Has anyone here had TKR (total knee replacement)?
07-22-21, 02:30 PM
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Has anyone here had TKR (total knee replacement)?
Hi - I'm new to this site and have been getting back into cycling post-retirement. Like others, over the years at work I put on the pounds. They eventually became part of my excuse kit to avoid riding. Well, not anymore. I'm facing knee replacement at the end of this year and know that my recovery will be much better if I've dropped the weight and gained some fitness. So I'm back on the bikes and feeling like a kid again. But of course, this kind of big surgery is scary and so I'm looking for folks who have had it and found their way back to cycling.
07-23-21, 08:12 AM
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07-23-21, 07:23 PM
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Had both replaced 2017 and 2018, used exercise bike a lot in recovery,, didnt start riding until 2020,, really enjoy it, much easier on my knees than walking.. good luck.
07-25-21, 12:18 AM
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I've heard that's the toughest thing to regain with a TKR.
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Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
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07-25-21, 01:58 AM
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I have , I would guess around 115 degrees flexion,,, riding my exercise bike was the key in my recovery. Flexion was the hardest thing to recover for me.
07-25-21, 02:22 AM
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In my case, I'm in a situation where the more riding I do, the better the knees feel. I was doing all my errands by bike a couple years ago and it really helped a lot. Then I got lazy 
Nonetheless, without riding, I get to the point where I can barely walk.
Anyway, each person is different. My father got both knees replaced at the same time. He was strong at the time, but with bad knees. It really helped him. As mentioned above, stretching ligaments was a problem for him.
Nonetheless, without riding, I get to the point where I can barely walk.Anyway, each person is different. My father got both knees replaced at the same time. He was strong at the time, but with bad knees. It really helped him. As mentioned above, stretching ligaments was a problem for him.
07-28-21, 02:38 PM
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Left knee replacement at 47, Nov 2010. Got me back on bikes.
Right replaced last October.
Left has 140+ degrees ROM. Still working on Right, which is at 138. Measured by my PT.
First couple weeks suck. Bad. But things improve. My first hurt so bad before surgery, it was sort of a relief. The second, improved quickly. But I was also better prepared..
Strengthen your quad muscles and stretch your hamstring and IT Band a lot before surgery. This will help you as you heal. You could have some pain, swelling and bruising at and below the knee for up to 2 months. Your knee will be warm to the touch for a couple months. You can have swelling out to a year or more. The more you move, soon, the better your chances. You will never have the same range of motion as your original knee. But you should never have pain in the knee itself. You will have MUSCLE pain as you heal and strengthen.
I put my left off way too long. I didn't make that mistake for my other one. I can ride for a couple hours, hike for miles, climb stairs till my heart and lungs scream. My results are my own. Everyone heals differently. In my case, my surgeon said the knee has a design limit of 150 degrees. So that has been my goal for both.
Best part of knee replacement? Never thinking about knees when I want to do something.
Right replaced last October.
Left has 140+ degrees ROM. Still working on Right, which is at 138. Measured by my PT.
First couple weeks suck. Bad. But things improve. My first hurt so bad before surgery, it was sort of a relief. The second, improved quickly. But I was also better prepared..
Strengthen your quad muscles and stretch your hamstring and IT Band a lot before surgery. This will help you as you heal. You could have some pain, swelling and bruising at and below the knee for up to 2 months. Your knee will be warm to the touch for a couple months. You can have swelling out to a year or more. The more you move, soon, the better your chances. You will never have the same range of motion as your original knee. But you should never have pain in the knee itself. You will have MUSCLE pain as you heal and strengthen.
I put my left off way too long. I didn't make that mistake for my other one. I can ride for a couple hours, hike for miles, climb stairs till my heart and lungs scream. My results are my own. Everyone heals differently. In my case, my surgeon said the knee has a design limit of 150 degrees. So that has been my goal for both.
Best part of knee replacement? Never thinking about knees when I want to do something.
