IT Band Pain: How To Fix It After Total Knee Replacement – (updated 01.23.2024)

Having a total knee replacement can be quite the journey, and I know firsthand that it’s comes with its fair share of aches and pains. 

But with the right exercises and following your doctor’s recommendations, your knee should gradually improve over time.

However, there’s a common issue that many people experience after a knee replacement: IT band pain. 

Picture the IT band as a resilient band of fibers, running from your hip to the outside of your knee and beyond.

It turns out, this band doesn’t always respond well to the drastic changes brought on by a knee replacement.

And let me tell you, it’s no laughing matter!

Imagine a sharp stabbing pain whenever you stand up or walk a little too far, or a perisistant tightness that just won’t go away. 

Frustrating, right? 

Well, you’re definitely not alone on this journey.

Many of us deal with IT band pain following knee surgery.

But you don’t have to suffer in silence. There are plenty of things you can do to manage IT band pain after a total knee replacement.

So, let’s dive into everything you need to know about IT band pain.

We’ll uncover its causes, why it can occur after surgery, and discuss some possible ways to decrease your discomfort. 

I’ll also share my personal journey with IT band issues following my own recent knee replacement.

Together, we’ll conquer this challenge and find ways to make your recovery as smooth as possible!

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Understanding IT Band Pain After Knee Replacement 

Let me walk you through how the IT band fits into the puzzle of a knee replacement. 

By understanding the anatomy and role of the IT band, you can understand what is causing the pain.

Anatomy of the IT Band

Imagine a sturdy, fibrous band running alongside the outer part of your thigh, this is the iliotibial (IT) band. 

It’s like a trusty strap that provides stability to your knee when you’re on the move. 

This band is anchored at your hip and extends just below your knee, connecting to the top part of your tibia. 

It’s important for stabilizing the knee during activities like running and walking. 

Role of the IT Band in Knee Replacement

During knee replacement surgery, the iliotibial (IT) band is a key player.

Its job is to stabilize your knee joint and offer support to those newly installed artificial parts. 

But that’s not all!

The IT band also plays a huge role in ensuring proper alignment and good function of your knee post-surgery. 

That’s why it’s so important to give the IT band the care and attention it deserves during knee replacement recovery. 

By doing so, you pave the way for successful outcomes and long-lasting joint functionality.

Symptoms of Iliotibial Band Syndrome

When I experienced IT Band Syndrome after my total knee replacement, I had several specific complaints.  

Here’s some symptoms that you may experience if you have IT band syndrome: 

• Pain: This is probably the most common symptom of IT band syndrome.  I often felt a sharp pain or burning sensation along the outside of the knee. This sometimes radiated up my outer thigh or down towards my shin.

• Swelling: There was some swelling and tenderness to the touch along the IT band, especially where it passes the knee joint.

• Stiffness: Another common complaint is knee stiffness, especially after long periods of sitting or lying down.  I really noticed it in the mornings when I would get up.

• Popping Sensation: Sometimes, with movement, I noticed a popping or snapping feeling at the knee.

• Flexibility Issues: A tight IT band can cause issues with flexibility; I experienced decreased flexion and extension of my knee.

These symptoms can vary in intensity. 

Don’t ignore these signs, because if the IT band isn’t functioning properly, it can derail your knee replacement recovery.

Why Does IT Band Hurt After Knee Replacement

After having a total knee replacement, it’s not uncommon for people to experience discomfort in the iliotibial band, or IT band.

The primary causes of IT band pain post-surgery are:

• Inflammation: Your body’s natural response to surgery is to heal the damaged tissues, which can result in inflammation. This inflammation can cause irritation of the iliotibial band.
• Scar Tissue Formation: As your knee heals, scar tissue may develop. This can lead to tightness around the knee joint and affect the IT band.
• Changes in Gait: To compensate for the pain and new joint, you may start to walk differently. These changes can stress the IT band and associated muscles.
• Muscle Weakness: Muscles supporting the knee, especially the quadriceps and hamstrings, can weaken from the surgery. If these muscles aren’t strong enough, additional strain is placed on the IT band.

To help control these causes:

1. Do the prescribed physical therapy exercises.
2. Apply an ice pack to the area to help reduce the inflammation. – this was my best friend!
3. Gradually increase your activity level to build muscle strength.

My IT Band Experience After TKA

When it comes to my experience with IT band pain, I noticed it kicking in around 6-8 weeks after my total knee replacement.

However, it wasn’t the first-time I experienced IT band pain – I used to deal with it back when I was an avid long distance runner.

I realized that I was pushing myself too hard with my strengthening exercises.

I was adding more and more squats and trying out high lunges with light weights.

Plus, I wasn’t stretching as much as I should have been.

To be honest, I didn’t feel that warming up or cooling down before and after my workouts were a big deal.

Boy, was I mistaken!

On top of that, I still hadn’t returned to practicing yoga since I was still limited in some yoga poses because of my ongoing recovery and limited range of motion.

