Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+) > Pills and Ills
Reload this Page >

Riding after a Knee Replacement

Notices
Pills and Ills This is a discussion subforum for the health challenges faced by riders 50+. These discussions are in no way to be considered professional medical advice.

Riding after a Knee Replacement

Old 12-04-17, 10:04 AM
  #76  
zjrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times in 207 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR Rider
Oh yea how could I forget I also had achillies surgery back in '11. Rehab is my middle name.
Oh good grief! I am in good company. Dec 23rd last year I had surgery to knock down a heel spurt on the back of my right heel. Surgeon cut in and found an infected bursa and only 25% of my Achilles Tendon still intact!!! He placed a new anchor in my heel and wove some fiber into the tendon and tightened it all back down. Longest 6 weeks of my life in that cast then boot. But, it is solid today and NO pain anymore. In fact, once the anasthesia wore off, I had no pain. Full range of motion today and I stretch both tendons daily...

Leg press was fun after the TKR. Something I looked forward to at the gym. I had every intention of maxing out that machine, and was close ready to add the last plate, when I broke my back...
zjrog is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 12:49 PM
  #77  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
My therapist was saying today that I'm just about ready to be cut loose. I have two more visits this year this year with a follow up with the Surgeon on the 22nd so I'll see what he has to say. She feels that I have full functionality and I can continue to strengthen it at home. I have bands, ankle weights and a stability ball at home and can continue to do the exercises on my own. The only thing I don't have is a leg press machine which I also looked forward to. UP to 125 lbs on the damaged side today.
MY major goal was too get back on the bike and considering I rode over 10 hours last week I think I have cleared that hurdle. Time so start transitioning from riding to training and see how far I can come back. No getting around the fact that I'm still a creaky old guy but I leave all that behind when I'm on the bike.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 01:01 PM
  #78  
zjrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times in 207 Posts
Awesome news!!! I cleared 200 pounds on the leg press just my left leg, and was on the way to 600 total which is that machine's top. Just days before my crash... But, I am a big guy, and always pushed heavy weight with my legs and pushed big gears in my past... Hate spinning. Forced myself into 165mm cranks lately..
zjrog is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 01:02 PM
  #79  
Cuyuna
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
The emphasis on physical therapy after TKR is interesting. My experience with bilateral knee replacement, twice, was very little emphasis on PT. Stationary bike and some stretching exercises and that was about all I did. After the first bilateral UKR, I saw a physical therapist once, at my own initiation. He just measured my extension and said "looks good, keep doing whatever you're doing". After my second bilateral TKR, I saw PT twice (they came to my home) and they just gave me some exercises. In both instances everything healed up well....good flexion and extension.
Cuyuna is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 08:20 PM
  #80  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
Originally Posted by Cuyuna
The emphasis on physical therapy after TKR is interesting. My experience with bilateral knee replacement, twice, was very little emphasis on PT. Stationary bike and some stretching exercises and that was about all I did. After the first bilateral UKR, I saw a physical therapist once, at my own initiation. He just measured my extension and said "looks good, keep doing whatever you're doing". After my second bilateral TKR, I saw PT twice (they came to my home) and they just gave me some exercises. In both instances everything healed up well....good flexion and extension.
Great to hear everything healed well TWICE. Just curious if everything was such a resounding success why did the first ones fail?
Like I always say everyone's recovery is different. I happen to be of the opinion that after the surgeon does his or her work it's up to the patient to do whatever they can to maximize the chances for a full recovery. But that's just me.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 08:36 PM
  #81  
Cuyuna
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR Rider
Great to hear everything healed well TWICE. Just curious if everything was such a resounding success why did the first ones fail?
Like I always say everyone's recovery is different. I happen to be of the opinion that after the surgeon does his or her work it's up to the patient to do whatever they can to maximize the chances for a full recovery. But that's just me.
First ones failed due to infection. Had to be explanted for septic arthritis. They then implanted mobile spacers with antibiotic-laced cement...still going strong on those. So far. Going on 3 years. Eventually they’ll have to replace those, hopefully one at a time, but nobody really knows how long they’ll last.
Cuyuna is offline  
Old 12-04-17, 09:43 PM
  #82  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
Oh yea now I remember you telling us that. That's a real tough turn of events. I truly wish you well and a successful outcome.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 12-05-17, 08:06 AM
  #83  
Cuyuna
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR Rider
Oh yea now I remember you telling us that. That's a real tough turn of events. I truly wish you well and a successful outcome.
It will be fine. Thanks for the good thoughts.
Cuyuna is offline  
Old 12-22-17, 12:01 PM
  #84  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
I just wanted to put a bow on this thread. I just got back from a 15 week follow up on my TKR and all is well, better than that actually. Finished PT earlier in the week and have very good flexion (129 deg) and just about full extension. Therapist says the replaced knee has as much functionality as the good one. I'm still working on strengthening the quad and a bit of tightness in the hamstring tendon behind the knee but in reality the knee feels better than it has in years.
So far my cycling has been on the trainer but now it's more a matter of winter weather than physical limitations. I've been riding on Zwift and am up to 180+ miles a week. Started doing intervals and out of saddle work again. Power numbers still have way to go but at this point I'm grateful to be riding pain free. I'm trying to get my mind right for a post surgery FTP test but to be honest I'm not anxious to find out just how piddily my FTP is. I never really had a wattage bazooka but now.....
In any event I'm totally happy with the result. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 12-22-17, 12:22 PM
  #85  
McBTC
Senior Member
 
