knee surgery

[janliz]

Hi
Was just wondering if anyone out there could give me some positive news about cycling after having partial or full knee replacements.
This is a road that in the not too distant future i'm going to be going down but i was told by a surgeon who performed a previous operation on me that once this happens my cycling days will be over. I dont want to only be able to do a 5 mile ride if you know what I mean. If this be the case am I best sticking with the pain
I ride the odd time trial and do distances of between 50 and 70 miles on a sunday outing but recently after 35 miles knee pain is kicking in (arthritis mainly)

Thank u and hoping to hear some good news

 

[ventoux50]

Hi and welcome !


Generally, people who undergo replacementr knee surgery end up much more mobile than before the op.

Rehab following the operation revolves around incrteasing joint flexibility and muscle strength.
Flexibility should approach normal ranges following physiotherapy which you should recieve immediately after the op and for a few months after.
Muscle strength is very important to ensure the stability of the joint.

Both the flexibility and muscle strength are acquired through cycling, indeed a lot of physios use static bikes to reach this goal.

Don't accept your surgeons prognosis that you will no longer be able to cycle - be guided by the pre and post op physio and how you recover/convalesce afterwards.

If your general health is otherwise good then you should be able to build up to near enough what you are doing now.

Be positive. !

Good luck ! !

 

[janliz]

Thank you for your positive words.
One physio did say i'd be able to ride the other not so will see i've continued to do straight leg raises since the last op last october has have two lateral releases and microfracture surgery. so hoping i've kept both legs strong.
Would love to hear from a cyclist who has had knee replacements
cheers
J

Hi and welcome !


Generally, people who undergo replacementr knee surgery end up much more mobile than before the op.

Rehab following the operation revolves around incrteasing joint flexibility and muscle strength.
Flexibility should approach normal ranges following physiotherapy which you should recieve immediately after the op and for a few months after.
Muscle strength is very important to ensure the stability of the joint.

Both the flexibility and muscle strength are acquired through cycling, indeed a lot of physios use static bikes to reach this goal.

Don't accept your surgeons prognosis that you will no longer be able to cycle - be guided by the pre and post op physio and how you recover/convalesce afterwards.

If your general health is otherwise good then you should be able to build up to near enough what you are doing now.

Be positive. !

Good luck ! !

 

[Fiona N]

I'd have to say you've got a pretty conservative surgeon. I haven't had knee replacements (yet!) but a friend and cycling enthusiast had both his knees replaced about 6 years ago. One knee regained flexibility quite quickly but the other took a while so this was the limiting factor on cycling - being able to bend the knee enough for the pedalling stroke. He opted to start with a very short crank on the bad side and gradually developed the flexion required over about 18 months. I have been told be other people who've had knee replacements that this was rather an uncommon scenario. Anyway my friend is even back to skiing now (which I think is completely daft - but there you go) as well as cycling.

 

[Bill Gates]

I can have a knee replacement whenever I want one according to my consultant who I managed to see last week. The joint is arthritic and painful. The trouble is that the knee is also very unstable as I have no medial ligament support and the cruciates are shredded. A knee replacement would provide stability but the lack of soft tissue support would provide a substantial strain on the joint, and the most range of movement I could expect is 90 degrees. At the moment it's around 110-120 degrees, so I'm postponing the operation for the time being.

I'm not cycling at the moment but that's because my other knee became very painful after riding. Whereas before the NHS weren't interested in this knee, now I'm not having a knee replacement done they are taking it more seriously. The X Ray shows tendonitis and what looks like a spur on the the knee cap. They are sending me for an MRI scan on it in 3 weeks. Things are looking up at last.

 

[montage]

Did the lateral release not help you?

 

[Bill Gates]

Did the lateral release not help you?

Not sure if that's addressed to me or not. If it is I've never had this procedure done with either knee.

 

[montage]

i've continued to do straight leg raises since the last op last october has have two lateral releases and microfracture surgery

Not to you Bill
Just interested as I had lateral release a couple of months ago.

Hope it all works out well for you in the end Janliz

 

[Ghostrider]

Hi. I 53, I had both knees replaced on Dec. 10 2009. The first three months was a living he-- with the large amount if pain killers and therapy I thought I would be lucky to ever walk any distance at all. I rode a 83 mile trip two weeks before surgery. I rode 1200 miles that year. The 15th of April I rode 5 miles, my right knee stung everytime it came to the top. One week later I rode 8 miles then in a couple of days I rode 15 miles. By end of may I was up to 25 miles. My knees felt like they rode 80 miles. They would swell and get really tight after riding. I kept going I love to ride and I just would not take no for an answer. I rode 53 miles last Sunday with very little pain. I have tried to ride every week. I also do weighted squats once a week 50 lbs 20 reps 4 sets. I do the same with leg curls. I take stairs every chance I get. We live in a 3 story house. I will not give in. You got to override the pain start out slow and listen to your body. Find a good surgeon. Very important. I have rode 925 miles so far this year. My goal is 1000. Next year it will be 1500. If you love biking don't despair you have a tough fight ahead of you. Its worth it. Be prepared to shed a tear or two. Get out on your bike and go. I would do it all over again