkIeHnxaw/v-deo.htmlsi=criG05tM9UrgL9Fp
Also ua-cam.com/users/liveLnryZRnHEzA?si=deqXxCP4-Yowo0Y8
I feel it ....6 years on!!!!
Am 7 months post op on my right knee and 6 weeks on the left knee but still have pain and less flexibility on the right one. The right is 105 degrees and the left 110 degrees what should I do.
Can you go back to physical therapy? Are you in the US? I often see people months or years after a total knee replacement to work on more improvement.
Am still going to physical therapy and the right is 109 and the left is 113 now. Any exercises to add to it. Thank you.
Hi Tony, I have valgus knee ( X knees ) and I am planning to have a TKR. I would like to know, in your long experience with patients like me, if on this kind of surgery, there is more pain after surgery and a longer recovery too . Thanks !!
My scar is beautiful looks like a pencil line on paper. But ten years out I am feeling this occasionally and I was told it might be tendonitis. Does that sound like a reason?
14 days out of surgery… not really what I was looking to hear but this is all my fault. I probably should have read the abundance of information to have been better informed
❤
Im 7 weeks post op i have no pain hardly im walking pretty good but i feel the device and it feels to small or too tight its ignoring
As Tony advises in some of his talks, a TKR is a huge " invasion " of the body ( never mind the ' carpentry' / disturbance of bone, muscles, etc the operation entails). This new 'foreign body' our whole being has to accept/ adapt to this 'unwelcome' situation- this - adaption- takes time ( and patience, which most of us are NOT given full picture, in preparation for surgery). For most of us, I now feel, a 12month recovery acceptance, is reasonable outcome, which I certainly NEVER heard, before surgery.
With regards the 'tightness ', I feel this will settle. 7 weeks is early. A sibling has both done, and says, " nothing will replace, the original " ...very few "experts" within profession have HAD tkr, so it's only 'theory' they are going on, and DON'T have all the answers, so be questioning of any/ all advice
The “ band” around my knee, after right/ TKR, is still there now six months after surgery. It is decreasing though, but certainly returns after too much exercise/ cycling/ gardening. I believe about 25% of patients experience this, NOT all , so this is a ‘foreign’ experience to most, post surgery. But let me assure you, it’s REAL. It prevents you straightening your leg, fully ( full extension), or bending/ kneeling. Do the exercises TONY suggests is his videos ( not all will apply to you, find those that do, as you progress), this man is the only person who makes sense in his advice, start EARLY with your rehab after TKR, you will NOT regret it, give recovery TIME, and the body will heal itself, and accept its new knee
Glad to hear it is decreasing. Thanks for the comment and sharing your experience. Also, thanks for the kind words.
I had a TKR done 3 years ago. First 2 years were great. Then into the 3rd year I started to have episodes of stiff knee with tight band above the knee. My knee would become swollen & painful. An x-ray showed no problem.
Often this occurred getting out of my car. The attacks eventually happened more often and lasted longer. Into the 4th year now & I had an episode recently getting out of bed, my knee wouldn't bend at all. It was very painful walking. The knee was very swollen and above the knee felt like a tight vice. I had Japanese acupuncture with moxa and massage that morning. At end of treatment I was able to bend my knee much better & this improved more as the day went on.
No one has been able to say what is causing this. One other symptom I experience is, 'the knee giving way' at times.
After years of knee pain prior to TKR, I have a very inflamed patellar tendon that is very painful. I’ve tried icing, heat, red light, vigorous massage, stretching,etc. I simply cannot get relief from this pain. I do not have access to modalities like ultrasound etc. Any thoughts on this?
We stopped using ultrasound in the clinic many years ago. I would say it is relatively comment to develop patellar tendonitis after or during TKR rehab. Be patient, if you have the full range of motion you need then consider resting a bit more and not working the knee as hard.
How long do the tape stays on and do the knee supposed to be doing any drainage I had my surgery may 29th and toddy is now 6-16-2024
Isn't this rubber bands around my leg above my knee caused by nerve damage from the tight tourniquet they put on during surgery. No one has said a thing about this tourniquet nerve damage
Mine is 18months and I still feel tightness and my leg 🦵 gets stiff and uncomfortable 😊and my hip hurts