Knee Surgery

I asked my physician when I had kneesurgery, he recommended a stationery bike with light resistance for 4 weeks after the operation, over running a geared bike out and about.

Had my left knee done six years ago, it was ok. Had it redone two months ago and it's just shite. Have to have it straped up all the time. A friend wants he to race in Cannoch in November, 7 mile cross country run, 12 mile mountain bike and 1000 yard kayack. Can't run for toffee, Ha, i laugth in the face of it and take it like a man..........

I had a stage 2 medial ligament tear, plus torn meniscus, arthroscopy which cleared that latter.

This was almost ten years ago now (and saying that makes me feel old), everything seems fine now.

about 15-20 years ago i suffered a rupture to my acl but thro physio i built my self up and got back on the bike..........6 months ago i had an accident , the knee went and an xray revealed poss cartlidge damage also. i'm waiting on a mri scan tp decide wether i need an op

has anybody went thro this and ended up with an op?.
i'm reluctent to go thro the op but may have no choice.
i'm looking for cyclist advice, experience etc..

Ouch, a harsh result after a self made come back. I've several friends who climb aswell as ride who've had the self same debate. I'm no expert, but if it helps I'll ask them to send me their thoughts and send your way.

My Dad had a similar debate, though significantly late in life, and to be honest, it's possibly the best decision he made. For the first month or so, movement was tricky as the op was early January and together with two steel hips, he was'nt what you'd call confident on his feet, but fully recovered with excellent physio and all is very much good.

Hope it helps......

bluerip00 on here is a club cyclist who is also a physio who runs cycling specific clinics with a discount for your first session.

He has probably seen and assessed more injuries in a cycling context than most orthopaedic surgeons.

Here's his thread; lots of discussion in there too

http://www.lfgss.com/thread29902.html

Mini Cooper also had knee surgery last year and is back both climbing and cycling (albeit in back in Oz) but PM him - he's here at the moment visiting.

I had an acl reconstruction and menisectomy done 23 years ago. You don't have to have it done and there are plenty of people going around quite happily without an acl, retired rugby players mainly. However, in my case, the knee kept giving way so I had little choice. The good news is however, is that I was back to cycling within a few weeks and have been cycling ever since.

The main risk associated with not having / delaying surgery is the possibility of early onset degenerative changes as a result of abnormal loading stresses within the knee. Good proprioceptive rehab and functional strength are essential whether you undergo surgery or not but sadly a lot of people don't rehab to a high enough level.

adoubletap.........many thanks for the thread. i'm in glasgow

yoav.......sadly thats what keeps happening to me, the knee keeps giving way and sets me back. i'm 54 and need a solution.

bluerip00.....thanks for your reply. in your opinion the fact that my knee keeps giving way ( as in the case of yoav) does this leave me no choice but an op?. i'm 54 btw.
also do you know of anyone like yourself (cyclist physio) in glasgow for second opinion?.

many thanks to all for replies.

Degenerative changes by themselves are not necessarily a problem. At 54 years, some changes are inevitable and are not directly associated with pain or disability, and can be overcome with good rehab.

In my case, I ruptured my ACL in Antarctica (yes!) and it wasn't until 18 months later that I returned to the UK and saw a surgeon. By that time, I had degenerative (read arthritic) changes in my knee. I was 28 at the time. However, these changes have not caused me any pain or disability in the last 23 years, apart from the post-op pain.

However, if your knee keeps giving way, like mine did, then that is a definite barrier to getting back to normal. You have a structural defect in your knee which won't fix itself. My suggestion is that you go and see an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in knees. Your GP will know who.

hi all
i had my cartlidge trimmed about a week ago, and ive been told recovery time 3-6weeks (old guy 55yrs). Anyone gone thro' the same thing?. i'm looking for advice on when to get back on the bike. i'm walking ok although quite tenderly, can hobble up and downstairs, cant quite bend the knee fully. Theres still a bit of pain/ache with the knee but i'm feeling good about it.
any advice professional or thro' experience, would be appreciated
ta

hi all
i had my cartlidge trimmed about a week ago, and ive been told recovery time 3-6weeks (old guy 55yrs). Anyone gone thro' the same thing?. i'm looking for advice on when to get back on the bike. i'm walking ok although quite tenderly, can hobble up and downstairs, cant quite bend the knee fully. Theres still a bit of pain/ache with the knee but i'm feeling good about it.
any advice professional or thro' experience, would be appreciated
ta

Ask your doctor surely. If it's one thing that'll screw your knew permanently it's listening to the advice of some stranger on the Internet.

