Bad Knee

[yeloya]

I have both cartileages completely worn out (20 yearsX4 hours a day hard court tennis..) , I had to visit half of the orthos in the country.
RICE is the only thing they propose: Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevation.
In addition a work out to strenghten the quadriceps. If you google a bit you will find them.I don't recommend running or even cycling.
Ibobrufen and Glucosamine+Chondroitin combinations help a lot.Taping also could help if the issue is the maltracking of the patellea (knee cap).
The last but not the least; one should definately lose weight, as much as you can.. And sadly, that means no beer, no sweet, no carbonhydrates.. (pasta, pizza, bread, etc)

Sailing a cat or motor sailor also would help. Yes, in a cat as well you have stairs to reach yr bed but that's only twice a day. In a mono every time you go between the saloon and the cockpit, you need to make 4-5 steep steps; that's about climbing Empire State for every year of sailing, even more if you are grabbing a 5-6 cups of coffe a day like me and the admiral is relucatant to do it for you .

Cheers

Yeloya

[MarkSF]

Originally Posted by thomm225

You can probably fix your knee problem with cycling. If you aren't up to cycling outside, get a stationary bike and pedal slowly.

Work up to 30 minutes per day.

I know triathletes that can do the stationary bike in front of a TV for hours in winter.

It's all about blood flow.

It the mid 2000's, I had to stop running because of my knees and shins so I started cycling.

Soon afterward I was able to go back to running, but then I became addicted to cycling and was cycling between 100-150 miles per week. No more knee problems but I lost 20 lbs or so and had two bad crashes trying to stay with the group/peloton.

Btw, I paid more for my used bike than I did my sailboat! ($3,300 in 2006)

It's a 2004 Litespeed Vortex Titanium Dura Ace.

You'd think for that price, it would come with a front wheel.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by MarkSF

You'd think for that price, it would come with a front wheel.

I've got a Lightspeed Ultimate sitting in one of my bedrooms I haven't ridden for a few years, I went with a full Campagnolo Record gruppo though and Shamal wheels.


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[Therapy]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I've got a Lightspeed Ultimate sitting in one of my bedrooms I haven't ridden for a few years, I went with a full Campagnolo Record gruppo though and Shamal wheels.


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Man. Y'all have some serious bucks to blow.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I'm falling apart myself.

I have a bad neck, shoulders, upper and lower back, hips, knees and at times, ankles.

Times have been rough over the years.

[roverhi]

Have two friends that had knee replacements. The recovery was not quick or easy but after 6 months they were pretty much back to normal. They weren't hard core runners or sailors but would walk 18 holes several times a week after the replacement. Both said the replacement worked great and that they wished they'd done it much sooner. My knees work fine but can't stand to kneel on them for more than a few minutes and in extreme pain if the surface is rough. Thank heavens for knee pads.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Have two friends that had knee replacements. The recovery was not quick or easy but after 6 months they were pretty much back to normal. They weren't hard core runners or sailors but would walk 18 holes several times a week after the replacement. Both said the replacement worked great and that they wished they'd done it much sooner. My knees work fine but can't stand to kneel on them for more than a few minutes and in extreme pain if the surface is rough. Thank heavens for knee pads.

I was told I need hip surgery but so far I'm holding off. Doc's keep saying "it'll only get worse" so I'm sure it'll get done at some point. Probably before I retire from the military.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

One on my knees is just trying to do me in. This isn't anything new really, just that is seems to happen more often each year. Sometimes I start to wonder if the end of my cruising plan is going to be nothing like all the things worried about, but something as simple as bad knee.

Curious to how many cruisers out here doing it have a bad knee.

My wife had one knee replaced about eight years ago and the other replaced last week. She is still in therapy. She is very happy with the first one and is coming along well with the second. She was bone on bone.

If you are a candidate for knee replacement, based on her experience, I would have it done. Some hospitals have special joint replacement programs and that's what I would recommend. A surgeon who specializes in joint replacement.

[tsell]

i had my left knee replaced 5 years ago, before we started sailing seriously. It has not slowed me down one bit. However, my right knee has been an issue, so that will be replaced on April 8. I plan to be on the boat by the end of May.

Before you think I am crazy, I work in the ski industry, and was back on skis 9 weeks after my first knee was replaced. The most important thing is to be as active as you can, and push yourself to get better.

I have been an athlete my whole life, and unfortunately had some serious njuries, but I am really lucky that I have had excellent doctors, and the technology exists to help. The moral of the story is don't let bad knees get n the way of you doing what you want.

[DeepFrz]

Therapy asked:

Have you tried glucosamine and/or chondroitin? It didn't help me but I have heard stories.

Yes, I take Glucosomine/Chondroitin in liquid form. I have found the best buy is a brand from Costco. It seems to help my fingers mostly.

As far as icing. My understanding is that if you can ice an injury early on then alternating ice and heat works well. Afterwards heat works best. At least that is the advice from my orthopedic specialist, physiotherapist and massage therapist. Thank the gods for universal health care, although I do have to pay for massage therapy.

Just like to mention that it is the inside of the cartilage that is worn out on my knee. I think that is why exercise and strength training has worked so well (so far) for me.

