Any of you guys had a complete knee replacement? What am I looking at in terms of rehab length. It will happen in April or May. How does it affect do leg exercises since I've always been a weight trainer?
I put off my Sturgis trip because the pain on a scale of 1-10 is about a 12 24/7. Would love to here some experiences and how it turned out for you. Aready had it scoped twice, and it's hanging by about one ligament and a leg brace, Not my left thankfully so I can still hold up the bike with no problem.

 

iam going through maniscus surgery but iam doing it after my laughlin run and sturgis. iam in pain but not as much as you are so i wrap it tight and it helps. anyway a friend of mine had knee replacement on his left he was out for almost a year befor he could even ride again. but everyone is differant hope this helps and good luck and i wish u a speedy recovery.

 

Right knee replacement several years ago, took me almost a year before i could think about riding.

 

gunner,
I'm in rehab right now for my second total right knee replacement that was done six weeks ago.This was surgery number 9 for me and I'm only 45 yo.The first replacement was not put in right 2 years ago by a doc in NY,the plates were not lined up correctly so when I bent my leg and straightened it would dislocate,2 yrs of that before I found a doc that would go in and fix someone elses botchjob.Anyway before surgery it is very important to be in shape, because you will lose an incredible amount of muscle in a very short time,and is very hard to get it back.You can never lean on or get on that knee again after your better and usually they want you to carry,or lift only a certain amount of wieght.All the docs I've had don't want you to even drive a vehicle for 6-12 weeks,but this time I'm hoping to get on my bike by 12 weeks.It is a very painful surgey and recovery and many many sleepless nights,my doc say's 100 percent of TKRs go thru this for about 3 months,and every week I get a little more sleep.Make sure the doc you want to do this is absolutly the best replacement doc you can find, you don't want to do it again for a very long time.The doc I found in Tampa Fl.is a great doc,and I've met patients @ his office from all over the U.S. and a couple from europe,that would only have him do the TKR (not your average ortho surgeon).All the best to you,I would do it sooner than later just for the recovery time,I remember that bone on bone pain before the surgery this will eventually be better than that.Good Luck,
Mark

 

I had a total knee replacement on sept 15 and I was takeing short rides 5 weeks later and back to work in 6. I am up on my feet all day at work. I worked very hard at rehab and was told I was not the norm. About the weight training for your legs remember you will wear out your new knees quicker than your real knees

 

A year seems like a long recovery time now days.The procedure got pretty advanced now.I just had maniscus surgery done Wed. doctor said bicycle by next week end would be a good exercise and riding a motorcycle in a month would be fine since he didn't reattach anything but just cleaned up the tear.You might have to substitute something for power-lifting,good luck,you'll feel great.

 

Funny you should mention this; There was a thread about this just the other day on this site. Anyway I went and saw my ortho doc 2 days ago that I've been seeing for the past 3 years. I'm bone on bone arthritis and am looking at a TKR myself in the not distant near future. My doc said that I was kinda young; I'll be 57 in May as the TKR's only generally last in the vicinity of 12-15 years of which if that holds true will put at 72-75(of which I hope I'm still alive) by the next time that the same one needs relpaced. You may want to try to euflexxa injections in your knee for a while, if that's a possibiilty for your condition. They are a temporary fix though but will buy you some more time. I gotta shot of cortisone the other day that seems to be helping. That very well could help you too.
As far as rehab time goes; My doc said that when I get ready to do it of which I said I wanted to put it off until Sept.(as I don't want to be walking on the ice with it when I get it done) as I have a new bike and we are just entering into riding season that I should get ready for it by going to a PT prior to the surgery as that will help in the recovery process.
He said that the first 2 weeks are, "Hell but you can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel." By 6 weeks you wil be at 50%. At 3-4 months you will be at 90% and with in 1 year you will be at 99%.
When we're you looking at doing it?

How you doing Mark?

 

I am sure you have done lots of research but there are a lot of treatments out there including some less invasive techniques that can get you going. Sometimes a TKR is not the only solution.

I went to 2 different docs when I ruptured a bicep tendon one couldn't wait to slice my arm open (on both sides) and reattach the tendon. Told me that was the only thing that would make my arm work again. The other (a sports medicine specialist for the houston rockets) said my arm would work fine without surgery and prescribed rehab. My arm is fine. Just as strong as the other. I know this is not the same thing and the only thing that will relieve your pain is surgery. I've had 2 on each knee but I would really look into all of the options. TKR takes a long time to come back from especially if they use the technique where they slice your quad. extensively.

 

my wife just had a complete replacement on 2/16 and is starting to walk around the house. She has taken maybe 3 OC 5mg's since she got home.

She did have major post surgery complications. She thought she had a cold, went to her regular Dr, and the NP sent her home with a anti biotic.

18 hours later she was in the ER with congestive heart failure, blot clots in her lungs, and pneumonia. It took every ounce of control I had not to have gone hunting that Nurse/Practitioner down.

Providing you don't have any complications and can get off the blood thinners, you should be able to ride in 8 weeks. While you are on the blood thinners you really don't want to be riding, if you should go down it can make you bleed and not clot.

 

Get it done. You'll get your life back!

I had total right knee replacement surgery last March 24th, at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston. I had an excellent doctor who specializes in knee and hip surgeries and uses what is knows as MIS CA (minimally invasive surgery, computer assisted). You want to make sure your doctor does MIS. What MIS does is it avoids cutting through the top quadricep muscle and goes in on the side of it. This makes it an easier less lengthy healing process.

So I went and had mine done on March 24th last year and I got on the Electraglide for my first ride on April 19th. less than 4 weeks later. I was by no means 100% at that time, but I was fine to ride the bike, walk around etc.

I was walking on the new knee days after surgery, although not much. They really want you doing the exercises, every day, 3 times a day for the first 8 weeks.. or forever for that matter.

But it's been GREAT! Get a doctor that does over a hundred of these a year.. and a hospital that specializes or has a specialty in Ortho surgeries and you'll be fine.

I was on short term disability for 5 weeks. Most doctors will write up for between 6 and 8 weeks, depending on the job you ahve etc.

Ask more questions.

Good luck, and get it done!

Steve