iliotibial band lengthening

[mrpurple]

Have found lots of references to iliotibial band problems on here but none where anybody has had it operated on to be lengthened.

Consultant states 85% success rate but others tell me rate is much lower. Anyone on here had it it done? Had constant hip / thigh / groin pain & tightness and has been a major problem post a THR 4 years ago.

[mrpurple]

Digger said:

I'm assuming you do plenty of stretching for it?

Has only just been diagnosed (after making a big fuss!!!) as the cause of the pain and not even previously raised as a possible cause.... after bursa infection and the back being ruled out, then steroid injections, Tens, and radiofrequency (plus masses of various painkillers) I was told 18 months ago it was chronic pain, ignore and learn to live with it without anyone actually being able to explain why it was occurring.

Only ever had 2 short physio sessions: One gave me some exercises that I could not do, the other a foam roller which was too painful....never stretching exercise which, having done some googling, I can see could be beneficial. New consultant was first to understand symptoms, in fact he described them 100% to me not the other way round!

edited to add

plus there are things like this: http://saveyourself.ca/articles/iliotibial-band-sy...

Edited by mrpurple on Tuesday 22 July 15:20

[mrpurple]

Four Litre said:

What pain are you getting? IMHO Surgery should really be last resort.

I had a problem with running and had various sessions with docs and physio sessions to try to overcome it. None worked. Amazingly I looked on U-Tube for extercises and came across a guy with the same problem/symptoms in the states, he had also spent quite a bit of time trying to resolve the issue and had found a particular stretch. Within a week I was running again! I do them once a week to maintain flexibility.

Not saying you will find a miracle cure but at least explore other avenues before surgery.

Hard to explain pain which may not have helped the diagnosis.

Harsh, sore constantly nagging pain 24/7 over boney bit of hip which reduces and changes to tightness as it radiates down outside of thigh, across the groin and under buttock ending at the boney bit you sit on. This is at a constant level regardless of what I am doing, active, sitting, sleeping....... most ITB problems I have researched seem to involve the knee however my pain seems to stop just above it.

Not sure there are many other avenues to follow and surgery is probably my last chance before I am forced to accept what some have told me previously.... "ignore it and stop looking for cures / answers!!!!" - just not willing / ready / able to do that just yet.

ps this is pain that I did NOT have pre THR but have had ever since it was done over 4 years ago.

[mrpurple]

I take on board the comments about physio, stretching etc and already having had several operations in the last few years I don't particularly relish having another.

However I can't help wondering why this, new and highly respected, Ortho consultant went straight to having the ITB operation withing minutes of examining me and not and not suggest these alternatives first.

[mrpurple]

Clio200pat said:

I'm in a similar position to you, I've had tightness and aching in my hip for the last 2.5 years. 3 months ago I had a hip arthroscopy for a femoroacetabular hip impingement where they shaved the hip and repaired the torn labrum.

Post surgery tightness doesn't seem to be much better. I've been given loads of stretches and strengthening work to do every day (which I do religiously) and while it loosens up for a bit it does go back to being very tight all the time. I find that while the NHS physio is good you don't get enough sessions and they don't offer anything to combat muscle tightness.

I've tried a few alternative practices and also been told to roll my ITB with a foam roller, though this is very painful. Sports massage sort of help, though I find it really winds up the area for a few days as they have to be quite aggressive to get to those muscles. The one thing I've found that does help is swimming.

From speaking to a few specialists it seems that if you've got tightness in these areas that have gone on for some time it is quite difficult to loosen them off. Treatment that's been suggested to me is dry needling, I've not actually had any done yet, but am off to my first appointment later today. All shall report back and let you know how it goes.

As others have said, surgery should be the last option. As frustrating as it is I think you just need to find the treatment that works best for you.

Hope this doesn't come over wrongly but in a way I am glad I have found somebody in a similar position. I tried swimming last week (never was my strongpoint) struggled to do more than a few strokes before floundering.

Not sure what is "dry needling" but look forward to hearing your report (I have had radiofrequency where needles were inserted - sort of electric shock therapy).

Didn't want to go into too much depth and bore people but perhaps I should have stated the reason for my THR was based on a hip deformity from birth so not only was my hip replaced, it was also repositioned slightly and my leg was lengthened... an analogy in my mind perhaps a bit like trying to get an old (well worn) fan belt to stretch a bit further and to a slightly different position than it had been for the last 50+ years?

Genuinely hope the dry needling works for you.

edited to add:

Just googled dry needling....very interesting indeed.

Edited by mrpurple on Wednesday 23 July 12:30

[mrpurple]

Many thanks for the comments....given me food for thought that's for sure. Would be nice if I could have spoken to someone that has already had it done before making a final decision.

[mrpurple]

Booked in for the operation in just over 2 weeks time

[mrpurple]

6 days post op.........too early to say how successful.........still sore, black, blue and yellow......... epidural was interesting sensation i must say

[mrpurple]

RRLover said:

Any updates ?

A lot more (and longer lasting) swelling / bruising than I expected. ITB release has definitely loosened the tightness considerably. Now walking for several miles every day,up some fairly steep hills even however the bursa removal not so successful and still have considerable hip pain....thanks for asking.