However, I found some stretches that I could still do, and they turned out to be incredibly helpful!

I also discovered foam rolling, it became both my friend and my nemesis.

Sure, it hurt while I was using the foam roller, but it worked wonders for decreasing my pain afterwards!

I also decided to give massage therapy a shot.

My massage therapist wouldn’t start working on my leg until I hit the 8-week post-surgery mark.

But once she did, it was truly a game changer.

Finally, a breakthrough!

To further help with my recovery, I invested in a massage gun, which was also super helpful.

To this day, I still use the massage gun whenever I have a flare-up or simply need to loosen up some tight muscles.

Trust me, it’s worth every minute!

5 Exercises to Fix IT Band Syndrome After Knee Replacement

Here are a few of the exercises that I was able to do at 6-8 weeks post op to help relieve the IT band pain.

1.  Cross leg stretch bend over 

• Start in a standing position behind a chair or near a wall for support.
• Point your feet out in front of you.
• Cross the surgical leg (for me that is the left knee) behind the other leg (right knee)
• Bend over at the waist.
• Feel the stretch?

2.  Lying Cross Over Leg Stretch

• Lie on your back.
• Carefully bend your surgical leg to 90 degrees or as close as you can.
• Cross the surgical leg (left leg) over the non-surgical leg (right leg).
• Bend the bottom (non-surgical) leg and pull it in towards your chest.  Take your time and only go as far as you can tolerate. 
• Hold stretch for 30 seconds.
• Release and repeat
• If you are able to raise the non-surgical leg straight up this can give you a deeper stretch.
• If this exercise is at all painful at the knee STOP the exercise.

3.  Lying Down Stretch with Band

• Lie down on your back
• Take a yoga band, resistance band, belt, or towel around the foot of your surgical leg.
• Keep both hips on the ground.
• Pull leg over to the opposite side of the body.
• Be sure to keep hips flat on the ground.
• Hold for a 10-15 seconds and repeat.

4.  Foam Roller Stretch

• Grab your foam roller.
• Roll to your surgical side and place the foam roller under your hip.
• Roll back and forth.
• When you find a tender spot stay on the spot for a few seconds (yes it will hurt)
• Then release and continue to roll down the leg to the next tender spot.
• Do not roll over the knee itself.  Just hip to above the knee.

5.  Massage Gun

• For this one you can sit, stand or lie down
• Turn the massage gun on – start on a low setting at the hip.
• Move down the leg towards the knee and stop on the tender spots.
• Hold over the tender spots for 10-20 seconds and then move on.  
• Increase the intensity as tolerated.

Non-surgical Treatment Options

To manage IT band pain after total knee replacement, it’s important to try different approaches that may help.

Physical Therapy

Talk to Your physical therapist or an athletic trainer:

They may give you some specific exercises to try or they may suggest that you restart or continue your rehabilitation program.

Medications

Your healthcare providers may recommend anti-inflammatory medications to help decrease your inflammation and pain.

Injection Therapy

If the conservative treatment of exercise and medication don’t seem to help, your doctor may recommend steroid injections to help decrease your inflammation.

I did not need an injection, but I do know some people that did need this and were pleased with the results.

Surgical Intervention

In more severe cases – your knee doctor might recommend surgical intervention.

One surgical option is selective iliotibial band release, which involves cutting a portion of the IT band to relieve tension and reduce pain.

Another option is revision total knee replacement, which involves replacing the original knee replacement with a new implant.

This is only recommended when the pain is still unbearable after trying all conservative treatments.

Prevention of IT Band Pain After Total Knee Replacement

To decrease your risk of developing IT band pain after surgery, there are several preventive measures that you can take.

Here are a few to consider:

1. Maintain a healthy body weight

Keeping a balanced weight through a combination of diet and regular exercise is very important.

Excess weight adds stress to the knee joint, which can lead to IT band pain.

2. Regular stretching exercises

Including regular stretching exercises in your routine can improve flexibility and reduce the risk of IT band pain.

The American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) even have a home exercise program for treating ITBS.

3. Follow the post-operative rehab program

It’s important to follow the rehab program prescribed by your knee surgeon. Physical therapy plays a very important role in improving strength and flexibility in the knee joint.

4. Avoid overusing the knee joint during recovery

It’s important to give your knee joint enough rest during the recovery period.

Overusing it can increase stress and the likelihood of IT band pain.

5. Choose a qualified surgeon

Find a skilled and experienced surgeon for your knee replacement surgery.

A good surgeon can minimize the risk of post-surgery complications.

Conclusion

Experiencing IT band pain after a total knee replacement is a common concern, but rest assured, there are effective ways to treat and manage it.

Combining at-home remedies with proper treatment from your surgeon and therapist can make a huge difference.

One important thing to remember is that healing takes time, so be patient with yourself throughout the process.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor if the pain persists or worsens despite trying different treatments.

It’s important to understand that each person’s healing journey after total knee replacement surgery is unique.

So, remember to explore and find the approach that works best for you!

You will be back to your normal activity in no time!