Knee surgery..been there? done that?

[coldfeet]

Thx for the post, I'm scheduling mine soon. Will pm you.

 

[Barkingcat]

Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Coldfeet -- it's a treasure trove of useful information.

 

[kaseri]

Reading through this thread has been good for me as I'm still going through therapy for ACL reconstructive surgery which was done back in April. I've experienced all emotions while going through this rehab. Even though I know lots of others have gone through what I'm going through it's therapeutic to read about other peoples experiences. I'm going a bit stir crazy as I've not been on the trails since late Feb. Keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to hike this winter.

 

[Trainwreck]

We should probably have a "Knees-R-Us" section!
Knees can be very slow to recovery. I am very impressed that Mark had such a great recovery. Mine is taking a bit longer, but I have other soft tissue issues that had not much to do with my new knee, although it is nice not to hear and feel the GRINDING in my knee anymore!

I am getting out there, see Coldfeets other thread about TKR's.

Sandy

 

[CaptCaper]

I hope Silverfox and Coldfeet are doing well with their TKR. I was hoping to find a newer thread on Knee replacements but maybe this will suffice. I finally got a RTKR July 9th 2012. At the end I couldn't walk into Walmart with out stopping in pain often..Bone on bone...Both knees but the right was the worst. I'm having the left knee done June 2 2014. I inherited the Arthritis from my mother. I have it in my fingers and shoulders like her as well.
All those hikes over the years including all 48 plus some with ever growing pain. The latter parts of the hike I was limping back and twisting in pain all night long. Those days are gone I wish I did the surgery years ago. I can do more then 6 miles now and or 1500 ft elevation gain due to the left knee will fill with inflammation and pain.
I was hiking Artists Bluff Boulder mountain in the 7 th week after surgery and working at it ever since. Most nights walking the dog around my 3/4 mile loop as well. Mt. Pemi, Sugar Loafs type are the limit for my left knee for now.
When I hike I try to walk it and not pound it. I try to step very carefully,smooth like both up hill and down. Also use good Leki poles of course. I'm a big guy so knocking the joint apart is a concern and wearing it out fast as well.
I guess I'll see in the years ahead but I don't want to give up hiking unless I see proof it wears the joint out very fast. I'm 65 so how many years do I have anyway.
I should had did it back in 2005 as the pain was bad then. Instead I had Micro fracture done on the joints to grow scares but that was only temporary and wore out fast. I had shots and that was a waste of big bucks...
Anyone in knee pain get an Xray and see how bad the cartilage is gone and if it's worn down get the TKR it has been great not to have pain.

 

[John Satterlee]

I am 7 days post revision left total knee replacement. I am not the poster boy for knee replacement. I have been dealing with chronic stiffness pain swelling and a knee full of scar tissue (extension +10 and flexion 75) since 1/2011 and I have spent those 30 months between surgeries in this hell trying "to live with it" as one of my second opinions suggested. Despite this disability, I was able to to do some things last year, one, get to a summit ( Mt Pemigewasett-however humble) and two,get some fractions of long desired rides in, including the Kancamagus pass from Lincoln. Not pretty, I am the guy riding on my heel doing 9 mph on flat roads.

At this point deciding for another operation was a big deal. This new surgeon- a total knee replacement specialist in Boston-has identified a malpositioning of my implants that he says was the cause of my problems and that this new operation should be successful with high chance of getting my life back. And everyone here is saying that I am doing great so far. This new MD is much more on top of things and this time I have a lot more faith in this PT crew.

Right now it is hard work but I can't wait to get back on the trail and on the saddle.

 

[CaptCaper]

I am 7 days post revision left total knee replacement. I am not the poster boy for knee replacement. I have been dealing with chronic stiffness pain swelling and a knee full of scar tissue (extension +10 and flexion 75) since 1/2011 and I have spent those 30 months between surgeries in this hell trying "to live with it" as one of my second opinions suggested. Despite this disability, I was able to to do some things last year, one, get to a summit ( Mt Pemigewasett-however humble) and two,get some fractions of long desired rides in, including the Kancamagus pass from Lincoln. Not pretty, I am the guy riding on my heel doing 9 mph on flat roads.

At this point deciding for another operation was a big deal. This new surgeon- a total knee replacement specialist in Boston-has identified a malpositioning of my implants that he says was the cause of my problems and that this new operation should be successful with high chance of getting my life back. And everyone here is saying that I am doing great so far. This new MD is much more on top of things and this time I have a lot more faith in this PT crew.

