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Bilateral TKR feeling of steel bands around knees

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winnie4768

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I had my surgery on 6/22/11 and continue to have tightness and increasing pain in both knees. I am still doing PT 3 days a week with "stretching " by the therapist. I am feeling a tight feeling at all times and it increases with touch and activity. I am also now feeling some burning in the knee area. I have been back to the orthopedic surgeon and he says there is a curve in healing and what I feel is normal. He could not tell me why I am feeling more uncomfortable. I am using ice more frequently. I do not want to walk or exercise because it increases my discomfort. The doctor tells me I am walking ok and that the flexion is good. Has anyone else had this problem? Any ideas or has anyone had similar experience. Thank you.:tantrum2:
 
I had the same feeling in my knees after surgery. I couldn't stand to wear jeans, it felt like the cloth was hanging on my knee/s. You probably have nerves that are waking up after surgery also. The tight feeling will go away eventually. Also there is an area of numbness that Josephine describes in the Library that comes back after time too.

I am sure someone that can describe this better will be along soon, but it is totally normal. I had to take over-the-counter pain relievers for a good time, actually still do for general arthritis.
 
. He could not tell me why I am feeling more uncomfortable.
Hi Winnie, and welcome:biggrin:

I can!! As will many many others on here.
It's the physiotherapist stretching the joints three times a week.
If you had never submitted to that, you would be far more flexible and the tight band would have disappeared by now.
I really can't understand why they think this a good therapy, because when they stretch it, the knee doesn't like it so it swells up in complaint. The tight band is a result of this, and slows the ROM improving.
So my advice is never go to the PT again, just get on with life and you'll see it improve much faster.
If you've read enough on here, you'll see the British way is to never do PT because this is the result.
The more you try, the worse it gets, honestly:thumb:
Happy new year.
 
I also have tightness, especially when I have done too much walking or bike riding or when I go from a gym shoe to a dress shoe. It is a sign of swelling that makes it feel tight from what I understand. I also have some burning under my knee cap also. My OS said all this is normal and to just let the knee heal. Good luck!!!!
 
:loll::loll:Hi Winnie, I am 9 months post op and still have that steel band tightness around my knee. I know just what you are feeling. Some days it is worse than others. When I am on my feet all day, it tightens up, and now that cold weather has set in even here in Texas, the cold weather stiffens it up. I have been wearing a knee compression sleeve around my knee, under my jeans on cold days or when I know I will be on my feet most of the day. The compression sleeve does help with the stiffness and swelling. Go to www.Zensah.com and click on the sports medicine tab to see the sleeve that sells for about $20. I have 3 of them which I rotate during the week, so I can wear one, wash one and have one waiting. As I get closer to one year and the weather warms I am hoping that the steel band will disappear. But be assured that you are feeling what so many others feel as well.

Take Care, Bonnie:loll:
 
I have an off-the-shefl ACE compression knee bandage that really helps because it somehow drowns out the odd sensations.

MOst probably this is from effusion. You can take NSAIDs to reduce the inflammation and effusion but it helps only when you take it. I have recently enjoyed relief from that effusion at 13 months.

I also think there is nothing like gentle biking for helping the knee along.
 
Me too Winnie. Mine is still hanging about 15 months after, and although there is no pain or discomfort particularly, its still a reminder that the knee is still healing, so patience is the name of the game. Every recovery is different, some quick, some not so quick, more like a marathon, but I know that it will disappear in the end from listening to other BSmarties, and have every faith that it will.

Hope you go on well with your own recovery, and keep posting.:friends:
 
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