McBTC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,888

Bikes: 2015 22 Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1543 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times in 39 Posts
Not sure what the roads are like there but if possible, you get out there in the wild...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Z in SanO.jpg (330.2 KB, 139 views)
McBTC is offline  
Old 12-22-17, 04:29 PM
  #86  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
Soon enough my friend, soon enough.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
20170408_125759.jpg (1.37 MB, 142 views)
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 12-23-17, 06:32 PM
  #87  
McBTC
Senior Member
 
McBTC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,888

Bikes: 2015 22 Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1543 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times in 39 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR Rider
Soon enough my friend...

Nice Pinarello, captain, cheers!
McBTC is offline  
Old 12-23-17, 09:16 PM
  #88  
TCR Rider
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
TCR Rider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Peoples Republic of Brooklyn
Posts: 879

Bikes: Pinarello Dogma F8 Giant TCR Advanced 2 Jamis Coda

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Liked 136 Times in 115 Posts
Originally Posted by McBTC
Nice Pinarello, captain, cheers!
Thanks. It was a retirement gift to myself.
TCR Rider is offline  
Old 02-13-18, 11:30 AM
  #89  
NerdLord
Senior Member
 
NerdLord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern California
Posts: 54

Bikes: 2008-Fuji Absolute 4.0

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by metalheart44
TCR -- great progress!

NerdLord -- who is your surgeon? Looks like nice work.

Coon join institute

St Helena, ca
Dr Dianna

Unless I develop a problem, I'm done...now I'm going through therapy on that side for an Achilles tendon lengthening that needed to be done but couldn't until the knee was fixed.

sorry for the late reply...
NerdLord is offline  
Old 04-12-18, 03:29 PM
  #90  
NerdLord
Senior Member
 
NerdLord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern California
Posts: 54

Bikes: 2008-Fuji Absolute 4.0

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
both Achilles are done, knee is done, therapy is done...
All my Backpacking/ cycle-touring gear is gathered and other than a personal first aid kit and a backpackers bear-can for food i'm all set to go.
I may know I don't have enough vacation time on the books to take off and I have NO desire to become one of the multitude-millions cramming a holiday week-end so I may just have to figure out if I can afford a leave of absence without pay...maybe I can as a 'mental health' need?

Solo or with someone I will go...

wait, what? when did I become a "senior member"? GeeBus i''m not that old...
NerdLord is offline  
Old 04-12-18, 06:03 PM
  #91  
McBTC
Senior Member
 
McBTC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,888

Bikes: 2015 22 Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1543 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times in 39 Posts
Enjoying being on the road again (today's ride)...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
Today ride.jpg (1.42 MB, 88 views)
McBTC is offline  
Old 09-25-18, 01:17 PM
  #92  
Coach_Hogleg
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Stumbled on this thread today and I just wanted to say thank you to all that participated. I'm 43 years old and scheduled for TKR on December 5th. My cycling has been cut from 200 miles a week to about 40 a week. Those 40 are very painful, so its time for the surgery. There are so many opinions on PT, some say no pain no gain, other say PT shouldn't be painful. Not sure what to think, the more I read the more confused I seem to be. My current flexion is 90-95 and I've been riding shortened cranks 155mm for years. I'm hopeful and it's my goal to be able to ride "standard" cranks post surgery.

The success stories in this thread helped my frame of mind today. Much appreciated.
Coach_Hogleg is offline  
Old 09-29-18, 07:29 AM
  #93  
Cuyuna
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 233
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Coach_Hogleg
Stumbled on this thread today and I just wanted to say thank you to all that participated. I'm 43 years old and scheduled for TKR on December 5th. My cycling has been cut from 200 miles a week to about 40 a week. Those 40 are very painful, so its time for the surgery. There are so many opinions on PT, some say no pain no gain, other say PT shouldn't be painful. Not sure what to think, the more I read the more confused I seem to be. My current flexion is 90-95 and I've been riding shortened cranks 155mm for years. I'm hopeful and it's my goal to be able to ride "standard" cranks post surgery.

