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Knee replacement

Bruce Pech · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2002 · Points: 485

Cindy, I need a second knee replacement (other knee) at 70. I'd recommend the same surgeon I saw the for the first TKR -- Dr. Douglas Dennis at Colorado Joint Replacement, Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver. Although they're not climbers, Dennis and his colleagues are among the top joint replacement specialists in Colorado. (Unfortunately, my tib/fib fracture has restricted my climbing to easier grades at the gym. But the TKR was never a factor indoors or outdoors.)

QdeBees · · Boulder, CO · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 5

QdeBees is climbing better than ever, despite being of advanced age. I am in such an improved state, and having so much fun, that I am postponing my second knee replacement for another year, which doc says is OK. Yay! (Knock wood)

I've always been a lousy crack climber, but recently stuck my feet and hands in a couple of easy ones and it worked. But don't you get a lot of the rotation from the hip as well? (Really... how would I know??) My sense is that if this hurts you now, it will hurt less post-surgery, but some extreme positions may not work. For me, some high steps (knee to chest kind of thing) are not feasible; hard rockovers and drop knees seem ok.

Sending PM with names of medics, neither of whom will tell you to stop climbing.

Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

These are great updates. Thanks! Bruce, sorry to hear about the tib/fib. But if anyone is going to move past it, it's you. And thanks for a specific doc. I will check him out.

QdeBees, I will check for the info. How terrific to hear things are going so well with this! I think you are right, hips are hugely rotated with feet in crack, but my knee has such low range of motion it's all I think about.

You guys are giving me the confidence to move forward with this. My knee has been a serious impediment to my adventures for many years, but I always feared coming out of tkr doing even less. Thanks again!

CharlesM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2015 · Points: 0

Wow! This is really timely for me. I had just started thinking about starting a thread on this very issue since I will probably need a knee replacement within the next two or three years. This discussion came to me out of the blue! I am really hopeful about my ability to keep climbing from all I have read. Thanks everyone for sharing your experience.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640
Bruce Pech wrote:Cindy, I need a second knee replacement (other knee) at 70. I'd recommend the same surgeon I saw the for the first TKR -- Dr. Douglas Dennis at Colorado Joint Replacement, Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver. Although they're not climbers, Dennis and his colleagues are among the top joint replacement specialists in Colorado. (Unfortunately, my tib/fib fracture has restricted my climbing to easier grades at the gym. But the TKR was never a factor indoors or outdoors.)
I to had a knee done by Dennis...fine surgeon..IMO the after care kinda sucked..a bit of a lack of understanding i think. Go to panorama in Golden.
Thomas Willis · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2010 · Points: 0

Danny Trevathan did not have a total knee replacement.
He had a fractured kneecap which was repaired.
A total knee replacement would last less than one quarter in a NFL game.
Even elite players would not be able to return to NFL status after a total knee replacement.

Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

Ouch, glad I'm not looking to be in the NFL. But seriously, I was wondering how in the world it could stand up to that much side-to-side cutting action and crazy huge forces thrown on it at any time.

Jen Kiesling · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2014 · Points: 0

Thanks to those who replied to my query last December about ice climbing after a TKR. At the time, 6 months post surgery, I had 134 degrees of flexion. I did some simple ice top roping in the spring and have been climbing regularly in the gym. During the summer I did six significant hikes in the Tetons and Rockies (8-20 miles with lots of elevation gain) including boulders, scree, etc. The 20-miler would have been excruciating before the surgery, but with the new knee it was simply long. In short, I am delighted with my new. To those contemplating the surgery, however, you must take the rehab very seriously. I continue to do painful stretches every day to make sure that I maintain that hard-earned flexion. PT may be expensive, but it is an investment in your climbing future.

Debbie McLain · · Pagosa Springs, CO · Joined Nov 2011 · Points: 30

Cindy, I'm a 56-yr old female climber and going on 2 years next month with my TKR by Dr. David Grauer in Boulder/Louisville. I have 135+ range of motion and have been able to climb just about anything short of a deep kneedrop move on the new knee. Before the muscles surrounding the new joint got strong from a lot of hiking & climbing & biking, I was having pain going upstairs. But it was a patella tracking issue that was corrected by more PT and more hiking, climbing & biking, yay! So as long as you stay active, I think you'll be happy with your new knee. I also had a bad mtn bike fall and slammed the new knee into the ground, but no problems resulted...they are super resilient! Good luck with your new knee if you decide to get one!

Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

Great feedback! And just a huge Wow! to the long hikes. Truly way beyond imaginable at this time but what a fantastic possibility.

Also, thanks for the tip on the Panorama group in Golden. Having three significant reconstructions in the past I know how PT is the key, I just don't know any PT folks near me, yet.

Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

Debbie, thanks for the feedback, especially regarding mountain biking! That's another real favorite of mine and I wondered how well it handles the awkward dabs and falls that happen.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640
Cindy wrote:Great feedback! And just a huge Wow! to the long hikes. Truly way beyond imaginable at this time but what a fantastic possibility. Also, thanks for the tip on the Panorama group in Golden. Having three significant reconstructions in the past I know how PT is the key, I just don't know any PT folks near me, yet.
I'll be at Panorama next week for my ankle..just the next step.
I know a PT in Golden... Cindy.
Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

John, do you mind passing on their name, here or PM me? Thanks!

The Blueprint Part Dank · · FEMA Region VIII · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 460
Thomas Willis wrote:Danny Trevathan did not have a total knee replacement. He had a fractured kneecap which was repaired. A total knee replacement would last less than one quarter in a NFL game. Even elite players would not be able to return to NFL status after a total knee replacement.
The kneecap was replaced, but not the total knee
Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

look into possible unicompartmental replacement and custom made implants- generally better outcomes.

Google Dr. Michael Wertz in Boulder to read more about the custom implants

looking into this myself

Cindy · · Lafayette, CO · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 20

Thanks Jim, sounds like an interesting option.

Rob M · · Shangri-LA · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 20

Bumping this in hopes that someone is in the LA / Orange County area and can recommend a good knee doc. I'm 51 and I've been dealing with a new problem on my "good" knee. Probably will have to do a TKR on my "bad" knee before too long. Sigh....

Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50
Cindy wrote:Thanks Jim, sounds like an interesting option.
I'm seeing Dr. Foran at Panorama Ortho in a few weeks to see if I'm a candidate for medial compartment replacement. I really don't want total knee if I have a choice but it's gotten to where I hurt most of the time and starting to limit my activities, so guess it's about time
john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

Very good Doc..no BS this is what I can do for you and this is what you have to do yourself

I also se an ankle Doc at this practice..outstanding

Jim Fox · · Westminster, CO · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50
john strand wrote:Very good Doc..no BS this is what I can do for you and this is what you have to do yourself I also se an ankle Doc at this practice..outstanding
Good to hear that
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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