Right now it is hard work but I can't wait to get back on the trail and on the saddle.

Good luck. I know the 1st week was pretty tough as the 2nd week and revision is harder. I bet you'll be great after you get back to it. The malpositioning of the implants was caused by? the TKR surgeon ? or bone loss? I'm doing pretty good I think..It's been 11 months now..My surgeon is quite a guy...I can hike all day and the TKR is fine. IT's my left knee now that needs TKR..

 

[John Satterlee]

I do not know what caused my problems with primary TKR and will not worry about that now.

Right now I am concentrating on this revision and things are going a lot better than the first one. So much better. This Boston orthopedic MD is crackerjack as is the hospital, New England Baptist Hospital, it is a place that I never really knew of until last week.

The best thing I have right now is hope, something I haven't had in a few years.

 

[coldfeet]

Hi Capt, and hello John,

First, good to hear your news John, I sent you a pm.

Capt, all is going well. I went on app 7 winter hikes here in the Catskills and finished up my winter 35's. Went on a few NH hikes, one was an out and back after not finding the trail, (that's a post about NH trail markers a few weeks ago)...then my nephew took me up to an AMC hut, forgot the name but it was the with the 3 mile road walk because they close the road for snow. I hike very carefully and sit on my butt to go down when other people might make a 1 or 2 ft jump. I'm nervous wearing crampons but didn't have to use them to much this year, used the microspikes a lot. My right knee was very sore after the NH hike and I called my dr because I also need a RTKR one day. Hope to stretch it out as long as possible since I'm only 52. I hope not to have a revision when I'm 70 and that's why people wait, but I couldn't. Looks like I'm going to get rid of my 22in wide 17ft poly kayak because I really have a hard time bending the knee to get out. I'm going to look at 24in wide boats. I just paddled parts of Lake Champlain this weekend by Otter creek, I used an open canoe/kayak for that which helps my knees. We should have a gathering of TKR's one day and go for a hike. That would be cool. I hope to get out to John's area some time this summer, talk soon..take your meds and bend those knees!..ps, I did get tears in my eyes on the NH trip when I post holed a bit to far and the knee bent back a little to much, did bring out a quick yell.

 

[Silverfox]

Hey Capt, John and cold feet

John..the Boston docs are the best,,work it..sounds like you got a raw deal

an update on my situation

since 2/2009 tkr

successfully managed 4 single season w48 rounds

7 peaks left on white mountain grid ..460 since knee thing

i know which knee had the tkr...it doesnt bend quite as well..but as far as hiking, especially climbing, the leg is equally as strong and is seldom favored..frankly the other one is more sore on the way home after a hike

I know others have had different outcomes from this fairly major surgery but I for one can say everything went well and that it has been a positive life changing experience

if you are out there and walking in pain..or not walking because of the pain and swelling I say get it done..there is no reason to wait

I for sure appreciate the comments received via this thread the last few years and hope that others along the way can benefit as well

 

[John Satterlee]

With the two surgeries and the struggle between them, there is a a lot to say, but this is not the forum to say it. All I can say that is my Boston orthopedic surgeon who discovered my problem and gave me high hopes of normal recovery- and the hospital-New England Baptist- were top line. I did not think there were places that still gave as great care as that fine place

With this second surgery, progress is coming quickly, and I am finding a lot of hope, and this recovery is going much more smoothly, both physically and mentally. I have high hopes of getting my life back and getting back out there and enjoying those things I love. but it is tough to not push myself with these things. Real tough.

Right after I had my last injury- in beginning of 2010- we tried to get up to Franconia Ridge via AT(Liberty Spring Trial) and with fear of not tolerating the descent, I had to turn back before I thought the knee might act up. Just at tree line. I have had that hike in my mind for three years and am just waiting to get the go ahead to get back to that trail and get to the top.

 

[Scarpy]

I' m 48 and I've had three surgeries for torn meniscus over the past ten years. Two on my left and one on my right. After the last one three years ago I decided I should lose weight(40lbs) and start excercising. I've been doing P90x for the past three years and it has helped a great deal with strengthening the muscles around my knee. I hold my breath every time I hike but so far so good.

 

[Silverfox]

keeping them strong keeps them good..or at least it helps having strong muscles to speed surgical recoveries...nothing good comes from sitting on the couch