Knee Replacement

Artoist

Artoist

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Anyone had knee replacement?
I'm 4 months into recovery and although I'm fine on exercise bike it's not quite the same on EMTB,I got out for ride on it yesterday but with geometry being completely different getting full rotation of pedals wasn't quite as easy,had to place foot nearer to middle of arch/ heel to make it more comfortable,I've raised my seat a little as well now,anyone got any other ideas to make it easier?
Oh and I'd forgotten how heavy these things were,not sure if I should maybe move it on for something more usable for now ( need the other knee doing)
Cheers
 
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Got mine done two years ago. Just got back on a Bullit and it’s game changing. I haven’t had issues with foot/pedal positioning but still don’t enjoy pedaling when not seated. Hits the knee wrong.

Back to the pedal, I just saw a pedal that flexes for/aft 8 degrees that I might try. Could help with knee flexion.
 
Just ordered a set on sale for $170.

8degreepedal.com
 
HI there
Artoist said:
Anyone had knee replacement?
I'm 4 months into recovery and although I'm fine on exercise bike it's not quite the same on EMTB,I got out for ride on it yesterday but with geometry being completely different getting full rotation of pedals wasn't quite as easy,had to place foot nearer to middle of arch/ heel to make it more comfortable,I've raised my seat a little as well now,anyone got any other ideas to make it easier?
Oh and I'd forgotten how heavy these things were,not sure if I should maybe move it on for something more usable for now ( need the other knee doing)
Cheers
Click to expand...
I had partial knee replacement 7 years ago and my recovery was not going well. A private physio got me on a static trainer which helped enormously and my recovery improved, at this point I decided ebiking would be an ideal sport to get involved with and it has been hugely beneficial, ive even had a hip replacement in the meantime.
The key ive found is slowly Slowly catch a monkey. Invest in a post dropper and you can adjust the amount of knee flexing as your condition improves.
Patience is key
 
I'm getting my knee freshened up (second time!) on June 2nd, new ACL and meniscus surgery.

I'll tell yah though, I've been pumping Peptides (Wolverine stack) and honestly, I'm walking 85% normal and I swear I could ride my e-bike pretty normal today but choosing to wait it out. I couldn't walk at all when it first occurred.

Been entertaining myself by building a little jump track behind my home but I'm really looking forward to the doctor telling me I can get on the trainer. Going to plant that thing in front of the tele and go to town bros!

Hope everyone heals up well!
 
Suns_PSD said:
I'm getting my knee freshened up (second time!) on June 2nd, new ACL and meniscus surgery.

I'll tell yah though, I've been pumping Peptides (Wolverine stack) and honestly, I'm walking 85% normal and I swear I could ride my e-bike pretty normal today but choosing to wait it out. I couldn't walk at all when it first occurred.

Been entertaining myself by building a little jump track behind my home but I'm really looking forward to the doctor telling me I can get on the trainer. Going to plant that thing in front of the tele and go to town bros!

Hope everyone heals up well!
Click to expand...
BPC157?
 
Artoist said:
Anyone had knee replacement?
I'm 4 months into recovery and although I'm fine on exercise bike it's not quite the same on EMTB,I got out for ride on it yesterday but with geometry being completely different getting full rotation of pedals wasn't quite as easy,had to place foot nearer to middle of arch/ heel to make it more comfortable,I've raised my seat a little as well now,anyone got any other ideas to make it easier?
Oh and I'd forgotten how heavy these things were,not sure if I should maybe move it on for something more usable for now ( need the other knee doing)
Cheers
Click to expand...
Hi its 5 years now since my knee replacement at Crank Hospital near you in St Helens and I have to say I dont even think about it now. If memory serves me it was around the 6 month mark before it felt comfortable on my E Bike and 18 months or so after I was so happy with it that I splurged on a new Whyte E160 for my 70th birthday I had to move to flat pedals from clipless as I found being clipped in put strain on the knee and If I was to give any advice it would be dont ever stop doing the physio exercises. I still do the exercises given to me by the NHS physio every morning 5 years later. It only takes 25 minutes or so out of the day and its just a routine now and keeps the knee nice and flexible with a 0 degree extension and a 120 degree flex which is what my surgeon told me I would need for trouble free cycling, I am 73 now and I am off up to Torridon for 5 days on the 1st of June. Good luck with the knee your still early in the journey, I still remember what the surgeon said to me post op which was he had done the easy bit the hard bit was up to me!
 
