I had a knee replacement four years ago (age 64). First the good news. I’m a mountain guide and ski most days in the winter. I cannot honestly feel any difference between my two knees, same going uphill. Cycling is fine. Bit stiff at first but soon eases off (I think I have about 120 degrees flex). A dropper seat post is a godsend, as it’s hard to pedal when the seat is dropped right down, so I have to pop it up to pedal. But, you soon get used to this and it’s really no problem and I’m fine on technical terrain, bike parks etc. I have windsurfed (full planing in the straps) kitesurfed and rock climbed without any bother from my knee. Walking uphill or downhill is fine as well. Before my op skiing was painful, couldn’t walk downhill or walk any distance on the flat. Ironically, the only thing I could do was cycling. I was not in pain at night or when not doing anything. Chronic pain is a reason to get a replacement but it was not my case, but I couldn’t have carried on guiding on my old knee.
The bad news is that it is bloody painful, or at least it was in my case, and this is not unusual. It is quite common for people to be taking pain killers up to a year after op. I stopped after about three months. My surgeon emphasised that it was very important to deal with the pain properly, otherwise the brain gets used to it and it can become a long term problem. You will lose flexibility and anything which causes you to bend beyond what it can do will hurt. My surgeon said it was the design of the prothesis which prevented any further bend and no amount of physio or exercise would change it. I asked what would happen if I fell over backwards skiing and he said “don’t! I sometimes notice it when getting on or off a chairlift if the seat is really low to the snow. As others have said, it’s important to do your physio properly and be as fit as possible before the operatio.
Its really important to do your research. The most important element is the surgeon. You want one who does at least a hundred knee replacements per year, that you trust and understands your needs. Mine specialised in sports, worked with the Swiss Ski team and was a keen skier. He understood my main reason for needing a new knee was to ski and he chose my prothesis as being the one which most closely mimics a human knee. There are prostheses which will give greater flexibility but at the expense of stability. In Asia, where people have to kneel more than in the west, they use protheses which allow more flexibility. So, it’s really important to be able to discuss these issues with your surgeon. Even in the age of computer modelling, pre cut dies for the operation etc, knee surgery requires a huge amount of skill and judgment. I had all the computer stuff but my surgeon still made a few tweaks on the operating table. Because of the obesity crisis, there are thousands of knee replacements being done, so British surgeons have a great deal of experience. However, it’s important to be realistic. A knee replacement does not have as high a success rate as say hip replacements. I think it’s about 90%. In other words, about 90% of patients say they are happy after a few years with their replacement.
In summary, I would say go for it, but do so with an open and informed mind. It has transformed my life, it will hopefully transform yours.
, I’m 55 and have been told it needs replacing as it’s bone on bone now, just wondering who’s had it done and has it affected your riding at all, can you still pedal ok and has it slowed you down? Biggest issue I see with it for me, is that I’ve been told they won’t bend past 90 degrees.
