I wanted to start a thread where information can be exchanged about attempting to continue LD rides after a knee replacement, or two.
In 2008 I gave up riding dirt bikes when my knees could no longer support me through whoops and landings on bigger jumps. I would still ride slowly around camp, but long, hard rides were out and track riding was a thing of the past. I bought a quad and rode it for a few years but standing on it was as hard as a two-wheeler and so I was once again forced to putt around, ass on the seat.
By 2012 I was experiencing pain when riding longer distances on street bikes as well and treated it with loads of Advil. This worked for a few years, but as my knees continued to deteriorate it began to take more. I started seeing an orthopedist who recommended scoping and cleaning up both knees. I approved, but after the first of those two surgeries, he came back and said I shouldn’t expect a major reduction in pain due to the amount of arthritis present. A year later, the second arthroscopic procedure was completed. Some pain was temporarily reduced, but the worst of it stuck around.
While he performed replacements, he encouraged me to wait as long as possible because, in my mid-forties, I was on the younger side for new knees. Instead, we began cortisone shots every 3 months and he prescribed anti-inflammatories. This maintenance plan worked for a while, but eventually the cortisone shots would lose effectiveness after a month -- leaving two months of pain, stiffness and weakness.
Each time I’d visit him, or his PA, I would bring up replacements. They continued to encourage me to wait.
Fast forward to 2020. I was drawn into the 2021 IBR. Now, into my 50s, the doctor started talking about replacements. I needed to spend as much riding to get into shape and so told him I’d like to set a date for the first of two replacements for the end of summer 2021.
I rode a 2018 Road King in the IBR this year and was able to tolerate 20+ hours in the saddle by having three different places to set my boots -- the rear of the boards, the front of the boards, and the passenger boards. For the most part, this kept my legs loose and knees as comfortable as they could be. The higher Police seat helped as well.
I rode almost 20,000 miles between January and June in preparation for the rally. Just before I left for the rally I received a pair of cortisone shots and had a Prednisone pack to use during the rally, if needed. In addition, I had Advil and Tylenol to take as needed.
I ended up not needing the Prednisone. Late on day three the motor blew up in my Harley and I withdrew from the rally. I drove from Wisconsin to California in a Uhaul box truck with my broken bike in the back. Driving the van-based truck without cruise control was much more painful than riding my bike.
When I got home from the rally I had a letter from my Dr. waiting for me. He was pleased to announce that after 30 years in practice, he was retiring.
I began a search for a new surgeon and found someone I liked after a few consultations. He looked at my scans and fresh x-rays and said he was comfortable with performing replacements and said I had significant bone on bone wear in both knees. We scheduled the first of two procedures for the last week of August and, tentatively, the second the last week of November.
On August 29th I had the right knee replaced. After the surgery my Dr. expressed confidence that it had gone well.
PT began a few hours after the surgery. I was amazed at how the arthritis pain was just gone. The pain of the surgery was uncomfortable but I was amazed at the stability of my knee right away. One of the things I was told over and over was that the recovery would be painful, but unless I fell on it or twisted it too far, I couldn’t really damage the new knee. As a result, I worked PT hard from the beginning.
The first week was very uncomfortable. The hardest thing was finding comfortable positions in bed or while sitting. By the end of the second week I could feel improvements every single day and was able to walk ½ mile with a cane. On day 15, I went back to work, mostly desk work, but back to work, nonetheless.
At 4 weeks I carefully placed myself on my Versys and went for a ride around the neighborhood. I was successful but felt it was foolish to do it, so I waited another two weeks before I rode again. By the 8 week mark I rode to work regularly. I wanted to try a day-long ride but without the aid of cortisone shots or prescription meds, the left knee hurt so bad I couldn’t go more than 100 miles. The right knee, though, was great. I had no pain at all in the 100 mile rides.
I had the left knee replacement performed on November 29th. The experience of the second surgery was similar to the first, but with more pain and bruising. I have progressed at about the same rate as the right knee, can walk ½ mile with a cane, and will return to work tomorrow, or the next day.
My question, for any one who has been through similar surgeries and returned to LD riding, is what should I expect that first 1000 mile day? Any hints? Anything you learned along the way, or any advice you’d give?
