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Dang 2 ACLs
3 actually. Once on left knee and twice on right 🤷 if ya look close you can see multiple sets of threads in that side
I had my left knee replaced in April of 2022. I was 44 at the time. I'm having issues with my hip and leg muscles now, plus the other knee. Take PT serious, I did, but still have issues. I haven't rode yet since having the surgery.
I’m not far behind you as I’ve had bad knee pain since I tore my ACL for the second time at 25. The ligament never stretched far enough no matter how much PT I did. I went to several surgeons and they said it is tight, but it is solid. If it tears again we’ll fix it better the next time. What!??!?
I guess they never understood the continuous swelling and instability that I’ve dealt with, but I’m looking forward to a replacement in a year or so.
on a more important note I did run into a guy who had been through 3 replacements and was going in for his fourth. His problem wasn’t the artificial cartilage wearing away, but the hinges kept locking up on him. When it happened, he would literally kick the ground behind him to try and free up the sticking point. Very strange
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If cortisone and synvisc would have worked for me I would have stayed with that. They didn't last and that was when I decided to go with replacement. No regerts on TKR.
I've crashed plenty of times. 2 really hard hits. 1 where I landed full on my knee. No issues. At 250 lbs. I'll bet I hit the ground harder than you do.
With a tiny bit of luck you can still crash your brains out. I just wanted to make clear that if they detach from the bone, or your bone gets fractures it gets messy.
I was told that I needed knee replacement three years ago. I got stem cell treatment instead. Figured that I could always get a replacement later Once they get out the saw, then stem cell option would have been gone. The stem cell treatment turned back the clock several years. I have been riding several times a week….pain free. https://www.rejuvmedical.com/orthopedic-sports-medicine/stem-cell-treat…
Mx683 that’s awesome it worked for you! Ya best to explore all options, never know till you try. Figure tkr last resort. I was told it’s time to fuse my ankle as I could barely walk on it. Reluctantly, I got a cortisone shot hoping it would give some relief for a couple months. Felt 70% better right after shot. 8 years later still feels like it did after shot! Have no idea why it worked like it did !?! So glad I got it. Never know till you try.
Great info from all of you and eases my mind.. I am getting a TKR tomorrow at 38 years old. Unfortunately I stopped riding a few years ago. I would hope to pick it back up and up one day just for some easy off-road stuff no more MX. Pain is just too much for me now and I am out of options. Fingers crossed that I can say I wish I did this years ago as well.
Keep up on PT. I did, every surgery is different as well as progress. They tried to send me Saudi Arabia six months after surgery. Hopefully you're employer is better than mine.
Both of mine are bone on bone and have completely deteriorated in the last year.no visible line anymore on my xrays. Loojs like one bone.
I did the cortizone, helped for a little while
got the "rooster comb" done in both knees and noticed no difference.
Tried to get the first one done far enough ahead of new year i could use my 20 pt visits that my insurance limits me to per year, and then maybe get the other one done 3 months later. my ortho practice was opening a new surgery center and ran into delays.
Finally got mine scheduled on January 19.
I will see how many pt visits I have left and schedule second one accordingly next december.
Have some concerns about the increased risk of infection that require antibiotic courses for dental visits etc.
I seem to alway be getting cuts, scraps, huge slivers, and other things that concern me now.
Anybody had any really bad xperiences with an infection after a joint replacement?
Would really loved it if stem cell was further advanced and more reliable, but seems like a lot a snake oil and hype.
A few people seem to show some improvement but it does seem to be influenced by psychosomatic reactions and does not seem to have consistent lasting results for knees and hips.
Anyway, plan to pt pretty hard.
What about kneeling after recovery, is that going to be possible?
Do I really need to throw all my work boots away because the way they have developed wear pre surgery?
Any other tips or suggestions?
Already practicing the recovery exercises and PT starts next week. I have 3 months off from work, I hope I don't need that much time since I do desk work but time will tell.
Was your surgery successful overall?
Boots got to go.
kneeling for me is completely frowned upon by my PA. And even so by the pain every time I forget or try to kneel without my knee pads.
Yes, I take antibiotics before every dentist appointment. No issues yet 5 years down the road.
The issues I have are Covid related gym closures and sold out gym equipment. And a loose joint in the left knee. Shit happens.
I much prefer the knees I was born with before I went full on bone on bone. B on B is painful and debilitating. Replacement Knees bring their own issues, but are worlds better than B on B.
Good luck.
PS, look back and see what was written on the newer knees now on the market and spend some serious time picking your doctor.
It was somewhat successful, I still have pain in my hip, I have a desk job as well, but I'm active duty Army and my specialty is as a medium-voltage electrician/power plant operator. I can't do Army stuff anymore, but they're still trying to send to me to Saudi Arabia for a year. I hit 20 years in June, so I'm just going to try and medical board and call it a career in the Army. Hoping to get a job doing electrical testing.