Degsy said:
Hi its 5 years now since my knee replacement at Crank Hospital near you in St Helens and I have to say I dont even think about it now. If memory serves me it was around the 6 month mark before it felt comfortable on my E Bike and 18 months or so after I was so happy with it that I splurged on a new Whyte E160 for my 70th birthday I had to move to flat pedals from clipless as I found being clipped in put strain on the knee and If I was to give any advice it would be dont ever stop doing the physio exercises. I still do the exercises given to me by the NHS physio every morning 5 years later. It only takes 25 minutes or so out of the day and its just a routine now and keeps the knee nice and flexible with a 0 degree extension and a 120 degree flex which is what my surgeon told me I would need for trouble free cycling, I am 73 now and I am off up to Torridon for 5 days on the 1st of June. Good luck with the knee your still early in the journey, I still remember what the surgeon said to me post op which was he had done the easy bit the hard bit was up to me!
Click to expand...
I concure everything you've said in your post. There is life after knee and hip replacement but it's up to you to do the work, I'm 78 and still going
 
Artoist said:
Anyone had knee replacement?
I'm 4 months into recovery and although I'm fine on exercise bike it's not quite the same on EMTB,I got out for ride on it yesterday but with geometry being completely different getting full rotation of pedals wasn't quite as easy,had to place foot nearer to middle of arch/ heel to make it more comfortable,I've raised my seat a little as well now,anyone got any other ideas to make it easier?
Oh and I'd forgotten how heavy these things were,not sure if I should maybe move it on for something more usable for now ( need the other knee doing)
Cheers
Click to expand...

I'm 80 and had my right knee done 5 months ago. Was riding the trainer after 3 months and EMTB after 3.5 months, I ride clip-ins. Knee was still swollen and still is. Just got back from a ride, typically I do 25km to 40Km with between 350 and 700metres climbing. Had the pedaling issue of getting the knee over the top of the stroke, solved by raising saddle on trainer by 2cms, then lowering it as knee got used to movement. I now pedal with no pain in that knee. Before I couldn't start pedaling as knee was too painful,now there is no problem. Deciding if should have left knee done, but right knee was darn painful after op, so may put it off till summer(which is January here in Oz).

So try raising saddle and lowering it gradually as your knee gets more movement, and do the exercises given(or look them up on the web).
 
Degsy said:
Hi its 5 years now since my knee replacement at Crank Hospital near you in St Helens and I have to say I dont even think about it now. If memory serves me it was around the 6 month mark before it felt comfortable on my E Bike and 18 months or so after I was so happy with it that I splurged on a new Whyte E160 for my 70th birthday I had to move to flat pedals from clipless as I found being clipped in put strain on the knee and If I was to give any advice it would be dont ever stop doing the physio exercises. I still do the exercises given to me by the NHS physio every morning 5 years later. It only takes 25 minutes or so out of the day and its just a routine now and keeps the knee nice and flexible with a 0 degree extension and a 120 degree flex which is what my surgeon told me I would need for trouble free cycling, I am 73 now and I am off up to Torridon for 5 days on the 1st of June. Good luck with the knee your still early in the journey, I still remember what the surgeon said to me post op which was he had done the easy bit the hard bit was up to me!
Click to expand...
That's where I had mine done,a Dr Ballistare.Im getting stronger but I seriously underestimated recovery.
 