In 2008 I gave up riding dirt bikes when my knees could no longer support me through whoops and landings on bigger jumps. I would still ride slowly around camp, but long, hard rides were out and track riding was a thing of the past. I bought a quad and rode it for a few years but standing on it was as hard as a two-wheeler and so I was once again forced to putt around, ass on the seat.
By 2012 I was experiencing pain when riding longer distances on street bikes as well and treated it with loads of Advil. This worked for a few years, but as my knees continued to deteriorate it began to take more. I started seeing an orthopedist who recommended scoping and cleaning up both knees. I approved, but after the first of those two surgeries, he came back and said I shouldn’t expect a major reduction in pain due to the amount of arthritis present. A year later, the second arthroscopic procedure was completed. Some pain was temporarily reduced, but the worst of it stuck around.
While he performed replacements, he encouraged me to wait as long as possible because, in my mid-forties, I was on the younger side for new knees. Instead, we began cortisone shots every 3 months and he prescribed anti-inflammatories. This maintenance plan worked for a while, but eventually the cortisone shots would lose effectiveness after a month -- leaving two months of pain, stiffness and weakness.
Each time I’d visit him, or his PA, I would bring up replacements. They continued to encourage me to wait.
Fast forward to 2020. I was drawn into the 2021 IBR. Now, into my 50s, the doctor started talking about replacements. I needed to spend as much riding to get into shape and so told him I’d like to set a date for the first of two replacements for the end of summer 2021.
I rode a 2018 Road King in the IBR this year and was able to tolerate 20+ hours in the saddle by having three different places to set my boots -- the rear of the boards, the front of the boards, and the passenger boards. For the most part, this kept my legs loose and knees as comfortable as they could be. The higher Police seat helped as well.
I rode almost 20,000 miles between January and June in preparation for the rally. Just before I left for the rally I received a pair of cortisone shots and had a Prednisone pack to use during the rally, if needed. In addition, I had Advil and Tylenol to take as needed.
I ended up not needing the Prednisone. Late on day three the motor blew up in my Harley and I withdrew from the rally. I drove from Wisconsin to California in a Uhaul box truck with my broken bike in the back. Driving the van-based truck without cruise control was much more painful than riding my bike.
When I got home from the rally I had a letter from my Dr. waiting for me. He was pleased to announce that after 30 years in practice, he was retiring.
I began a search for a new surgeon and found someone I liked after a few consultations. He looked at my scans and fresh x-rays and said he was comfortable with performing replacements and said I had significant bone on bone wear in both knees. We scheduled the first of two procedures for the last week of August and, tentatively, the second the last week of November.
On August 29th I had the right knee replaced. After the surgery my Dr. expressed confidence that it had gone well.
PT began a few hours after the surgery. I was amazed at how the arthritis pain was just gone. The pain of the surgery was uncomfortable but I was amazed at the stability of my knee right away. One of the things I was told over and over was that the recovery would be painful, but unless I fell on it or twisted it too far, I couldn’t really damage the new knee. As a result, I worked PT hard from the beginning.
The first week was very uncomfortable. The hardest thing was finding comfortable positions in bed or while sitting. By the end of the second week I could feel improvements every single day and was able to walk ½ mile with a cane. On day 15, I went back to work, mostly desk work, but back to work, nonetheless.
At 4 weeks I carefully placed myself on my Versys and went for a ride around the neighborhood. I was successful but felt it was foolish to do it, so I waited another two weeks before I rode again. By the 8 week mark I rode to work regularly. I wanted to try a day-long ride but without the aid of cortisone shots or prescription meds, the left knee hurt so bad I couldn’t go more than 100 miles. The right knee, though, was great. I had no pain at all in the 100 mile rides.
I had the left knee replacement performed on November 29th. The experience of the second surgery was similar to the first, but with more pain and bruising. I have progressed at about the same rate as the right knee, can walk ½ mile with a cane, and will return to work tomorrow, or the next day.
My question, for any one who has been through similar surgeries and returned to LD riding, is what should I expect that first 1000 mile day? Any hints? Anything you learned along the way, or any advice you’d give?