Originally Posted by DaveQ24

Left knee is bone on bone. Right knee has moderate cartiledge loss. Left knee has a couple of bone spurs on the back of patella.

Yikes, I'm only 51 - my goal in the next 2 years is to get several tri's, a couple of marathons and finally do at least a half IM. This news kinda sucks, but OTOH severe osteo and rheumatoid are rampant in my bloodline - I'm in much better shape than siblings, aunts and uncles. They all end up with various joint replacements eventually.

Right now I only get mild to moderate twinges of pain with high intensity load-bearing movements, especially those where my foot strike isn't aligned, when there is a twist or bend in the joint. But it sometimes buckles and gives out with more pain and then stiffness.

So, in discussing this with the orthopedic surgeon, he said TKR is my long-term option. I want to put that off as many years as possible. Not currently doing any significant running, just a few miles a week as part of boot camp.

Right now, aside from cycling, roughly 100-120 per week, I swim usually twice a week and do a mixed resistance/cardio boot camp 3 days a week.

Dr gave me a prescription for NSAID Mobic, just gonna watch it for now.

It's osteo, rheumatoid factor test was negative. Bone density was actually very good.

My plan is: NSAID daily for inflammation,joint supplement to try and protect my other joint, get on the thin side of my ideal weight but maximize muscle mass and minimize body fat. Clean eating, higher P, moderate F and C. Bone supplement Ca, Mg, P etc.

I guess my question is what should I be doing to strengthen the muscles of the leg so I go into this thing -eventually - in the best shape possible? More cycling with moderate resistance training? Moderate weight but more reps/time doing resistance training? More stretching, foam rolling, balance and plyometric exercises?

Thoughts?