patentcad

Can't find the original thread about my total knee replacement operation (TKR) on August 6th, so I started a new one. I'm 56 (I turn 57 in early November), long time cyclist, many years of amateur racing, 7-14K miles annually for the better part of 25 years now. 6 weeks post op as of today. My range of motion is about 5º-100º, and as of last Friday I started riding the exercise bike indoors. Takes me 5+ minutes of rocking my legs back and forth until I can get it round the full crank rotation, but on Sunday I actually spun outside on my road bicycle for 20 minutes in the 39 x 25. Still tough however, I'm on the trainer every day for 20 mins or so. Hoping it loosens up enough for me to try the actual road bike within the next 7-10 days, it should. Pain levels and swelling/edema are dropping, still hurts pretty good sometimes.

One complication has been an exacerbation of an existing circulation issue in the right leg, my venous stasis wound condition is back (google it). Not that bad, but still very painful at times. Saw my vascular surgeon, he said that would PROBABLY clear up when the swelling/edema (fluid retention) in the leg abates, that can take 4-6 months after a TKR, so he said be patient. He didn't even want to ultrasound the veins in the leg because he thinks anything he might surgically approach now will just clear up in a couple of months anyway.

So it's going very well, my goal was to be on the road bicycle by Oct. 1, that seems to be well on track.

qcpmsame 

Sounds good, so far, Pcad, this is certainly good news from you. I had been following your thread here, and the 41 thread, also, glad that you are doing well with your recovery, keep the faith, brother, Mt. Doom awaits your attacks.

Here is the thread you had attached your updates in to: https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus...acement-2.html

Best wishes on the continued recovery and on returning to cycling as much as you used to.

Bill

Wanderer

I found that it's better without pain meds, as the pain comes in more gradually.... With the meds, it hits with a BANG, all at once.

big john

Hoping for continued improvement, seems like good news so far.

BlazingPedals

Good luck with continued improvement. Are shorter cranks in your future, at least near-term?

OldTryGuy

Keep up the good attitude and wishing you a speedy recovery.

No need to purchase complete crank when shortener might work if needed and adjustable. Highpath Engineering : Pulse Crank Shorteners

George

Sounds like your on the right track Pcad. I cant believe all the guys I know, getting what you got done around here. The recovery time is nothing like it use to be, when I was younger. Which was a long time ago. Anyhow good luck with the riding, it sounds like a winner.

OldsCOOL

What is the doctor saying in regard to joint longevity with the added use that cycling will bring?

JohnDThompson 

What crank arm length are you using? A shorter crank arm will require less range of motion, and thus might be easier to use.

h2oxtc

If that's the life expectancy of a cyclists knees, I'm not likely to wear mine out in my lifetime with the annual mileage I'm riding.

Perhaps you can slow down on the recovery and give me a chance to catch up with the number of miles you've ridden. Kidding. Best wishes.

patentcad

Shorter cranks aren't necessary, I'm confident I'll have enough range of motion for the 172.5. I doubt cycling shortens a bionic knee's half-life much if at all, which with today's technology could be 20-30 years +. My surgeon has an employee who is now about 70, he did both her knees in 1994 (20 years) and those TKRs are still fine. Today's implants are considerably improved, so it's possible my bionic knee could last the rest of my days.

qcpmsame 

As cycling is a recommended form of activity for TKR recipients I'd venture to say you won't wear it out with your riding, Pcad. Even your mileage and the racing/hill work you usually do shouldn't phase the knee hardware. As you mentioned, the newer units have improved materials and design from the original types and most of them are going strong to this day. My friends with TKR have all had success with theirs, none had to be reworked or replaced and they are all active in some way. The improvements in the materials for the knee replacement's structure where they bear on each other have made the life expectancy much longer, now. Thankfully!

If it ever became necessary for me to have a TKR, I'd go through with the surgery as soon as the physician said it was necessary, I don't want to make things more painful and more difficult by putting things off. I have played that hand before and it is a poor choice. Best of luck with your return to cycling, Pcad.

