Pre knee replacement X-Rays……??

You are correct, I have been researching TkR for 5 years, I knew it was coming for me…but still….that big old zipper scar😂….

Thats why I waited until I couldn't take it anymore. I was hoping to be like the bionic man. 💪 But guess maybe for 2nd one?🤞🤣

Winter Cold rainy days were the worst and buying a Softub hot tub was one of the best things I ever did and still use it nightly.

You can put up with a lot of pain and inconvenience with enough "want to" and time when you get the work done based on health care available and other factors. The deciding factor explained by multiple Sports Drs and Orthopedic surgeons was if it impacts ability to do basic things like working for a living, can't tie your own shoes, play with your kids, enjoy your hobbies, etc. it's time for surgery. Insurance companies don't like to pay for cleanouts and less invasive interim surgeries anymore. I went 40 years maintaining 1st blown up knee and then I couldn't get shots or arthroscopies approved anymore and I had a window of time and good insurance and just did it. Gotta consider age into the situation too- better chance of full recovery with best results if you aren't too old. Also I had other conditions caused by damaged leg --> posture I didn't know about: tilted pelvis, SI joint Arthritis, and a little Scoliosis to name 3. Live and learn.

Just checking in to see how the replacement stories are progressing. Gotta be honest the mixed results had me on the fence. I’m glad to read that everyone seems to be happy although some recovery’s sound better than others. Press516 I hope the one you had done eight months ago comes around and the one in November is much easier. I’ve had mixed results with different surgeons over the years. Something changed with mine a couple days ago. I’ve been riding my emtb a lot lately, some days are better than others. 2 days ago I was chasing 2 year old grandson up and down the street, I felt a “Different” sensation and it feels like my tib fib “shifted” ? Over and isn’t underneath the femur like it used to be ? It looks kind of like Pressley155’s, like it’s sliding off the side I guess ? I was glad to read you’re back riding and doing well. Anyway, looks like I’m gonna set up an appointment and start seeing what kind of orthopedic surgeons Kaiser has available. The doctor that redid my femur was awesome but not sure if he does knees. No x-rays yet but I was looking at it last night and it’s different than a few weeks ago. 
The lump by the arrow is new and where the weird sensation is  

When I had LCL MCL ACL meniscus and bone repaired, I couldn't get full extension. I ended up laying across several chairs with my leg sticking out and having my 8 year old sit on the end of my leg by the foot and bounce up and down. Terrible pain, and scar tearing, but it worked.

After 3 knee surgeries my advice to anyone and everyone is keep the swelling down. That's where the residual problems come from. Find the suggestion that for the local sports teams. Find the PT that treats them. Never let someone else puck your surgeon or therapist.

Sorry just saw this.  Dr. Kavanaugh, Jiffy Knee, in Phoenix 

Sorry just saw this.  Dr. Kavanaugh, Jiffy Knee, in Phoenix 

I am five weeks tomorrow and I’m very happy with my results. I have had zero knee pain since the replacement.  My physical therapist is happy with my  progress, approximately 112°. I do need to learn to use my ankle more but I told him I was walking like that for 28 years so it’s not going to happen overnight.

Was back in to see the doc and go over what I’m experiencing and it’s still getting better, but it’s also a little what I call loose.  So far, most importantly, I don’t have the bone on bone pain anymore.  He reviewed his notes top to bottom and said my knee went together as good as any he has done.  He did reiterate that my previous 2 ACL surgeries left me with a much higher than normal amount of scar tissue which is a significant source of stiffness.

Mayo Clinic is contracted with Stryker and I do have the Triathlon implant.  He said that since I am sensitive to the loose feeling, he will consider the Triathlon Primary implant which has a slightly different design and he feels it might be a better solution for me.

Most importantly for the actual surgery, is the nerve block actually work this time.    

I’m confident that I will be better once I get back in the gym and really work on both of them.  Nov 26th is just around the corner.

At age 56, TKR Dec 2023, first 6 months was tough, 2nd 6 months better.  Riding and racing at the 6 month mark.

Make sure you start PT on day 3 after your surgery.  Do PT at the gym every day.  

My replaced knee feels great, dont need to ice after rides, was squatting 250lbs in the gym yesterday, racing this Saturday at GH.

Suck it up, get the surgery, make sure you have the best surgeon in your area.

Im going to see TrK ortho next week…dam..these zipper scars look horrible 😂been getting gel shots the last 3 years, thought I could maybe go a few more years but I tore up what was left of it a few weeks ago racing…errr I hate knee surgeries….question: did you guys tell your Ortho you race Mx? What did they say?

I told the doc I ride single track, and he said I would be good to go.  He did think moto would probably reduce the life expectancy of the implant by some amount.  He also felt like due to my age, I wasn’t going to be too hard on it.

This is at 10 months.

I often wear a compression sleeve on it.

You will not have much of a scar with current procedures.  You can barely see my TKR incision scar.  

I told my knee guy. He didn't care. Said he could revise anything. My ortho didn't care. My PT guy didn't care. He rehabbed some local moto guys that rode some nationals. My advice to anyone that gets a medical professional with a kneejerk "no" reaction is to find another ortho/surgeon/PT. Those types will hold you back in your recovery. At our age we are looking to keep racing not just being able to get off the shitter unassisted.

