Riding with a knee replacement

[harper]

Originally Posted by JohnIb

You've clearly considered the countless repetitions strain on your knee.
Have you considered the bad/unlucky UPD strain of your knee?
Just mentioning it to help inform your decision.

John

I think falling is over-rated. I just don't do it...it's a waste of time and energy. The compression from such an activity would be detrimental.

Today: quad stretches, rode 1.3 miles to the library to drop a book off, quad stretches, rode 1.3 miles home, quad stretches, applied heat, then iced. Then I'll walk 1.4 miles to massage and 1.4 miles home. Life as a retiree is tough.

[monocyclism]

Hey! Stop whining or don’t. We have all got the fracas of ‘age-related syndrome especially at 60 plus

I have become accustomed to not being taken seriously as a competitive rider ‘cos my next stop is 70. Maybe circumstances make you a none-competitive rider?


I don’t compete against anyone except myself….unless I can see the last rider in front of me… then I have to be in front of him.

Sure you are recovering….best of luck….but whatever happens….happens. My best shot is to get into macrobiotics with a spot of engine oil and buy a multigym.

[newob]

Nice work on your recovery, Harper, but I've been told several times
that I was the superhero of rehab!

[Mikefule]

Originally Posted by harper

Thank you. You are a wise man, Mike, and always the distributor of sincere and good advice. I, however, frequently ignore advice, either good or bad. I did listen to the advice of the PT, though. She said that the pain I experienced was typical from working those muscles too soon and too much and did not damage the joint. She recommended that I dial back the distance and level out the course.

I rode a bit more than a mile today and chose a route with only mild ascents and descents. I nailed 5 out of 5 freemounts which was really the goal of this ride. I was pleased with that because I launch off the leg with the new knee and had no trouble with it at all.

I followed the ride with quad stretches using a pull strap. Then I iced. If this goes OK I will probably make this relatively incline-free riding a daily regime and work up from there. After all, I'm trying to prepare for a ride that is entirely on a 2% downhill grade.

All the best.

[harper]

I'm about 8 months into this, now. I rode last week for the first time since my post in July. It was just hurting too much to be pleasant and I got busy with other things. Lots of motorcycle riding, for instance.

There were several breaks in the weather last week and I rode four days in a row, three miles one day and then four miles the other three days. Today, after it hailed, there was a break in the weather and I rode seven miles non-stop with a couple of good climbs and descents. This knee seems to be working OK now.

I guess physical therapists and surgeons know what they're talking about sometimes.

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by bungeejoe

Your new parts sound like they might be adding weight. Maybe these heavy parts might help gravity pull you downhill easier.

My wife Jacquie got her right knee replaced on Dec. 13. She's doing well in rehab, getting to where she doesn't need to ice much now. Still sticking with walking and riding a recumbent elliptical trainer so far, plus stretching and basic PT exercises. She's done with actual PT sessions with a trainer. But they do put quite a bit of metal into you, at least in her case. Hers is made of chromium cobalt, with some nylon or similar plastic-like material on the friction interfaces. I'd post an x-ray, but she's not around to ask her permission first.

Originally Posted by harper

I guess physical therapists and surgeons know what they're talking about sometimes.

That's great to know! Yes, the recovery takes quite a while, and her doctor even told her some peoples' swelling can last up to a year. So taking it easy is the way to go. Congratulations on your successful recovery! I'm going to have her read this thread.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by harper

Lots of motorcycle riding

The peanut gallery demands photographic evidence.

[harper]

Originally Posted by maestro8

The peanut gallery demands photographic evidence.

It's hard to take a selfie while riding. My son took this when we rode to West Seattle last year.

I rode the Coker 8 miles yesterday aggressively and with two steep climbs and two long climbs. Sore legs but not sore knees. I'm hoping for an IHD ride for my 66th this year.

[johnfoss]

Nice! I especially like your giant, cartoon-like mirrors.

Hey, is that hard to ride?