Thigh/itband pain after knee replacement

[CarolPollock]

Seven years ago I had a knee replacement. Since then (and never before) I have had bad ITBand pain down thigh from hip to knee when I ski. I’m an experienced skiier of many decades. I have done EVERYTHING! PT of course. Many times. Cupping, chiropractor acupuncture, msssage therapy, KT tape, compression tights. Ski lessons, glute med strengthening. Everything but voo doo.

nothing helps. I can ski about 7 runs. Whether green or blue or black —I’m in so much pain I’m done. Not tired. So frustrating!

Curious if anyone else has had the same experience and if anything helped?

 

[VTsnowflower]

Just seeing this now, in May 2026. How was the past year for you? My right knee is a year post op, and I still have some thigh to knee and/or quad issues that started post op. I’m told it’s hip flexor, or IT, and the PT and conditioning haven’t made a big dent. (But it’s not as bad as what you’re describing.). Have you visited any of the many online forums and groups? I check in periodically with a couple of Facebook groups, and a forum at the Mayo Clinic.

 

[VickiK]

@VTsnowflower thanks for reviving this thread. I never considered that surgery might be behind IT band pain. Following, and tagging @skibum4ever .

I hope you're doing better, Carol.

 

[VTsnowflower]

Yesterday I "graduated" from post-op physiotherapy. Yay! Seven weeks post-op. Now getting ready to work with an athletic trainer over the coming months to strengthen everything. The PT said that pain I was having on the outside of the joint was, you guessed it, the IT band being stressed. She emphasized the importance of activating the muscles, particularly glutes and hamstring, before doing any activity (like gardening, tennis, hiking, biking.) She suggested using the 3 B's: biking, bands, and bridges. For me that means indoor cycle for 5 to 15 minutes, various side stretches with exercise bands, and bridges that work the glutes and hamstrings (as opposed to yoga poses that arch the back.)