Running on rebuilt knees?

[Doyle Hargrave]

About 15 years ago I had my left knee rebuilt, it had folded at a 90 outward on a slushy stop. I had all the ligaments replaced from a patellar graft and the cartilage and meniscus stitched up. After 6 mos. of (hell) PT I was finally released. On the last day I asked the PT when I could run on it again and his response was "you should never run on that knee again." He said walking, hiking, biking, etc. are great, but no running.

Well, that was a hell of a long time ago and my wife is training for a half marathon in a few months and she wants me to train with her. So should I still be heeding the PT's advice?

[Orthoski]

It's one of those tough questions re: how important is this to you? From an arthritis point of view, running on a perfect knee doesn't increase rates of arthritis, but running on a damaged knee does. Running's an impact sport, so if you've already sustained a lot of damage to your knee, it's harder for the knee joint to absorb the impact w/o accelerating wear and tear. My advice - go speak to the surgeon and hear his/her thoughts. In the long run, it may be better to "save" your knee for skiing.

[Alaskan Rover]

It's one of those tough questions re: how important is this to you? From an arthritis point of view, running on a perfect knee doesn't increase rates of arthritis, but running on a damaged knee does. Running's an impact sport, so if you've already sustained a lot of damage to your knee, it's harder for the knee joint to absorb the impact w/o accelerating wear and tear. My advice - go speak to the surgeon and hear his/her thoughts. In the long run, it may be better to "save" your knee for skiing.

I had the misfortune of having two ACL repairs on the same knee. But both surgeries were extremely successful...and the second was only needed after I way overstressed the knee beyond what a non-repaired knee would be able to take. The second surgery was an allograft arthroscopy...the first was a a full open-knee autograft. I was lucky that I had excellent sports surgeons for both surgeries.

But here's the thing: While no knee will ever be 100% repaired after knee surgery...you can get up to 95% stability and strength back...as long as you stick to a good post-op rehab period and then continue to keep your affected leg in good shape. Keep active.

Be smart about how you approach sports after surgery. Jogging sucks. Jogging should be outlawed...it's one of the most damaging things you can do to a knee. Running, OTOH, is an entirely differernt long-stride gait. You can also modify your stride to put even less stress on your affect knee.

There is no absolute law that says that long-stride running is bad for knees. I've run cross-country style for years with no problems at all yet.

[telkwa]

Don't do it man. Hop on a bike if your wife wants you to accompany her.

[Alaskan Rover]

I guess I missed the part of your text where you'd mentioned meniscal damage and cartiledge damage. I was lucky and didn't have either. Meniscal damage is a tough one...as it tends to re-visit and say "hi" after a couple decades. With that info, I might want to take your doctors advice and don't run. Like telkwa said: ride a bike if she wants you to accompany her. Don't destroy your knee further.

[millerstone]

Third the 'don't run, just bike' sentiment. Having felt how my non-aftermarket knees feel after a run, I couldn't imagine running on a post-op knee. Plus, on a bike you can score points for being there and still vary your pace to catch an amazing view of runners ass every now and again.

[Doyle Hargrave]

Thanks for the advice guys. I will just stick with the bike. I just couldn't tell if I had legitimate concerns or if I was being lazy and/or a pussy. Looks like it's D. All of the above.

When someone says forever and it's 15 years later. I just kept thinking forever? Forever, ever? Forever, ever, ever?

[Dantheman]

Maybe trying stepping in very lightly before you give up completely? Run 1/2 a mile, then see how your knee feels over the next 2-3 days. If it feels OK, try doing a full mile and reassess, etc.

[Restoked]

My dumbass with two meniscally challenged knees is doing a half-ironman in July...if I don't break down first. Yes, I may be dumb or at least stubborn beyond all logic.

My Dr. didn't forbid it, but said running is bad for your knees generally. Will it shorten my healthy knee life, no, they're already on freaking life support. I'm just burning these tires out until the tread's showing, and then I'll play golf. Also, I promise this is my last running event...forever.

From your post, you don't seem that into it, so don't do it. I'm pretty much stuck living up to a beer induced contract and to prove something to myself. I kinda figure seven more months of training can't be that bad.

[Dantheman]

I kinda figure seven more months of training can't be that bad.

Holy hell, seven more months? How long have you already been training? That's way excessive for a half IM, my brother-in-law is doing a 6-month program for a full IM and his only previous tri experience is two olympic-distance tri's in the previous two years.

[spook]

i had an acl reconstruction and 2 meniscus surgeries on the same knee. the doctors and therapists said i could run long distance again if i rehabbed hard and was intelligent about it. i rehabbed hard and tried to be intelligent about it, but every time i would get to double digit mileage training my knee would start swelling up and causing problems no matter what i did.

i decided that it just wasn't worth it. gave up soccer after tearing up the mcl in the other knee as well. it never healed 100% and at my age i don't really want to deal with another 6-9 months of rehabbing from surgery.

i love backpacking and snowboarding and riding my bike. i'm going to save the limited number of turns and impacts left in my knees for those things. if i were in your situation, i'd just ride my bike alongside my wife.

[Restoked]

Holy hell, seven more months? How long have you already been training? That's way excessive for a half IM, my brother-in-law is doing a 6-month program for a full IM and his only previous tri experience is two olympic-distance tri's in the previous two years.

Since I didn't run for 3 years after my recon, I started at zero two months ago. I wasn't even sure I could run two miles (though I put 5K on my roadie in 09, and 3K last year). The next two months are getting me from my first run of 20 minutes (in Nov) to longer runs of 1:20 to get a base. My buddy is a tri-coach, and he's got me on the slow and easy pace to protect my knees from running. I already rode my bike religiously, and swam a lot, so the key for me was getting my legs in shape for a half mary, but still being healthy enough for the event in July. I'm just getting my base, but formal training starts February 1. So far no swelling, little pain, and my confidence is growing. With that said, like the Deathride in 2009, this is "one and done."