Having a desk job, you shouldn't need the whole 3 months, but what my physical therapist said everyone is different. He said he had a 70 year-old tiny Asian lady and she was walking normal without crutches two days after surgery.
I recommend getting fitted for a pair of Hoka shoes as well. They're pricey, but they will help maintain your gait, at least they did for me.
Best of luck to you, let us know how you're doing!
My surgeon said that taking antibiotics isn't necessary after the first year, new research shows it's not as much of a concern. However, I take them to just to be safe before I see the dentist as well.
I blew my ACL out in 95, then again in 97. Strength training will heal you. Once you cut bone out you are done
Yes I agree, and it worked for me for almost 30 years, but when your meniscus is gone, your bone on bone, arthritis in the joint, can barely walk, there aren’t many options. But ya regardless strength training is key for good knees bad knees or after tkr.
Pit Row
Congrats on hitting 20! I am also at 20 in the Air Force, aircraft maintenance and set to retire next year. We should talk offline about disability and med board stuff. I sent you a message.
Surgery seems to have gone well today. Worst part is I had to leave with a catheter.. full bladder just would not release. Now in recovery mode! Just want to catch some sleep and get after tomorrow with my instructions. I've been on crutches for over a month. Crazy I can actually move my knee differently in a good way now right out of surgery.
Welp I am at 6 weeks after my surgery.. Thanks to everyone in this thread with the information provided it's helped mentally and physically. That first week or so after surgery was rough specifically the first 3-4 days was hell. I was constantly thinking what did I get myself into? But the pain dies down dramatically after a week or so. Due to the holidays I was not able to get into PT 4 days after the surgery like planned, but was able to get in 7 days later which put me a little behind at first, but just following the PT exercises and doing them at home has paid off. I think the craziest part for me was trying to comprehend that I can not really do anything to hurt my new knee or overdue it when it comes to exercises.
My range of motion is at 0 - 127 degrees right now so still have a little more to go that will come with time. Really have to get the strength back in my leg which is where the focus is shifting now. I developed bad habits over the years trying to compensate for the bad knee and I still need to figure out how to get over those and walk normal again. The clicking is interesting 😂. No cement was used which I have read more positives about than negatives.
Thanks again to everyone and if you are on the fence about the surgery just do it an get it out of the way, it will be worth it, just make sure you have downtime available for the recovery.
I am 13 days after tkr of my right knee.
Pain has not been too bad. Taking an opioid at night just to get better sleep. Last one tonight.
I am at the point I keep walking off and forgetting my walker. Even a cane is a nuisance. Leg has not buckled at all.
It is uncomfortable to really stretch, but i am at 105 degrees and improving. Squats are hardest because left knee is pretty bad.
Doing pt 2 times a week, mainly because insurance only covers 20 visits a year and I am wanting to have my left knee done in early November and have enough pt visits to at least get started on it so i can save 2025 pt visits for possible rotator cuff surgery.
Ice therapy is the key. Get an ice machine.
First post op Dr visit is this morning. Hoping to get released to drive.
Will update progress
Careful with the opiates. Yea addiction is everyone’s biggest concern. But not in my wheelhouse.
The big issue and I mean BIG, was constipation.
You do not know real pain until you pass three bowling balls 🎳 out your butt. My whole neighborhood thought my wife was stabbing me to death.
Obviously there are ways to minimize this, but I was not informed this was a side effect. The docs just kept telling me to take them. And normally I do not listen and stop right away. Oppps.
I had my second knee done a few weeks after my first, and I stopped the pain meds after two days. I went to the occasional ibuprofen.
Good luck guys, the big secret is PT and gym work.
Just getting caught back up on this thread...
I'm 59 and up for both TNR's this year. 3 ACL surgeries in the past, both are mega loose and bone on bone. Stairs are impossible. I went in at 50 and got the "too active, you'll ruin the implants" and wait a little longer response from multiple ortho's.
I've made lots of notes, have seen a couple of ortho's now and deciding which one to go with. Going to ask about which implants each one uses again.
No infections at all. The joint doesn't cause infections, the problem is that an infection can cause problems with the joint. The two absolutes I was given were no tattoos and no running unless I was running for my life. Antibiotics as a precaution for dental work.
My TKR was a breeze. Like I said, riding with no problem except I didn't gain any speed with a Ti knee. I will say this. I have a friend that has had both knees done. The first was a breeze too. He was playing golf in 8 weeks and just thrilled with it. He had the other knee done and went through hell. Same doc, hospital, procedure etc. Everybody heals differently and has different levels of pain tolerance that can affect recovery. Some physical therapists have different approaches to recovery. Insurance is a big variable that can affect recovery. I think I lucked out. All the stars aligned for me and my knee replacement. I had my left knee cleaned up and that was a breeze too but if I know if I had to do a replacement my previous experience would not guarantee it would be the same.