[SariTimur]

I just went thru with the arthroscopy less than two weeks ago. Stitches come out tomorrow. The pain is worse now than before the surgery but is better each day. My surgeon doesn't seem to think cruising will be an issue but said I needed to stop running and avoid hiking. But this is to lengthen the time before replacement. He also suggested weight loss which shocked me because I really didn't think I was fat at 107 kilos and 2.01 metres height. But my BMI is at the upper edge so guess I can drop some. Interesting he said walking was good but hiking was bad, he also suggested cycling. I wonder if mountain biking would work that way I could get to those remote areas we want to hike to.

Anyway quitting cruising not an option. Take the leg first. A lot of one legged cruisers out there. Just saying.

Cheers

Mark

[Time2Go]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

One on my knees is just trying to do me in. This isn't anything new really, just that is seems to happen more often each year. Sometimes I start to wonder if the end of my cruising plan is going to be nothing like all the things worried about, but something as simple as bad knee.

Curious to how many cruisers out here doing it have a bad knee.

Two months after a total hip replacement and a back operation 4 months before that, I was in boat yards looking at boats. I was getting back into sailing having sold my 27' Ericson years ago. Changed my plans a bit though.
I bought a 19' Mariner and just sailed. But this was just shy of my 60th birthday
So as a present to myself I joined another boat as crew from the Baltic to the
Med. This was 6 months after a THR and 10 months after a
Laminectomy/Discectomy.
For me sailing is a renewed passion and a few bad bones are not gonna get in the way. Someone on the forum has a great sign off about what they want to look like in their coffin, " Not Pretty But All Used Up"
Amen Brother
Bad Knee, piece of piss

[JPA Cate]

Sailorboy1, and all the rest of you,

First, let me say, I'm sorry for your pain. I've had bilateral TKR, and then bilateral TKR revision. Was bone on bone at my last bilateral arthroscopic surgery before that. Now, it is about 18 months since the revision, which fortunately for me was *just* the replacement of the insert. I did extensive physical therapy and gym work for 6 months before the surgery, and lost about 35 lbs. Was in good condition for the surgery. Unfortunately got septicemia, but the revision sites were not greatly affected, and I survived the time in ICU and isolation (before they figured out why I was so sick.)

I still cannot kneel comfortably, and Jim has taken over my groveling jobs. I can stand and I can walk as much as I want. Before the surgery, I didn't have a life, could not stand to walk more than 10 min. My body has not adjusted to all the surgery well, but it think my experience is atypical. We have a friend who just had one knee done, and his recovery is as my woman friend's was, without a glitch, and pain free after 6 weeks. IMO, doing as much exercise as possible to strengthen the leg muscles prior to the surgery is key, very, very important. Also, I think the bicycling is great, if your balance is okay and if your knees will tolerate it. If they turn into balloons, then don't, even if you can handle the discomfort. Talking to a physical therapist 6 months before the surgery, and making a plan that s/he can supervise you in can really help you.

My other advice is to stick with the therapy, some people's bodies need longer than others, don't let anybody encourage you to stop if you think there's still room for improvement. [Example: my boat's companionway stairs are 250mm apart (about 9-3/4"). I thought I should be able to go up them like normal stairs. It takes time and effort to get that strength after the inactivity forced on me by the pain.]

It is reasonable to expect a complete recovery.

To those facing such surgery, try and catch it before you become inactive. I think that improves your expectations immensely.

By the way, I have also had spinal surgery (I'm an arthritis magnet.) The glucosamine and chondroitin regime did not help me, but there is good evidence it helps many. Stem cell research may lead to a way of re-growing cartilage. Let's hope for that.

Good luck, all of you.

Ann

[crazyoldboatguy]

I just had a steroid injection in my neck - C7/T1 today. The herniation is larger than the one I suffered last year in the same location. Coupled with 2 severally sprained ankles, a shattered collar bone, 2 herniated lumbar disks, multiple broken ribs - I seem to be in the junior league here. If the injections don't work I am a likely candidate for fusion of the 2 vertebrae.

On a journey to lose some weight before we launch the cruise. Since I am in the shop working on the reconstruction I am up and down the stairs leading to the staging where we are installing the deck. I get a lot of exercise when I am working on the boat. So, 2 things for the price of one.

[skipmac]

So far my knees are doing good. It's my rotators and lower back that are slowing me down. Had adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) on both sides. Did surgery on the right side. A new doctor recommended against surgery on the left so went through six months of excruciating PT and it finally got better.

Eight years later both sides seem about the same. Not perfect and they do give me a twinge if I move the wrong way but I don't feel significantly restricted in what I can do. Exercise really, really helps. I was swimming a mile three days a week but had to stop due to a few broken ribs. Several months without exercise and both shoulders started to get painful and I had problems reaching back or up to the side. Once I could start swimming again it got much better.

Now if I could figure out what to do about the lower back. What really aggravates that is working or standing in an awkward position for a while. Don't have to do any heavy lifting at all. Next day I have trouble getting out of bed.

Time to go before it all gets worse.