Scar looks pretty good! Thanks for reply…

Great, I agree 100% on an Ortho who understands …thanks for the reply….

On another forum, bass fishing forum or hunting can’t recall.  A guy went into detail about how the current technology/ best procedure uses a robot to align the new knee joint.  He also said if the doctor you are using doesn’t use robot technology best to find another doctor.  I forgot the name of the procedure and the name of the company that came up with method.  It was interesting and new to me.

Cori robotic system

My doc used the Stryker Robot. Starts with them taking a detailed CAT scan of your leg with a rod strapped to it, then it does all the calculations, performs the cuts.  If you are into gore there are many videos on YouTube I wish I didn’t watch before I got it done.  

Look up Durolane injection. its one injection and will be life changing for about 9 months...... if nothing else it buys you some time. I have had 3 now, two in the left knee and one in the right.

Introduction to DUROLANE (cc) - YouTube

Durolane is just hyaluronic acid. If it works for you- great. Did nothing for me.  Had multiple injections of Novacort over several years and had best lasting results. Once you're bone on bone and rubbing off the hard cartilage TKR is the only lasting fix there is. Also insurance companies won't pay for anything less than TKR after your Dr decides you are ready for TKR.

Yes, I been doing the shots for 3 years, No Acl, probably less than 50% meniscus…osteoarthritis…it”s very likely TKR time for me…I would like to think I have high tolerance for pain but some days suck….

The things you do to keep riding :I'm 'stuck' at the 115mm  crank length, over a year after a Disastrous TKR. In the year before the Op ( which was to be followed, 3 months after by the LH knee TKR) I did Precisely 5000ks on one on my retired Dual Slalom frames I used in the 90s - Not much by many cycling stds, but it got my legs strong, and I lost around 50lbs.

 I ride, normally, with 160mm cranks. I modified an old pair of DH cranks to be 100, 115mm, 130mm from the 165s these were, to get back on the bike as early as possible.  130, from threading  straight into the crank, the 100 and 115, by the bolt on plates. Leg Still will not bend enough to go past the 115, no matter what I do.

Since the crap was put into me, I've done only around 1600ks, and for the last 4 months, been off the bicycle. I've put back on, around 35lbs.

I need to cut the crap, and get back to my middle of the night rides - hence the crap plastic flats, as they have Reflectors - to go with the FIVE Headlights, FIVE Tailights, Reflective Vest, and Reflective leg tapes I use - the Bastard / Bitch that ends up running me over, will have No " I Didn't See Him" BS excuse that those f""kers come out with..... . 

Oh, the scar from the TKR - the p**k Ortho continually bitched about him having to curve around the kneecap, due to the multiplicity of scars from 40 years of operations . He also bitched about all the hardware, and artificial ligament remnants, And the 'tunnels' in the joint from various ligament 'fitting' previously done.

PS : pre TKR pics : heck, I just re-organised some shelving in a storage area, and found boxes  and boxes of XRays and Scans from my 7 decades on this earth. It appears to be well, Well over 100 - but I'm buggered if I can find the  last 2 years of them. I think a lot of us here, might damned near glow in the dark from 'exposure'. I , being a Ranga, glow in the dark from just being a Ranga!

Pretty much every implant company has invested in robot technology by now, one of the first to do it in the ortho field was Mako, which Stryker bought the company so they were the “first” to win that race. Lots of surgeons switched to them to be a part of this great new technology. Does it help, yes but any surgeon who has spent years of training can go without it. Stryker chose to invest in robot technology, rather than updating the 20 year old knee implants. So basically they use new technology to put in old implants. Other companies let them sort out the robot stuff (pros and cons), updated their knee implants and are now coming out with their own robot technology. Top list of ortho implant companies in no particular order that I know have robots; Stryker, Depuy Synthes (J&J company) and zimmer biomet

Also a close friend of mine just had his hip replacement who is in his upper 50’s who’s raced mx his whole life. He had the surgery done about 2 weeks ago and said he wasn’t even sure they did the surgery other than making an incision on him he is in such little pain. Already walking around and ready to get back on a bike. They did a direct anterior hip replacement. Modern medicine has come along way, no need to keep living through pain every day. Get back to enjoying life. 

Always good to hear positive experiences….just thinking about another knee surgery is depressing but need to stay positive 💪

I think the pros far outweigh the cons in my opinion. I’m not saying there aren’t any risk involved cause there is (infection, anesthesia issues, surgery issues, etc.) I would just do as much research on surgeons in your area, specifically if they have done a joint fellowship after residency which is basically another year of specialty training doing joint replacements. Ask what implants they use, techniques, and see what you are most comfortable with. I would highly recommend looking at a outpatient/surgery center setting as the staff and operating rooms are used to the daily flow of those types of surgeries. 

Pic is from 3.5 years ago.

I am a side sleeper and the difference in knee size puts more pressure on the other leg causing bruising and its hard to find a way it’s comfortable now.