Post knee op advice

[Peter Moss]

I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.

Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation? The
weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a breath of
wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone gone back too soon
and regretted it?

Peter.

 

[Peter Clinch]

Peter Moss wrote:
> I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
> surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation?

"A lump of cartilage" leaves quite a lot of room for interpretation:
knees are complex things and it's difficult to infer what's actually
been done, even if you're in the knees business.

So I'd take the advice from the folk that know what specifically has
happened to your knee.

One problem for rehab is people /don't/ do the exercises they've been
given by the doctors and physios. Strange, but apparently true.
Physios will usually be delighted if faced with someone that not only
wants to get better but is actually willing to help with the process
through personal effort.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Mike Causer]

On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 14:02:37 +0000, Peter Moss wrote:

> I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
> surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation? The
> weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a breath
> of wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone gone back too
> soon and regretted it?

If you're still holding an ice-pack you're probably still on co-codamol or
something like it and shouldn't be moving far. I've had the arthoscopy
where they didn't see anything wrong and didn't do any cutting, but I kept
a diary of drugs taken and exercise, so I'll tell you my experience.

It took a week to get off the co-codamol, for the first 3 or 4 days I was
confined to house, by the end of the week I would go about 300 meters
outside with crutches (to the churchyard & back). After coming off the
C-C I would go about 2km still on crutches once a day. After a few days of
that (4 in this instance), I try a bike. It's obvious after riding 50
meters whether the knee can take it or not, if it can I find 5km is enough
for a first ride. After a week of doing 5 to 10 km daily a 20 km ride is
OK, albeit slower than normal. Any day that I didn't ride I'd do a 2 to
4 km walk (if it's cold & wet I prefer walking to cycling for exercise).

4 years after the knee surgery I still get the odd twinge from the front,
which is where the holes were made -- the original injury, which is still
unidentified but happened 3 times, was at the back.



Mike

 

[Mbike]

"Peter Moss" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
>surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation? The
> weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a breath
> of wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone gone back too
> soon and regretted it?
>
> Peter.
I had arthroscopy on both knees at the same time and the cartilage cleaned
up. The operation was on a Friday and I first rode on the following Monday,
very very slowly and in lowest gear. However if you are as stupid as I was
remember you have to stop some time and get off! I had to find a handy
lamppost to prop myself up against so that I could get off without jarring.
Still I continued to ride and within 3 weeks was back to normal for cycling.
It took about 18 months for twinges to stop when walking though and I
haven't been able to run since but this is probably due to arthritis caused
by the original injuries.

 

[al77]

I had an arthroscopy on my right knee to remove torn cartilage (a
'bucket handle tear' apparently), I'd ruptured my Anterior Cruciate
Ligament too. I was advised not to return to light exercise until a
week after the op at which point i used an exercise bike at the gym &
started doing 10-15 mins at very low resistance. It took most of that
week to get a full range of movement back in the leg as I couldn't
straighten it at first, but that may be more to do with the ligament
than the cartilige.. Pretty soon the knee was strenghthening, but it
was probably a month before I risked a bike on the road. But within a
year I was doing a century ride. The ligament is still ruptured but
gives me relatively little trouble as long as i keep the knee strong
with the cycling. Can't do anything with a lot of twisting / turning -
so no more football for me unfortunately :-( It was a football injury
in the first place.. good luck


Mbike wrote:
> "Peter Moss" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
> >surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
> >
> > Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation? The
> > weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a breath
> > of wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone gone back too
> > soon and regretted it?
> >
> > Peter.
> I had arthroscopy on both knees at the same time and the cartilage cleaned
> up. The operation was on a Friday and I first rode on the following Monday,
> very very slowly and in lowest gear. However if you are as stupid as I was
> remember you have to stop some time and get off! I had to find a handy
> lamppost to prop myself up against so that I could get off without jarring.
> Still I continued to ride and within 3 weeks was back to normal for cycling.
> It took about 18 months for twinges to stop when walking though and I
> haven't been able to run since but this is probably due to arthritis caused
> by the original injuries.

 

[mb]

Peter Moss wrote:

> I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
> surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
>
> Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation?
> The weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a
> breath of wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone
> gone back too soon and regretted it?
>
>

Are you talking about the meniscus, or the cartilage? Why have you got
an ice pack on it, wasn't it bandaged up?

Anyroadup, give it 3 or 4 weeks before doing anything strenuous, take
it easy, see if it works OK.

Do the exercises recommended by the physio to strengthen the knee
joint. Apparently, cycling is good for this

--
Mike

 

[Peter Moss]

"mb" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Peter Moss wrote:
>
>> I sit here on my settee, ice pack around my swollen knee from which a
>> surgeon has just removed a lump/piece or torn cartilage.
>>
>> Does anyone have any experience of cycling post-a similar operation?
>> The weather is absolutely fantastic today - blazing winter sun, not a
>> breath of wind, and I can't believe I'm not out in it. Has anyone
>> gone back too soon and regretted it?
>>
>>
>
> Are you talking about the meniscus, or the cartilage? Why have you got
> an ice pack on it, wasn't it bandaged up?
>
> Anyroadup, give it 3 or 4 weeks before doing anything strenuous, take
> it easy, see if it works OK.
>
> Do the exercises recommended by the physio to strengthen the knee
> joint. Apparently, cycling is good for this
>
> --
> Mike

It's actually the medial meniscus. And yes, it was bandaged, but only for
12 hours or so.

Thanks for the advice. I'd already figured out that pedalling was probably
possible, but getting on or off was likely to involve a lamp-post.

Peter.