Anybody skiing with a half or full knee replacement?

[M_R]

Just wondering if anybody has had the balls to go back to regular skiing after such a surgery.

I'm the lucky < 2% under 40 candidate for a half knee replacement, but am currently making due with a brace. I figure I've got a couple of more years left, but replacement is definitively in the horizon, unless they figure out how to grow cartilage in a hurry.

So just wondering, who's skiing on one and what have your results been like? Any pain, loss of range of motion, joint failure, and god forbid, implant attachment failure?

I see there have been some similar posts but thought I'd post a fresh one

[L7]

I have a friend (mid 50s) who just had one. He hasn't skied on it yet but went for it on the recommendation of another skier who had it (both) done. He is an older guy but skis full time I believe. He is very happy with the results but no long term stuff. The guy who had it done is actually one of the big shots at epic ski (no joke). He is one of the more knowledgeable less asinine people over there if that helps make a venture there more palatable. I'm sure he's got a trip report on it or is open to any questions as well.

[half-fast]

a friend who is around 50 had his knee replaced. he skis a lot. says he wished he had done it sooner.

[nieveparasiempre]

I'm gonna be in your boat in a few years. I've heard POW skiing is fine but hardpack is another story.....but thats all heard 2nd hand. Good luck.

[Vinman]

I've worked with several folks who have had TKR or THR and have gone back to skiing or riding. You won't be hucking stuff or bumping the zipper line but skiing is doable.

[Jethro]

I know several people with dual knee replacements who are skiing hard. On the other hand, my father had a replacement at 65, and his ortho recommended that he not ski due to possible complications which could arise. He played it safe and does other things now.

[steelhead]

M_R,

I had a partial replacement (Oxford system) at the end of September and started skiing half-days 2 weeks ago. Have only skied blues and moderate (no bumps) blacks so far but I am very happy with it. I skied basically on one leg last year which was no fun. I think this year I have done better than at any time last year - it is really fun to ski well again. The biggest issue has been leg muscle loss from shrinking workouts prior to surgery due to pain and atrophy after surgery. I am actively building it back but it is taking time. According to my surgeon, also a skier, I only need to avoid big bumps, jumping and wet heavy snow - no great loss there. So, long story short - I am extremely happy with the result so far but I came from serious bone-on-bone pain. Hope that helps - if not, let me know what else I can tell you. One other thing, a partial does not seem like a big deal due to the small incision and relatively quick recovery time. Be aware though - it is serious surgery that may whack you hard for awhile so don't do it until you have to. Best of luck.

[Juha_74]

Here's nice tutorial what happens in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

[M_R]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Not there yet, but man I do not want to go there there anytime soon, especially after seeing Juha's video link. Good news is I just got back from a 4 day west coast trip and pain is minimal, but present. Was able to ski all 4 days pretty hard using anti-inflammatories and good braces.

Steelhead, Thanks for sharing your story, I've been through the atrophy rebuild couple of times, and all I can say you really need to be diligent in physiotherapy, it really pays of. I wish you the best of luck with your new joint, and I may shoot you a PM at end of the season to see how you're doing.

[Juha_74]

I think I'm there in near future. Here's some patients discussion of unicompartmental knee replacement.

[steelhead]

Thanks M_R, feel free to PM me any time. Just hold off as long as you can because it is not a trivial surgery - Juha's video really helps to make that point real. The good news is that after suffering with bone on bone for a long time, I really appreciate the post surgery improvement which gets better each week. Good luck guys.

[Alaskan Rover]

Just wondering if anybody has had the balls to go back to regular skiing after such a surgery.

A friend of the family is currently skiing on TWO full artificial knees. For most skiing he still does just fine. But he doesn't do ANY moguls anymore. He thinks it's the years of mogul-skiing that did his knees in in the first place.

But to answer your question, full knee replacement is NOT the end of skiing. In fact, it can keep you on the mountain longer. This friend just turned 76. His father, who is still alive at 99, only stopped skiing when he was 91 (but no knee replacements).

[Sinecure]

Reserving my place in this thread. At some point in the coming years, I need a hip and two knees replaced. Not psyched about it, but it will likely be better than the pain I put up with now.

[splat]

Check out my FKNA stem cell injections in my knees thread.
I was a candidate, but not any more.