Fake knees, who's got 'em?

**flashg** · 1st November 2015, 19:51

Back in 1978 I tore the medial meniscus in my right knee, it was a bad tear and it was removed.
Present day and the knee has had enough of bone on bone and needs replaced.
ACC have no record's of this accident or paying for the operation or paying me while I recovered. I contacted Dunedin hospital and they don't keep records that long. It's like it never happened.
The good news is ACC have decided to pay for my operation and cover all my treatment costs and cover my wages 80% anyway so that's great.
Enough of that. My question is who's had total knee replacement ?
And how long before I can ride again ?
How long before it would be safe to go trail riding again ?
I'm 183cm and 81kg and reasonably fit and 58 years old.

**AllanB** · 1st November 2015, 20:23

Both my inlaws have had them. In fact Mr just had a second set inserted.

**buggerit** · 1st November 2015, 20:35

Originally Posted by flashg

Back in 1978 I tore the medial meniscus in my right knee, it was a bad tear and it was removed.
Present day and the knee has had enough of bone on bone and needs replaced.
ACC have no record's of this accident or paying for the operation or paying me while I recovered. I contacted Dunedin hospital and they don't keep records that long. It's like it never happened.
The good news is ACC have decided to pay for my operation and cover all my treatment costs and cover my wages 80% anyway so that's great.
Enough of that. My question is who's had total knee replacement ?
And how long before I can ride again ?
How long before it would be safe to go trail riding again ?
I'm 183cm and 81kg and reasonably fit and 58 years old.

Best give it at least a week

**nerrrd** · 1st November 2015, 20:48

Sister had her other knee replaced a week and a half ago, she's got another week off at home and then back to half days at work the following week.

**ellipsis** · 1st November 2015, 21:32

...dunno about knees but I know where there is a second hand american brain going cheap, never been used...

**Moi** · 1st November 2015, 21:56

"I'm 183cm and 81kg and reasonably fit and 58 years old." - sounds like a line from a Lonely-Hearts Advert...

Seriously, no personal experience with knee-replacement though had colleagues who had had one or both done and most up and about and back to 'normal' in 4 weeks, but none of them rode bikes let alone off-road.

Can tell about cataract replacement and eye sight saving surgery...

**Grumph** · 2nd November 2015, 05:33

From talking to friends who have had replacements, the key to getting back on the bike is achieving full angular movement with the replacement.
To do that, it's necessary to follow the physio to the letter...

And whatever you do, don't have both knees done at the same time as it's not physically possible to do enough physio to get full movement on both....

**Tazz** · 2nd November 2015, 10:48

My sister and mother have, and my father is due to get both done when he heads back to Ireland early next year (although maybe not both at once) and I have to be careful with what I do (haven't skied for years

) to avoid have one too young (my sister was 19 when she had hers done).

Road to recovery was quite hard on both my mother and sister, but they both had a really good physio which made a huge difference, particularly my mother who got way more bend angle back than anticipated due to the physios aggressive (but not overly so) work as soon as possible after surgery.

I saw you mention somewhere else that you'd been told about a year to get back to trail riding? Everyone heals differently but from my familys experience that sounds about right, and even then you have to be careful. On the bike will be fine, it's the weird angles pushing on hills and the like that will catch you out.

**flashg** · 2nd November 2015, 16:48

To all that have replied, many thanks. I wasn't expecting such good and helpful comments and advice. Not long now ...............

**pritch** · 2nd November 2015, 17:23

Originally Posted by flashg

My question is who's had total knee replacement ?
And how long before I can ride again ?

I had a partial L knee replacement. I did the exercises the physio gave me. The local Honda dealer had a new VFR on the floor so each week I went in to see if I could adopt a riding position. (My bike was away getting the suspension done.) It took just under a month before I could ride my own bike home.

Could ride the moped almost straight away.

Dunno about the off road bit.

**Berries** · 2nd November 2015, 18:52

I knew a guy with a wooden leg but real feet.

Excellent laugh at parties.

**cc rider** · 3rd November 2015, 00:35

I thought your post was "Fucked knees, who's got 'em?"

I do! I do!

Both have tendonitis, arthritis & fluid on them. Oh what fun.
2 knee replacements to look forward to apparently

Good luck with your recovery flashg. Consider getting a pr of POD knee braces. Or at least 1. Adjusted correctly for the movement range you require can make the difference between mobility & possible future damage. You might be able to claim it as an aid.

CC

**Tazz** · 3rd November 2015, 09:09

Originally Posted by cc rider

Good luck with your recovery flashg. Consider getting a pr of POD knee braces.

Now that's not a silly idea. Sinking $500-1000 into a good knee brace could see you back sooner. You won't really know until it's all happening though.