I had a full hip replacement in 2022. Took me 3-4 months to get back on the eBike fully - but I think hips are an easier recovery than knees.

I will echo what everyone else here says - take it slow, take it easy, be patient and don't push too hard. This time next year we'll be millionaires you'll not even notice.
 
Been mtn biking since 1984...

Had both ACLs done in 90's. Then, both knees (total) replacements done 10 and 15 years ago.

Continued biking throughout.

I find that road cleats are much less comfortable ( too restrictive range of movement) than previously, so now I use Time MTB cleats on my road bike and flats on the mtb.

Both seem fine.

Getting the saddle height set "spot-on" is key to comfort and not stressing the knees and that's harder with a full sus bike. Just keep adjusting until you find the sweet spot, so there is enough leg extension at bottom of stroke ( ie very slight break in the knee/leg, ie not fully extended) and not too low so the knee is under duress.

It can take several rides before you nail it, but it really is essential that you are patient and take that time to get it right (and mark it clearly).

Good luck.
 
Artoist said:
When does the stiffness go away,my Physio reckons I'll just wake up one day and it'll be gone.
Click to expand...
Honestly I think thats a how long is a piece of string question, and I dont mean to sound like a smart arse answer far from it mate. I think it depends on just how much of your physio you are doing at home on your own and just how far you are prepared to push the pain barrier during your physio. I was told that you have about 12 weeks during which you must keep breaking down the internal scar tissue that is trying to form around the knee and that being assiduous with doing the physio regime. I used to do my routine 3 times a day and at times the pain was pretty bad but I used to just push through and try to improve the flex a little every few days. I used to measure it by sitting on a chair in the kitchen and place my heel on the edge of a tile and then pull my foot back along the floor until it wouldn't go any further and then I would hook my other foot over the front of my ankle and pull the leg with the new knee back a little further along the floor. As well as doing all the other exercises as well. I cant really remember when it became less stiff but I would guess after 4 or 5 months and as I said earlier I still do the exercises now just to keep that mobility. I also bought a goniometer from Amazon for about ten quid and that measures the flex in your leg more accurately, ask your physio to show you how to use it or YouTube. To be honest mate I was obsessed with getting a good range of motion as I wanted to get back to riding my mtb hill walking and a bit of climbing, the only thing my knee wont tolerate is skiing as it defiantly does not like any lateral force on it, but fortunately I have always been shite at skiing so I had an excuse to knock that on the head, to my wife's disappointment!! Sorry, I have probably not been a great help to you but I really think it is an individual thing. What is your extension and flex now?
 
Thanks,no I appreciate any advice from people that's been through it.
My Physio is happy with my progress this far and says I should cut myself some slack and I'm expecting too much too soon but I am quite impatient,I thought with being relatively fit pre op it would be a breeze.....How wrong was I!!
I'm not sure on measurements tbh but as I say Physio is happy,I'm sure she mentioned 120 degrees but that was after manipulation I don't think it's that much when doing heel slides without pulling back with other foot
 
Don't panic if its not 120 straight away, you will get there eventually, especially of you are doing exactly what the physio says.

A decade plus of physios have taught me that:

they know their stuff, trust them,
it will get better, it just takes more time, takes longer than you would like
Ditch the "no pain no gain" BS. Its just that. If you get pain or swelling-STOP

Pilates is a great way of maintaining your inner/core body strength which helps with the knees when riding, skiing etc
 
veryoldfart said:
Don't panic if its not 120 straight away, you will get there eventually, especially of you are doing exactly what the physio says.

A decade plus of physios have taught me that:

they know their stuff, trust them,
it will get better, it just takes more time, takes longer than you would like
Ditch the "no pain no gain" BS. Its just that. If you get pain or swelling-STOP

Pilates is a great way of maintaining your inner/core body strength which helps with the knees when riding, skiing etc
Click to expand...
Thanks for that,my Physio says the same about no pain no gain,it's old school! ( Her words)
 
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