I've said before, when your quality of life is affected, you'll know it's time. I had days where I couldn't walk 40' to my mailbox, struggled getting out of a car, would be woke up in the middle of the night with my knee throbbing. OTC meds and Synvisc didn't work at that point.
Good luck.
The practice I have used has got their shit together.
They have a video you have to watch online that is about 45 minutes that goes over a lot of stuff, and then you have to go to "joint class", which is a couple hours long orientation that goes over a lot of the stuff mentioned here.
They talk about the swelling, and show pictures of it, stress how important pt is and that your recovery will involve some discomfort, but if you push through it will pay off.
They tell you about blood thinners because of the risk of blood clots, being careful with opiates, and yes, even dealing with constipation. Had us shower with a surgical scrub starting 5 days prior to surgery and the morning of. Clean sheets every night.
My gf and her sister are both nurses so having them play pharmacist was helpful.
Only back up I had was the first one post op, stool softener took care of the rest without an issue.
They built their own surgery center for knee, hip and shoulder replacements. Everything is outpatient unless there are any complications. It is pretty impressive and one of the best patient experiences I have ever had. They are good at their specialty without making you feel like you are on an assembly line.
My surgery was 2 weeks ago tomorrow. I am cleared to drive. My extension is almost completely straight and I am at 105 degrees.
I worked it pretty hard today at pt and it is the most uncomfortable it has been since the day of surgery.
Again, get one of the ice machines. I got a donjoy, and froze 12 bottles of water and use 4 at a time instead of cubed ice. Each change last a couple of hours and it has really helped with the swelling and recovery after exercise. Only bad thing about this brand is it does not have an off switch. But still a bargain for $140.
Planning on getting the other one done in november.
I just made it to week 9 post op for the TKR on my right knee. Its been a long time coming and I put it off as long as possible. I had a partial on my left knee two years earlier and the recovery from that was excellent. I literally tried everything possible from stem cells to prolotherapy and every other injection / supplement to avoid the TKR.
My surgical experience was like one of the post previous, the nerve block didn't work and the Fentanyl made my blood pressure "tank" (according to the nurse) so they stopped all pain meds to bring my BP back up. When I came out of surgery, it felt like my leg was cut off. They made me wait for over 30 more minutes before giving my something so my BP would stabilize. I've pretty much been in pain ever since. I don't think they tell you about the nerve pain that you are going to experience. Its a pain that in the evening, it gets worse and makes it almost impossible to sleep at night. It seemed to get worse on week 3.
The TKR is not something that is a normal recovery. All my other surgeries, its seemed like progress was easily measured and expected. This is totally different. The progress is measured is so much slower than previous surgeries that it gets frustrating.
The mechanical recovery has been pretty well. I have almost full extension now and my flexion is getting to where I'm over 90% close to normal.
I was given the green light to start doing everything again including lifting weights, baseball etc....
DrFletcher, my first TKR I woke up in the recovery room thinking everything went wrong and they had to count my leg off as the pain was incredible. This all took place in less than 30 seconds as I came to. I raised my head and saw my toes so, I knew I had my lower leg. The RR nurse hustled over and asked on a scale of 1-10 what my pain was. I replied a 15. Seconds later, the drugs injected into my IV sent me to the happiest place on earth.
I never had pain like that again or in my second TKR a few weeks later.
My release from PT to gym workouts coincided with Covid. February 2020. Boy did that fuck everything up. All the gyms closed and by the time l realized I needed to buy home gym equipment, everything was all sold out.
Post bilateral knee replacement surgery I have no joint pain. Huge upside. Downsides; Issues are neuropathy in my feet from nerve damage. Inability to kneel without a real good, and I mean real good knee pads. No running. Flexion is so-so. And my balance went to shit as I now do not know where in the universe my feet are. I lost two toenails to this and I need to work on get my balance back everyday.
But remember, everyone has different results.
Even with the downsides, I would still choose to do it again if given the choice. Bone on bone is no joke. It is crippling.
Good luck fellow TKR people.
Apparently I was what they told my wife was "quite a lot of pain" in recovery. I don't remember. I don't know if I was crying like a little girl or carpet bombing with F-bombs.
Wow, great recovery. I didn't start out patient PT until I was at 2 weeks and driving a couple weeks after that. I was only required to shower with Hibicleanse the night before and the morning of the surgery.
You shout give the clinic a shout out. It could benefit others.
Watauga orthopedics in the tri cities (Kingsport, Johnson city, Bristol, TN)
They have offices in all 3.
Their new surgery center is in an Industrail park on the opposite side of the tri cities regional airport that muddy creek raceway is near. Probably 2 1/2 miles from the track.
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