The success stories in this thread helped my frame of mind today. Much appreciated.
I had one physical therapy visit after my bilateral knee replacement. They checked the range of motion, said "keep bending it a lot". I told them that I had bought a stationary bike and they and told me to check back in with them if I was having trouble.
Cuyuna is offline  
Old 09-29-18, 04:08 PM
  #94  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
Originally Posted by Coach_Hogleg
There are so many opinions on PT, some say no pain no gain, other say PT shouldn't be painful. Not sure what to think, the more I read the more confused I seem to be.
There's pain, and then there's pain. The tricky bit is knowing the difference between pain that makes us stronger -- pushing muscles and respiratory system until it burns -- and pain that breaks us down and causes or worsens injury and can lead to debilitating damage.

My Marine PT instruction used to holler "Pain is beautiful, bud!" As a Vietnam vet and survivor of an ambush that wiped out his squad, he knew pain. But in terms of whipping us into physical shape, he was only referring to the normal muscle and respiratory pain that heals as we get stronger. After awhile we're stronger, faster, and it doesn't hurt doing the same activities with the same exertion.

High intensity interval training is a good example of good pain, done properly and in the absence of medical complications. It pushes me past plateaus in conditioning and doesn't need to be done often to maintain a relatively good level of conditioning.

I was an amateur boxer and am very familiar with the pain from soft tissue damage that heals with little or no permanent damage. I have a small scar under one eye from being elbowed, and a moderately deviated septum from an uppercut during one particular sparring session. The many other aches, pains, bruises, etc., passed and are barely memorable.

But getting hit by cars twice in the past 20 years caused permanent injuries and pain that is totally unlike transient muscle and respiratory pain from intense physical activity. After awhile you can tell the difference between pain in muscles and connective tissues, and pain due to damaged joints, pinched nerves, etc.

It helps to find a doctor and physical therapist who listen and can give us reasonably objective feedback. After having been hit by a car in May, breaking and dislocating my shoulder and re-injuring an old neck injury from years ago, I've seen dozens of doctors, nurses, PTs, etc., and there's little or no continuity among them. So I look for the medical professionals who listen to me but are also well informed and honest enough to tell me when I can push a little harder without making the injury worse.

At age 60 I had to reconcile myself to a slower healing process. At times over the past several months I've had to take an entire week off from using the indoor training bike, or doing any upper body PT other than some very moderate range of motion and stretching. That usually resulted from pushing too hard, too often, the mindset from my long-gone 20something year old self who was too impatient to let the body heal.

What helped was reading and viewing articles and videos from experienced professional athletes, trainers and medical professionals who emphasized a message I'd never heard when I was younger: The body doesn't get stronger from physical activity. It gets stronger from the rest that follows physical activity. Without adequate rest and nutrition, hard physical activity only breaks us down. With adequate rest and nutrition, we can train less often, for shorter duration, and benefit more than if we mindlessly stay active without regard to healing.

Often the best medical professionals for patients who are physical active are those who are also physically active and over age 40. They've been around long enough to personal experience injuries and setbacks. I'm more likely to listen to a doctor's advice on physical therapy if she's 40 or older and is a runner, cyclist or regular participant in some sport. I'm less likely to take too seriously advice from a young buff intern who's under 30 and hasn't experienced any significant physical setbacks.
canklecat is offline  
Old 10-01-18, 09:03 AM
  #95  
zjrog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753

Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times in 207 Posts
Originally Posted by Coach_Hogleg
There are so many opinions on PT, some say no pain no gain, other say PT shouldn't be painful.
In PT, it is OK to become uncomofrtable, but true pain should be avoided. TKR is a big tough pain. I had mine at 47, I'm 55 now and looking towars my other knee sooner than I like. I sought the best PT in my community, and asked him 2 things, or for 2 protections. Do not hurt me. To which he laughed, but my meaning was, do not put me back in the hospital.. The second thing I asked was, Do not let me HURT MYSELF... I pushed every limit. And he stopped me a number of times before I did hurt myself. I went back to him when I broke my back and had it fused (after a bicycle crash...). With the same questions in place. To which, he answered that I am that rare NUT that needs to be told what NOT to do as I could break a rod, snap a screw... Seek your therapist before having TKR, and good luck!!!
zjrog is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.