Fifty Plus (50+) - unicondylar knee replacement

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dcohen21
12-07-06, 06:31 PM
I am an avid cyclist ( former avid runner) who recently developed rapidly progressive cartilage loss in my medial left knee from running after a partial meniscectomy. I can no longer run and am limited by pain when walking. I am now a candidate for a unicondylar (partial) knee replacement. I am only 49 years old and I want to continue to excercise vigorously. While I am told I can still bike with this prosthesis, I wonder if there are people with experience with this or other knee replacements who are still able to ride-- and ride hard. I would like to hear from some of you!

NOS88
12-08-06, 01:08 PM
Sorry, can't help, but you might want to check in with the Training & Nutrition thread.
LastPlace
12-08-06, 05:01 PM
Check out 'Hipcycler'. There are several riders on this forum with various bits and pieces they were not born with. Good luck.

Lik2bikalot
01-15-07, 02:06 PM
I had a unicompartmental knee replacement 2 years ago. I had a total menisectomy when I was 17, football injury. Back in 69 there was not as much technology in repairing such injuries, so I was left with a degenerating left knee. I started cycling seriously in the mid 80s and usually rode 2-3k miles per year. After the replacement, I did not get the relief from the pain as promised but my leg is straight now and pedaling is much more pleasant than walking. I rode 2 thousand miles last year including a 500 mile tour over 6 days. My knee gets sore and I get some pain when it gets hilly but I live in Asheville, NC so I get lots of hills here just riding around. The doctors say to avoid the hills and some say that cycling will wear out the prosthesis much quicker but I can't walk or stand at work without painkillers and anti-inflammatories so I'll take the full replacement whenever it gets so bad I can't cycle anymore. I have a hard time building the quad muscle because they sometimes have to cut the muscle and it just doesn't respond to exercise like my other leg. I'm soon to be 53 and I would cycle with a wooden leg if I had to. It is just a more pleasant experience without the pain. Good luck