Total Knee Replacement question!

cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
I am getting a total knee replacement December 30th and was wondering if anyone here has before, if so, do you think I will be able to trail ride mid to late February? I am a huge bicycler and my doctor said I will be back on it hard in 6 weeks, so I assume I will be able to ride a sled, gingerly anyway, mid February. I am about to buy another sled, not sure it's a great idea if I can't ride it all winter.
 
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jr37

Well-known member
I know 3 people that had them done since July. All 3 recovered differently. I know that's no help, but my experience.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
jr37 said:
I know 3 people that had them done since July. All 3 recovered differently. I know that's no help, but my experience.
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Excellent point! I keep trying to ride my spin bike to keep the muscles in tact to help with the recovery but it is getting hard to do, it really hurts right now, bad!
 
pclark

pclark

Well-known member
Our neighbor just had one and she was doing very well but I think she pushed herself a little hard. They also put you on painkillers so you’ll have to get used to those. She is doing really good after 8 weeks but I agree all people heal differently.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
pclark said:
Our neighbor just had one and she was doing very well but I think she pushed herself a little hard. They also put you on painkillers so you’ll have to get used to those. She is doing really good after 8 weeks but I agree all people heal differently.
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I spent three weeks in the Milwaukee Burn Center, doped up on morphine and Percocet, the worst part was the constipation lol
 
R

rph130

Well-known member
I had total right knee replacement in July of 2020. P/T started very next day, 3 days a week with therapist and more or less 7 days a week on my own. I worked hard at the rehab and was building a new deck at the cabin in late August. I was slow and had to take frequent sit-downs but at about 8 weeks I was pretty much completely mobile. The sooner you can get off of the pain meds, the better. Good luck. Recently went through rotator cuff surgery and given the two, I would rather have another knee replacement.
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
I have had both of my knees replaced in 2022, began with the worst first then 3 months later had the other one done. No 2 surgeries are alike even when they are the same procedure. Both were done on an outpatient basis, the first one went better than the second. I had a mishap with the second 8 weeks post-op & it hasn't been right since. No pain, just weak. I wouldn't recommend trying to sled too soon especially after 6 weeks. Do the PT & don't push yourself too early on. Take it from me, that can be easier said than done. I don't know your age, when I had mine done I was 61 & the knee replacements came 1 year after I had invasive back surgery. Needless to say, I have had enough of surgical procedures & for now I will live with the weaker knee. You will be glad that you had it done as the bone on bone pain will no longer be there. Just don't overdo it. Take care.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
mezz said:
I have had both of my knees replaced in 2022, began with the worst first then 3 months later had the other one done. No 2 surgeries are alike even when they are the same procedure. Both were done on an outpatient basis, the first one went better than the second. I had a mishap with the second 8 weeks post-op & it hasn't been right since. No pain, just weak. I wouldn't recommend trying to sled too soon especially after 6 weeks. Do the PT & don't push yourself too early on. Take it from me, that can be easier said than done. I don't know your age, when I had mine done I was 61 & the knee replacements came 1 year after I had invasive back surgery. Needless to say, I have had enough of surgical procedures & for now I will live with the weaker knee. You will be glad that you had it done as the bone on bone pain will no longer be there. Just don't overdo it. Take care.
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I am 61, I will be 62 when I have the surgery. Up until Labor Day weekend I was able to bike 10-12 miles at least 4-5 times a week, keeping the muscles active to help recovery, in theory anyway. The one thing I have heard over and over was do the rehab soon and often, that is my plan as I really want to have the range of motion to continue cycling.

Thank you all!
 
mezz

mezz

Well-known member
You will do fine with it, just don't try to rush the process as that will set you back a bit. PT generally starts within a day or 2 after the replacement, just do what you are told. Elevate & ice religiously.
 
J

jakester23

Member
Cobalt, I will try to put something up soon. I have had both replaced. For right now I would say find a great surgeon, I'm in northern IL. and had dr. John Daniels. He was awesome. Like I said, I will let you no more. You can look into the things Mezz and I talked about in the other links on this site. I had my done 2yrs apart. Good pain for the first week. You have to stay on top of it with pain meds. Good luck.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
Hoosier said:
Why not wait on the surgery till the season is over?
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It is unbearable right now and I need to be on my feet for my job. I would have had it done already but I am on blood thinners due to getting a couple stents this past June, I had 99% blockage of the Widow Maker, discovered while cycling, sudden change in my output numbers. My cardiologist would not approve the surgery until I was on the meds for 6 months, can't wait to be off them for good.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
jakester23 said:
Cobalt, I will try to put something up soon. I have had both replaced. For right now I would say find a great surgeon, I'm in northern IL. and had dr. John Daniels. He was awesome. Like I said, I will let you no more. You can look into the things Mezz and I talked about in the other links on this site. I had my done 2yrs apart. Good pain for the first week. You have to stay on top of it with pain meds. Good luck.
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I have a highly recommended surgeon locally, I have a great resource who knows all the local surgeons, he sent me to what he felt was the best.
 
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heckler56

heckler56

Active member
As I am writing my wife is doing PT for her 4th surgery in 3 years. Knee 1 surgery 3 years ago never seemed right. Following year knee 2 and recovery seemed good and quick. Last year knee 1 had a minor revision with different plastic components between the metal. Knee was still painful and swollen like a balloon. This year knee 1new Dr and total replacement. She is 3 weeks after now and frustrated, who wouldn’t be. However, I and the surgeon see this recovery going fantastic. Her movement and pain is way better than anyone else and, better than last year’s recovery with the minor plastic replacement. Mind you this second replacement had to remove the old apparatus so in theory it should be much more painful, but it isn’t.

As others have said everyone one is different. My wife gutted through her routine power walks prior to surgeries. This Dr feels that is why this recovery is going so well.

Don’t over push yourself but keep up the strength and cardio and during recovery have your trip be a goal. If you can’t make the trip don’t beat yourself up and keep a positive attitude. Best of luck!
 
D

durphee

Well-known member
Good advice from others but all I can add is that once you get them replaced it is a life changer for the better. Listen to your doctors and PT and you should be fine.
 
cobalt_502

cobalt_502

Active member
heckler56 said:
As I am writing my wife is doing PT for her 4th surgery in 3 years. Knee 1 surgery 3 years ago never seemed right. Following year knee 2 and recovery seemed good and quick. Last year knee 1 had a minor revision with different plastic components between the metal. Knee was still painful and swollen like a balloon. This year knee 1new Dr and total replacement. She is 3 weeks after now and frustrated, who wouldn’t be. However, I and the surgeon see this recovery going fantastic. Her movement and pain is way better than anyone else and, better than last year’s recovery with the minor plastic replacement. Mind you this second replacement had to remove the old apparatus so in theory it should be much more painful, but it isn’t.

As others have said everyone one is different. My wife gutted through her routine power walks prior to surgeries. This Dr feels that is why this recovery is going so well.

Don’t over push yourself but keep up the strength and cardio and during recovery have your trip be a goal. If you can’t make the trip don’t beat yourself up and keep a positive attitude. Best of luck!
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Thank you very much! I get the gut though the pain to keep it strong I have been doing 20 minute power rides on my spin bike, hurts like hell but I know it will pay off during recovery!
 
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