IT Band Syndrome

I have this and waited until it was very, very painful to see my doctor.It seems that our IT BAND goes from our hip down the outer side of the leg, it crosses over the knee and then down the shin.

Every time I stood up there was pain for awhile until I got pressure on it for a couple minutes. This happens when our glute and hip muscles are too weak and overuse puts strain on the IT band. If you start to have pain on the side of your thigh, mine was a few inches up from my knee or on the side of your knee area on the edge of your hipline, treat it right away with rest, icing and Ibuprophen or another anti-inflammatory.  My physical therapist also told me about KT tape. I like the nude colored 8” pre-cut. You can find rolls of it on Amazon. If you tend to it right away you might not get it as inflamed as mine was. I am on 3 weeks of rest and icing and anti-inflammatories as per my doctor. I have 3 days of my 3 weeks left. The pain has subsided quite a bit, but is not totally gone. Since this ended up being more painful then right after surgery, I clean to take everything real slow for awhile. Hope to get some pool time in, just treading water and light exercise. My focus has changed from getting back to normal quickly to slow and steady. No long walks until those muscles strengthen every one! I have many light exercises to do. I think all will be well if I just go slow. This set me back, so please heed if you start getting this sort of pain. Rest, icing and Ibuprophen (anti-inflammatories) right away and you might keep it from the extreme pain I got. Also put KT tape along your hipline from beside your knee area up as far as it will reach. It does help more then I could have imagined.   Stretching and clamshells in bed are good too. My hip feels fine, it is not tight or painful and moves as it should. It basically feels like my own hip but stronger, but this IT band was MOST difficult and you must get it under control as soon as possible. I read one woman struggling with it for two years. I would rather take a 3 week setback and go slow and steady from here out. Personally I did a lot of walking the preceding weekend to this. I felt fine and walked through 3 large stores shopping and went up and down my daughter's stairs twice, my first time doing stairs and I did a full set twice with no handrail, just a wall I couldn't really hold onto because it had photos on it. These were not extreme activities, I think I just did too much in 2 days time. My hip muscles simply were not strong enough to endure it and I got an inflamed IT band. I sure wish I had known about it beforehand so please fellow hippies be aware! I was about 10 or 11 weeks post op when it occurred and felt elated with my hip replacement. Had pain for about 3 days after surgery, used walker the recommended 2 weeks then went to a cane. I had quit using the cane in my home and walking next door to my neighbors and even out to dinner one night. I was still using it however most times I went out, as I needed it for curbs and steps. Honestly I should have used it longer as now I am back to using it full time. I got a complete lesson about IT Band syndrome from my doctor and physical therapist. Don't stop your aids early, it is not a race, you will have less problems and a better gait if you use them longer. I forgot to mention, buy KT tape so you have it on hand, it is inexpensive at Amazon. I like the 8" precut type. Mine stays on even with daily showering for 4 or 5 days.

Remember Hippies this IT band thing can become chronic, catch it at the very beginning. The KT tape info came from my physical therapist. The tape may even help you from getting this. If I could do it over I would have used the KT tape at the very first sign. I would have taken a couple of days of rest at the first sign, I would have iced the sore area and I would have taken an anti-inflammatory (Ibuprophen). I'm guessing it might not have progressed if I had that info. I may have only lost a couple of days instead of 3 weeks progress and saved an awful lot of pain. I was very grateful I has not used many of my pain pills as I needed them for this! When I start back to doing things, there will be no longer walking for awhile, gentle exercises and ice after activities in that IT band area. Any soreness and I will take over the counter anti-inflammatories. I am almost to that point so will have to see how it goes. I see my doctor next Wednesday and hopefully he will advise me. I do NOT want this to become chronic. I was doing great before it. I will listen to my doctor and will go slow and steady. If I can prevent one of you dear hippies from getting this as bad as I did, this posting will be worthwhile. I had so much pain  I thought I was crippled for life. Finally I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I will take care of myself and go slow from here on out.

Be KIND to yourselves, as much as we want to get back to our normal activities this can make them take much longer.  

If you already are in severe pain with this, see your doctor, he can give you a corticosteroid shot mid thigh that will help your healing process and most specifically the pain.  

Good luck to each and every one of you that gets this.  I read it occurs to some degree in 2 out of every 10 hip replacements.  It happens when you think everything is fine and get back to your activities.  Again, your gluten and hip muscles needs to strengthen more and that will just take time and your simple exercises.

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