Bill

jamescaxton

Wish you a fast recovery!

metalheart44

Regarding cycling and TKR wear. I met today my my surgeon (a cyclist also) and scheduled a TKR for January. We also talked about cycling and prothesis wear post TKR. He commented that there is the possibility that an increased level of activity such as cycling a couple hundred miles a week increases the potential for wear and failure, primarily in the materials used to attach the prothesis to the bone. However, he commented that knowing how much I plan to cycle post TKR, he would suggest more frequent monitoring post TKR and early identification of potential problems that he believes can be relatively easily addressed. He gave me some confidence that if there are problems because of higher mileage cycling, then these can be addressed without revision surgery. There is hope......

the engine

I had both knees replaced in July 2012, and began riding on the road again on Labor Day of that year. I have ridden many many miles since ... 7000 miles and 300,000 feet of climbing per year since July 2013. my surgeon said the same thing ... anything that causes a problem would be relatively easy to repair. So far, I have had no issues doing 200 miles per week. including being the first person to climb Mt. Washington with TKR (double), this past Aug. 16.

More info on my cycling with knee replacements can be found here: https://www.tek-kneescycling.com

Terrierman

I too had TKR and have been more than fortunate in the recovery process. Surgery 8/19/14. Home 8/21/14. Last day to use walker 8/25/14. Skipped the cane altogether. Staples out 9/3/14. Returned to work part time 9/3/14. Did PT three times a week from date of surgery to 9/17/14, then kicked out of PT as I was at all goals. 0 to 122 degrees, < 145 CM knee circumference (very little swelling left) pain < 2 on 0 to 10. No real problems doing anything I want or need to do at this point. Started riding stationary bike 9/3/14, now up to 30 minutes on bike, still doing several strengthening exercises - squat row, abductions and adductions etc. with resistance. See doc again at 6 weeks post op, expect to be able to ride a real bike at that time.

Wildwood 

What's your age?

Wildwood 

I've known many ski friends who have joint replacements, mostly knees.
Only one serious cyclist - a mtb'er who went at it hard. Probably met some trees.
I am not comparing the two sports in any manner (cycling/skiing)
When you start your recovery, slow is best for longer results.
You have to learn to listen differently to the body, or with new considerations.
Maybe try a shorter crank/maybe wedges for angle are needed/check leg length?
But some bionic people are not afraid of future failure.
Sprinters can really apply strong forces at the knee.

the engine

I am 54 ... 52 when I had the replacements.

As a matter of fact, I just got in from a 200k, and did a 100k yesterday ... 240 miles this week. No knee issues whatsoever.

That's my experience, everyone is different.

the engine

One thing to consider ...

When you have knee replacements, the metal pieces used to cap the femur and tibia are made of tantalum. This is a porous metal. As your bones recover from being cut, and the metal parts glued and screwed to them, they grow into the metal and become a very solid joint. This takes time for the body to do, so the most likely time for a stress issue would be the first few years of recovery. Beyond that it is fairly unlikely you would have a stress injury at the connection between the bones and the prosthetics.

As for wear. The metal caps never touch each other, They are separated by a plastic disc which acts like the cartilage you used to have. The plastic will wear out. Most likely, by the time it wears to a point which replacement is needed, the procedure will be a very simple one.

So, go off and enjoy your new knees. You may be limited in some of the things you can do, compared to what you used to do ... as a cyclist, get out there and ride. Take it slow, listen to your knees they'll let you know when they need a break. In the long run, you will be able to do everything you did in the past.

Again, I'm not a doctor, I'm just passing along my own experience. Everyone will have slightly different results.

roccobike

Dang, I wish I was 57 again. Hope you have a fast recovery.

patentcad

'Dang'?

patentcad

I rode the bicycle outdoors last Sunday and then the whole next week the knee flexion felt tighter and more difficult, which surprised me, so I backed off and just stayed on the trainer 15-20 mins daily. Today it felt looser. On the other hand the extension (opposite of bending, straight out) got better @ physical therapy this week, they pushed me down to 1-2º, the goal is 0º resting (straight out), I was @ 5º resting this week, I'm pretty confident that's better than it was before the knee replacement. I'll be on the road bike regularly pretty soon, and once I can do that, it should exponentially help the rehab. If I can get out there 30-40 mins 3-4x a week I can build back up to daily rides.

B. Carfree

It's good to hear the procedure and recovery are going fairly well. I wouldn't worry about cycling causing any undo stress on the new joint since they're designed for some rather hefty folks who put more load on them with each walking step than you do when dialed up to 400 W. Then again, didn't you used to have a tag line that said something about being too fat for this sport, or was that just me projecting?

qcpmsame 

Great news from Pcad again, it won't be long before you are showing those massive guads to the locals once again, and slaying Mt. Doom regularly.

Glad that things are sailing along for you, Pcad, recovery gets old at times as it stretches out. Seems you are doing things the right way.

Bill