My knee-replacement thread; comments and suggestions welcome.

[Larry Fine]

I was told several times that I was the "Poster Child for Total Knee Replacements". I thought they were just being encouraging. What I found out later in comparing my experience with others, was that if nothing more, I did some things right.

I did similarly well with both hips. The show-off in me had me walking without a walker or cane at my three-week check-up both times. They said maybe 10% of patients accomplish that.

You will have no clue of how much pain you're experiencing till the pain pills wear off and you get behind on the pain pills.

I remember the pain coming in after the blockers wore off, but I didn't let that stop me.

Range of motion is key in the beginning. I knew one man who didn't push himself. I think he had about a 40 degree range of motion months later. I've heard that the surgeon will put you under and then forcibly stretch those muscles, ligaments and tendons ...basically tearing everything lose to start over again. Of course you can always elect to be a cripple for the rest of your life.

"I don't think so, Tim!" I want to be able to ride without the burning feeling.

Pain is good. My PT sessions were Monday and Thursday mornings. I'd push myself so far on Monday morning that I'd be in pain till Wednesday evening...then I'd go back the next morning and repeat the whole process again.

I asked for pre-surgery therapy to make recovery better and faster.

Yowza. I've seen that some incisions are in front, some are on the side.

Some encouragement. Surgery was in mid-November 2015. By about the 10th or so of December, I was riding my motorcycle to PT.

So, within a month? That's terrific! I hope I am able to do so.

By January, I was back to work and commuting 37 miles each way. My knee would begin to cramp up on me, and I'd just hang it out and wiggle it around till I could get it on the footpeg again. That March, my future son-in-law took me hiking around Palo Alto. A short level trip he promised. Well, we started at the same elevation that we finished at, but it was anything but level. Eight miles of up and down. I did it though.

That's quite impressive!

A couple years later, I went to Zion National Park. I ended up hiking to the top of the East Observation Point. 39,000 steps that day. That tiny little squiggly line is where I started from. I could never have done that without the knee replacement.

I don't think I have ever been able to do that.

Question...do you have someone who will be watching over you for the first week or so? I suspect you do, but you didn't mention it.

I do, thank you. My son, his girlfriend, and a friend of theirs at different times.

Last thought. I don't know if this was just me, or if everyone gets it. Months later, I'd be laying on the love seat watching TV and I'd get a sharp shooting pain like someone just jabbed me with a needle. My wife thinks that was the two ends of the nerves meeting up and saying "Hi!". It'll go away. It did make life interesting for awhile though.

That sounds like fun . . . not!

 

[Larry Fine]

I had my surgery on January 24th and I think I did my first ride towards the middle/end of April.

That's three months. Was that due to pain, or waiting for warmer weather?

I was driving the car before I expected to; after my first post-op check in at 2 weeks. I was shocked to be honest that the ortho said go ahead. It wasn't without pain but it sure was a morale boost to be able to get out and get to post op physio visits on my own. I did only short trips at first but slowly increased as the knee tolerated more.

I already practice driving with my left foot, like I practice riding with my left hand on the throttle.

With the ST, I would say there was still pain in the right knee for at least a month after I began riding again. The knee didn't like being flexed so I would occasionally have to extend it out as I rode to get some relief.

I can do that now, without surgery. I'm hoping to vastly reduce that.

I would also add that even with stretches, I find my leg muscles still get tight so the stretching is key. I've also had more charley horses in the past 10 months than I think I had in my life.

I plan on stretching in both directions.

 

[Larry Fine]

P.S. Range of motion. I think I had 110 degrees of motion at my first PT. I don't know what it is now, but I can get down on my knees to pray with the heels of my feet touching my rear. I feel comfortable riding with the balls of my feet on the footpegs for hours at a time. But then, I'm a young pup at 72.

I'm three years behind you. I can bend my right knee, but I can not straighten it all the way.

Because of my left hip, I have to pull my left foot toward my butt to put on my left sock.

I can get my right heel onto my left knee to put my right sock on like normal people.

Combining things like riding and getting the balls of your feet onto the footpegs eventually combines something you love, with the "exercise". You'll push yourself more to do something you love than just doing a stretching exercise on the floor.

Agreed, but getting either foot that far back on a peg has always been difficult for me.

