Knee replacement at two years...

[Jean_TZ]

...snip

The bad news is since my knee is so full of scar tissue from the five previous surgeries, my mobility is permanently compromised (you can still gain some increased range of motion in the first 18 months). I'm at 104 degrees of flexion and 5 degrees of extension; what that means is at 5 degrees extension I have a slightly impaired gait (I limp often since I can't straighten my leg all the way), and bike riding requires about 117 degrees of flexion so when I attempt it I end up tearing scar tissue loose. All in all it's better than before the surgery, but I sure wish I'd had a better result.

Pax, based on my experience you might recover your range of motion:

I injured my knee playing racquetball. After major surgery on the knee my knee froze in a bent position, probably due to inflammation. I underwent two manipulations under anesthesia to break the resulting scar tissue free. Despite several months of physical therapy, I was never able to regain full range of motion. After a year, I had more knee surgery in an attempt to fix the problem, but it did not help.

For many years I could not fully straighten my leg, I walked with a limp, and I needed to wear a knee brace. Then I discovered biking. After one particularly arduous ride into very strong wind my knee was extremely painful and I could barely walk. But to my amazement, the next day my knee felt great, I could fully and easily straighten it, and I didn’t need the knee brace.

Bottom Line: I have found over the years that biking is the only thing that keeps my knee free from pain and fully flexible - BUT, I have to set up my bikes for spinning (knee slightly ahead of pedal, easy gear and ~90 RPM) as opposed torquing (knee behind pedal, hard gear and low RPM) or else I end up hurting the knee.

Hope you too find a way to regain full knee mobility!

[Pax]

Pax, based on my experience you might recover your range of motion:

I injured my knee playing racquetball. After major surgery on the knee my knee froze in a bent position, probably due to inflammation. I underwent two manipulations under anesthesia to break the resulting scar tissue free. Despite several months of physical therapy, I was never able to regain full range of motion. After a year, I had more knee surgery in an attempt to fix the problem, but it did not help.

For many years I could not fully straighten my leg, I walked with a limp, and I needed to wear a knee brace. Then I discovered biking. After one particularly arduous ride into very strong wind my knee was extremely painful and I could barely walk. But to my amazement, the next day my knee felt great, I could fully and easily straighten it, and I didn’t need the knee brace.

Bottom Line: I have found over the years that biking is the only thing that keeps my knee free from pain and fully flexible - BUT, I have to set up my bikes for spinning (knee slightly ahead of pedal, easy gear and ~90 RPM) as opposed torquing (knee behind pedal, hard gear and low RPM) or else I end up hurting the knee.

Hope you too find a way to regain full knee mobility!

I had some scar tissue tear loose on the 'bent at the gym, it felt glorious after it stopped throbbing. I am starting to think my very conservative doc is wrong about not riding, my knee felt more fluid whenever I tried. They are concerned about me tearing scar tissue and it reforming, impairing my gait even more... but at this point I can't imagine it could get a whole lot worse, I can't even put on socks without laying my leg on the bed.

[Jean_TZ]

I had some scar tissue tear loose on the 'bent at the gym, it felt glorious after it stopped throbbing. I am starting to think my very conservative doc is wrong about not riding, my knee felt more fluid whenever I tried. They are concerned about me tearing scar tissue and it reforming, impairing my gait even more... but at this point I can't imagine it could get a whole lot worse, I can't even put on socks without laying my leg on the bed.

The key thing for me when biking was (and is) to use a comfortably fast cadence with low force. To minimize scar tissue reforming, take anti-inflammatory med (like Advil, etc) after a work-out.

[Pax]

I still ice and take two advil every morning, I think if I can start to ride again, I'll just shift that regimen on those days to after I ride.

I've been going back and forth with a very nice fella in the UK about those pendulum pedals, they seem like a great choice as they accommodate the bad leg so nicely...and are designed with disability in mind. They are spendy at $210 for the one plus $24 shipping, but if it can get me mobile it would be worth it.

[ny biker]

I had some scar tissue tear loose on the 'bent at the gym, it felt glorious after it stopped throbbing. I am starting to think my very conservative doc is wrong about not riding, my knee felt more fluid whenever I tried. They are concerned about me tearing scar tissue and it reforming, impairing my gait even more... but at this point I can't imagine it could get a whole lot worse, I can't even put on socks without laying my leg on the bed.

Re: scar tissue -- I do know several people (including my own self) who had to tear some scar tissue after knee or ankle surgery to regain range of motion, with no regrets due to additional scar tissue forming. In some cases it was done by the surgeon or PT, but also one friend did it accidentally when he fell while trying to use a treadmill after partial knee replacement. In all cases it was necessary for a good recovery from the surgery. Of course these are just anecdotes, not science. But a second opinion might be worthwhile.

I hope the shorter cranks work out for you. As for the handicapped tag, if it gives you more freedom to get out and do stuff, I think it's worth it. And you can always choose not to use a handicapped space if you feel up to a longer walk.

[Pax]

Rode the recumbent exercise bike at the gym this evening, sore as hell from the awkward position but my knee feels a little better.

My wife made a good point about the hang tag, it makes more work for her when "it's too far to walk" in the parking lot, because I stay in the truck while she runs into the store. She doesn't mind but said some help now and then when I'm having a bad knee day (most days) would be welcome.