Cycling UK Forum

Bhamphysio wrote: ↑3 Sep 2023, 10:00am
THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE -
7. Do not have this surgery unless you have the mindset to work very hard.The surgery is the relative easy bit. It’s the postop rehab that’s hard. If you did nothing after your surgery, you will have a permanently stiff and functionless knee and a lot of pain. The surgery is doomed to failure.

An excellent and very helpful post in which I am thoroughly of the same opinion.

After having bilateral simultaneous TKR there was an enormous amount of rehab to do in the first few weeks. Very painful initially but essential. Prehab also helped.

No one mentioned that the night pain would be different from the day pain and for me it was helped by different medication.

I found that in addition to using the turbo, a C2 rowing machine helped me to achieve 0° extension and 130° degrees of flexion. Sliding gently up and down on the rower certainly helped. My flexion pre op was 120°.

De Sisti wrote: ↑30 Jun 2023, 5:44pm I had the operation on 11th September, and went on the Concept2 rower (for gentle 500 metre sessions) during the first week of November. Short, flat 25 mile rides followed a few days

Thanks for the reply. I didn’t have clips I had dissolvable stitches so fortunately only discomfort.

Kim N wrote: ↑10 Apr 2023, 3:25pm.
My dilemma, is having all this junk added to my existing junk, going to affect my ability to ride my bike comfortably? At the age of 63, I ride a bike to keep fit and enjoyment. Sex, doesn't keep me fit.

Have any of you faced the same dilemma and how did it pan out?

I presume you have seen this forum?

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/ ... nced=false

De Sisti wrote: ↑29 Jun 2023, 8:22pm Riding and (indoor) rowing back to normal.

I am five weeks post RALP surgery and awaiting histology results of the operation. I will wait at least twelve weeks before getting back on the bike but I’m interested to know when you felt comfortable returning to the indoor rower.

Thanks

The only unmentionable downside of doing this in the summer is the insect life...

Has to be mentioned.
https://www.calltoadventure.uk/post/midges-in-scotland

danfoto wrote: ↑3 Jun 2022, 3:20pm I'm 75 and had a total knee replacement with spinal anaesthetic on May 3rd. Four weeks or so on, I'm currently at an average of 0.7 miles a day walking without a stick and I can just get the knee to a 110° bend if I grit my teeth! Ten degrees more and I reckon I'll be good to get back on a bike. How long that 10 degrees are going to take, I have no idea.

And buy yourself a kid's skateboard (the type that's about 17" long). Very handy for doing knee-bending exercises whilst seated.

That’s great progress. It’s incredibly hard work but well worth the efforts.

My post op knee extension was 0’ and flexion roughly about 90’. Using the foot slide exercises and working on the turbo pedalling backwards then incredibly painfully forwards the flexion increased slowly. Pre-op my flexion was 120’ and now it’s about 130’.

I also used an indoor rowing machine for the seated knee-bending exercises.

The prehab work was delivered by the physio face to face pre pandemic.

Post op I had only two sessions face to face then the pandemic arrived and the rest was delivered over the phone with printed illustrated instructions support the exercises. Fortunately I have a turbo trainer which proved invaluable in helping the rehab exercises.

Had a simultaneous bilateral total knee replacements March 2020 at the age of 64. Cycling kept the knees going for many years until my head and knees said that they were ready for replacements. The first twelve weeks were a very painful recovery but you need to work very hard to regain the flexion and extension required for range of movement and to avoid scarring.

Just over two years on and recovery has been very good. My surgeon said that recovery takes between 12 and 18 months. I also worked with a physio on prehab which helped with the recovery.

Just ridden the RideLondon 100, including hotel to start 112 miles ridden on the day.

Before and after. Very happy to have had them done.

March 202 I had simultaneous bilateral total knee replacements at the age of 65.

Before the operation I had pre-has with an NHS physio to make sure my knees were as strong as I could make them. Twenty six days after the operation I got on the turbo and started “cycling”. Combined with the physiotherapist’s exercises the turbo proved an invaluable tool in the recovery process.

The first three months of recovery were painful but the work has to be put in to ensure that the knee does not scar over and restrict flexion.

Moving on to today. I have cycled just over 4,500 miles with my new knees, entered the RideLondon 100 in May. Recommenced Pilates classes, something I did prior to the operation. Walking downstairs in a straight line without pain is a marker that the knee replacements are a success and I no longer have to worry about knee pain and restricted activities.

Hope it goes well.

I have/had severe right hand side lower back pain.

Having had simultaneous bilateral knee replacements March 2020 and a new bike last year I slowly started building up the mileage. Up to twenty miles was ok but around thirty miles the pain was excruciating. Thought it was the new bike so had a bike fit. Fitted shorter cranks and changed cleat position which were much easier on the new knees. But the lower back pain persisted.

Saw a physiotherapist who diagnosed that the right hand psoas muscle had shortened, not surprising as for three months after the surgery I did nothing but rehab the knees.

Exercises for the psoas muscles and lower back are working. The pain returned after fifty miles on my last long ride so the exercises continue and is work in progress. I was taking part in Pilates classes up to my knee surgery and will recommence next month hopefully to build up my core strength again.

I suppose my advice is to get professional advice either a bike fit and/or physio sooner than later.

Hope this helps.

And I had orthotic inserts for my shoes which did seem to help.

ChrisButch wrote: ↑17 May 2021, 8:42am

531colin wrote: ↑16 May 2021, 6:12pm
Its your money.

Who knows, it might be your money - they can be NHS-prescribed

I had two prescribed on the NHS. Maybe my knees were too far gone, they didn’t do much for me.

Cyril Haearn wrote: ↑5 May 2021, 11:16am @beardybiker01
Taller, by how much?

[

Ride-sleep-repeat wrote: ↑5 May 2021, 7:27pm I am also interested in how much taller you are after your knee ops!!!!!

I’m taller by half an inch. I was quite bandy before the op now with straight legs back to my normal height.

Had a bike fit and revealed a couple of issues.

I am taller now than pre TKRs and I wanted to ensure that it wasn’t the bike giving me pain in the knees it was the process of rehab recovery.

I ride SPDs on my road bike. The cleats were moved back and inwards to move my feet forward and out. Also it was noted that my cranks were too long! So after discussion and web research I have replaced the 175mm cranks with 165mm. The 175mm are standard on the size of my bikes but it could be that riding with 170mm could have helped to prolong my knees even further.

I have used the new 165mm cranks for just 75 miles but they seem to be much kinder on my new knees. also the shorter cranks open up the hips apparently. Time will tell.

The bike fitter also discussed widening my stance. A solution he advised would be to buy Speedplay pedals. Before going down that expensive road I will first try some pedal extenders from SJS Cycles.

Ride-sleep-repeat wrote:

I've just had X-Rays on both knees today so it will be interesting to compare the results to your 'before' picture!
At the very least we'll have some better insight so the GP can decide what's best moving forward.[/quote]

After twelve months I’m very happy with my new knees although the first twelve weeks of rehab and recovery were hard work and very, very painful.

Hope your treatment goes well.

Had my 12 month check on my new knees today.
All good and consultant happy with result.

Before and after.