I've been through this myself, and yes I am a stranger but I'm also a doctor (really).

Basically, you can start cycling whenever you feel up to it. If anything cycling is better than walking or running as it is non-weight bearing. Cycle on a trainer first if you don't feel up to going out.

Start with short periods and build it up gradually. Don't have a pre-determined distance that you must do. Don't worry if the knee is a bit more sore after the exercise than before, it is unlikely you are doing any damage. You may also benefit from other exercises such a yoga or weights to build up flexibility and muscle strength.

Did they get the right leg? They nearly got the wrong one with me (and anaesthetic requirements), then beefed it and made it worse (would randomly jam up with pain similar to what I imagine being shot in the knee would feel like, making drivign/walking/working/sleeping almost impossible) and took 2-3months until they finally bothered to get round to remedying it.
When they hit it the second time they got it right, and I spent about 3months in light physio (part nhs, part private) to get knee back up to strength.

I would say you could ride a few weeks after (once swelling/bruising is down), but nothing demanding, no hills, no loads, no speed, always keep a few gears down from what you normally ride and don't push anything for up to 3month (in my case because of the mess inside my knee). It really does take that long, and I was 20 when I had that surgery, if your older, it could take longer still!

I would say a roller/ trainer is a good call, again keep it easy, you just want the motion of spinning without the load. Physio will probably say the same thing.

Steps, in cold weather you might find interesting, for upto a year afterwards I would get very loud clicking followed by 9/10 worst pain in life if I attacked a set of steps (like ones at office) in cold weather too quickly. Que a 20year old hobbling around like a pensioner, not fun.

many thanks to all..........
brickman, OUCH! that sounds terrible, but thanks for advice
yoav thanks for your advice doc.

I had a cartilage trimming job done on my knee a long time ago. I was cycling again before I could walk or drive. The surgeon understood how useful cycling would be so I was on the bike for a 20 minute ride within a week, and an hour within 2 weeks. Low gears and flat roads, and no high cadence, just really gentle.
I was mobile more quickly as a result of getting the full range of motion so quickly.

After my knee op, I was sent for physiotherapy where they started me on really gentle exercises. What they didn't know was that I cycled to and from the sessions. After a couple of weeks of this they cottoned on that what I was doing for myself was far and away better and discharged me :-)

Just found this part of the forum. I am now undergoing physio but have been told surgery looks likely for at least my right knee.

Have you guys been able to ride brakeless again after the surgery???

I'm 34 and suffered prior knee problems as a competitive swimmer when I was 15.

As far as recovery I have some rollers and am thinking about giving it a second go. The first time it sucked about 2 months ago but am willing to try again as I have been unable to cycle for 4 months now.

I am doing cross trainer at physio next week as it was successful last week.

I am able to do cross trainer but would really love to get back on the bike again. Any advice on tackling gearing on my rollers?

I would assume I need to use a super light gearing but how long should I try and push myself to spin for before it becomes detrimental.

Didn't got any surgery but is taking me like two years to be able to ride brakeless again. Are you going to use fixed? If so think about something geared first, as soon as I feel the smallest discomfort I get the geared bike, I wish I bought one sooner, not having to use fixed, even with brake, everyday greatly boosted my recovery

Hmm... Maybe this week a miracle will happen and I'll be able to use that stationary bike at physio

At least I can then think about the possibility of cycling again.

Well to be honest cycling fixed was where the fun was at for me. Have to admit I'm not tempted to go to freewheeling.