If my boots didn't have heels, neither foot would stay on its foot-peg.

I can't stress enough...push yourself. Your knee joint is solid. It was that way when you got off the operating table. The pain is from the horrific abuse your muscles, ligaments and tendons took. They just want to curl up and be left alone. The trouble is, you can't let them.

I do and will push myself. I was already going up and down the stairs when the PT told me to start.

 

[Daboo]

BTW, @Larry Fine - when I totaled my BMW XR at 70+ mph, that same knee is one of the parts that hit the ground. No pain in it. Just a bruising from the center off to the right side about as big as your fist.

You'll be fine. I'll pray for you. Probably a lot of us here will as well.

Chris

 

[the Ferret]

Last thought. I don't know if this was just me, or if everyone gets it. Months later, I'd be laying on the love seat watching TV and I'd get a sharp shooting pain like someone just jabbed me with a needle. My wife thinks that was the two ends of the nerves meeting up and saying "Hi!". It'll go away. It did make life interesting for awhile though.

Chris

My wife still gets those occasionally and claims its scar tissue letting go

 

[Stylo Steve]

Don't you worry my friend. Your knee is going to be like new money very soon. God bless and best wishes!

 

[Larry Fine]

 

[jspringator]

Good luck! I know you'll do just fine.

 

[Weaselinsuit]

That's three months. Was that due to pain, or waiting for warmer weather?

It was a little of both. The physio advised waiting a couple of months given the weight of the bike. I also wanted to wait for better weather so that having to cope with slippery conditions wasn't something I needed to contend with when first getting back on the bike.

 

[Whisperquiet]

I am seven weeks and four days post total left knee replacement. I’ve ridden my motorcycles for two weeks now and can ride about 1/2 hour without minor pain/stiffness. My Super Tenere is the roomiest bike and most comfortable. I did order different, lower highway pegs to get me some relief.

Like many here, I should have taken more pain meds! I still have swelling, stiffness, and some pain on the outside of my knee…..but it much better in the last two weeks. My PT will do an evaluation of my progress for my MD this coming Friday to determine if more therapy is necessary. I can straighten my leg completely and I would guess about 120 degrees of motion.

My scar has healed up nicely……warning….. scary looking legs!

 

[Larry Fine]

Good luck! I know you'll do just fine.

As if I could have any other outcome.

 

[Larry Fine]

I'd be happy with that little amount of scar.

I already have in-home and then in-clinic PT lined up.

 

[Duff]

My wife has had both knees done. She found sleeping in the recliner was best. For showering wrap your leg with press'nseal it keeps the stitches dry.

 

[Larry Fine]

My wife has had both knees done. She found sleeping in the recliner was best.

I was told to lay on my back, knee up, but keep it supported straight, not arched or bent.

For showering wrap your leg with press'nseal it keeps the stitches dry.

The wrapping I'll come home with is okay for showering, and will not need changing.

 

[STRider]

Best wishes with your surgery, Larry!

 

[Obo]

Lettuce no if ewe kneed anything.

I mean, most of us are basically useless, but we're all ears.

 

[Larry Fine]

Lettuce no if ewe kneed anything.

Eye wheel dew dat.

If I knee anything, I'll probably scream.

 

[Obo]

If I knee anything, I'll probably scream.

I hear ya!

 

[Bikeric]

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Larry. I will be going in for the first of two full hip replacements on December 17th. Any advice from those that have had this done will be welcome.

 

[Larry Fine]

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery Larry.

Thank you.

Any advice from those that have had this done will be welcome.

That would be me.

First was waking up with a catheter inserted. It was so nice being able to ignore having to go.

Second is paying attention to the range-of-motion limitations, if they still have those.

Third is when they have you get up to walk around. You'll be surprised at how little it hurts.

Until fourth, when the pain blockers wear off, you'll be surprised at how much it hurts.

That takes about one to two days, so as the others advised, be well into your med routine.

For me, walking wasn't as much about pain as it was weakness, but you do have to start easy.

The pain was mostly constant, at and around the incision site. Ice packs make a difference.

I tell myself: "The first thousand steps are going to hurt. Get them over with, don't drag it out."

As for steps, remember to keep the operated leg straight, so bring it up second, and down first.