Knee replacement anyone?
 

Does anyone ride with a knee replacement? How does it feel?Does riding a bike reduce the life time of the new joint?I could use one and its been acting up recently.Just don't want to have it done and be in worse shape than I'm in now.A couple of guys at work had surgery (not the knee replacement) and not all of them had good results.

I know an active and older rider that had a knee replacement a few years ago. His name is Jamie and he works at Brands Cycles in Wantagh, NY. He's a very fit and quick roadie.

He's a terrific guy and if you were to call the shop, asking for Jamie in the Pro shop, I'm certain he'd be willing to share his experiences. Their number is (516) 781-6100.

I had a TKR 14 months ago today (10-11-12) and am now able to do things i couldn't in the years leading up to making the difficult decision to Just Do It, i.e., ride all day, do hills, hike, even walk more than a mile without pain, swelling and stiffness. A couple of weeks ago i planted >100 tulip bulbs--kneeling in the garden pain free--that had been impossible before. You asked how a replaced knee 'feels;' this is highly subjective and for me, after about a year, i'm noticing it less and less, meaning that it feels more like a 'real' knee all the time.

Some unsolicited advice: do your research about surgeons and find one you're comfortable with and trust, and one for whom knee/hip replacement is a practice specialty. (Let's hope that 'comfort' and 'skill' are found in the same surgeon!) Bonus points if your surgeon is also a cyclist who appreciates what being able to get back on a bike means to you. (I took my first short, tentative ride outside about 7 weeks post-op, but started on a trainer within the first week after surgery as part of physical therapy.) Doing follow-up physical therapy goes without saying and i'm still doing it and probably will forever to maintain strength and flexibility. Good luck; keep in mind the highway sign that says, "Temporary Inconvenience/Permanent Improvement."

I agree with Bluetail. You'll be glad you did. I had mine done January 11, 2012 and was outside riding March 11, 2012. This year I'm on track to get to 5000 miles which is more than I've ever done. The right (replacement) knee still feels different than the left, but the difference is getting less all the time. Yesterday I spent 2-1/2 hours with the snow shovel. When I got done, I decided I should have used the blower, but it was because of my back, not the knee!

There was a thread here about wear and tear on an artificial knee. I'm not sure we reached a definitive conclusion but some interesting data were posted. Someone posted a plot from a power meter that showed that almost all the time, the force exerted on the pedal is far less than 1/2 the body weight. So that means just standing makes bigger forces than biking. Of course there's also the rubbing as the joint is flexed - that's a little harder to get a handle on. My take is that the flexing is comparable or a little larger than what happens on an elliptical. My doctor tells me I should get my exercise by swimming or with an elliptical. Neither is going to happen. But the interesting thing is the elliptical involves bigger forces and similar range of motion, so I have to believe the wear and tear from an elliptical is comparable to that from cycling.

Finally, even if cycling shortens the life of the knee, I'm sure my life would be a lot shorter without cycling. What's the point of having the knee last longer than you do?

- Ed

Try this thread from a short while back:http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ou-at-the-time, I think this is the one mentioned above.

Bill

That's a good thread, but the one I was thinking of is this one: 912370-Knee-Replacements-and-Forces-on-Knees-While-Cycling. Just figured out how to find it and link it.

- Ed

Hi Shamrock. I posted on the earlier thread. That person had very specific interests. Everyone is different. My TKR was done in 2005 before moving to Florida and began biking in 2008. Plan is to do a Century Saturday which will get me to 5,000 miles in 2013. No pain or issues.

YMMV so good to be asking. Did use indoor bike to strengthen muscles before surgery. Very important.

Agree on finding best surgeon. Used Ranawat at Lenox Hill but believe he may have moved. My rheumatologist recommended three surgeons in NYC and you are not that far away. Can't give you recovery times since was not cycling in 2005.

good luck. Ed

Surgeon choice is critical. Unfortunately, the medical world does not publish outcomes. But find one who uses the latest technology and is up to date. My wife has had 2 TKR's and has no problems.

It is important to have the TKR before the muscles atrophy.

I had dual TKR in 2003 and have done fine by following my doctors restrains....stay off your knees for any/all reasons and don't overload the implants when lifiting.

What Denver says is so true............

Thanks for all the input guys.I read everything, for now I'm not going to have it done.

If you think you can do without it, then you should wait. When you feel you have n other choice, you will be ready. I had both of mine done on July 23, 2012. Best decision for me. I can ride farther than. Ever did and walk for 6-8 miles at a time. Hike when I want. Do it when you think you need to, but not before.

I recommend, if you have time, a serious routine of strengthening the leg BEFORE the surgery. FWIW I has a TKR after six previous surgeries on that knee.

I do several sprint and Oly triathlons each year, and have done a Ironman 70.3 Aquabike. I have had an USATriathlon ranking in the 60-64 age group for the last two years. I walk rather than run.

I like my new knee.