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Online now: 0 members ; 8 anonymousDiscussion: Durability of Total Knee Replacements
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| Sept. 13 Jet 37 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements There have been discussions of knee issues but what I would like to hear is a discussion from fellow softball players that had total knee replacements. I need a total knee replacement on both my knees but my orthopedic surgeon as well as most doctors / website information state you should not to play softball after a total knee replacement because you will wear out the artificial knee quicker and that you would not want to have a second knee replacement on the same knee. I know plenty of guys still playing after a knee replacement but would like to hear from players that still play after a total knee replacement. How long you have been playing softball after a total knee replacement and how do you feel your knee(s) is doing? Any suggestion on how to continue playing after a total knee replacement would also be appreciated. Thank you very much. |
| Sept. 15 Uncle Mike Men's 60 122 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements Results vary. I had my rt knee replaced on 2/14/14- still waiting to do my left one. I got an unloader brace in April for the left one- works pretty good. My doctor says u can only have 2 knee replacements on each knee in your lifetime. And that they last 15-20 years. Less if you play sports. My advice- follow your heart and live with your decision. I have decided to play on- before u have surgery start rehab exercises. It will shorten your recovery time. |
| Sept. 15 jonesey 3 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements I am 67 and had a full replacement last November. My surgeon recommended not running on the knee bc of the jarring, which could cause the glued joints to loosen. The other danger is shattering the bone at the prosthesis, causing a major surgery. My decision was to play and use a runner once on base. i can run faster after the surgery and never regret the decision to have it done. |
| Sept. 17 danb 1 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements Going on 5th year of having both knees replaced. It takes a while to get power back but have been playing on the new pegs for going on 5th season. All is great, no pain and can actual run fairly well. The best thing I can tell someone who has had it done try getting back on a bike again. Will help redevelop muscle to quad area thus keeping knee alignment. Now this being said you have got to be sincere and put forth a effort. |
| Sept. 21 missouridave Men's 60 166 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements Had my left knee totally replaced in Dec 2014. My surgeon would have preferred that I not play softball but agreed as long as I promised not to slide. Told him the same thing I told my teammates "if I am on the dirt in the infield I fell". Still having some soreness with my quad tendon but the doc says it will eventually go away. It is still swollen and has tightness, but again the doc says that will go away after a year or so. I can run without pain and although not as fast as I was before the surgery I normally do not need a pinch runner. I can now also sleep all night which was why I finally decided to do the replacement. Pace your self if you do a replacement and do ALL of the rehab. I also did agree to give up basketball. I am 61 and won't do the other one unless absolutely necessary. |
| Nov. 28 Kev Men's 65 12 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements Also had my left knee totally replaced Oct 1, 2013 at 64 years old. Did the rehap and immediately did the stationary bike and then elipticals. Got to 130 ROM in 6 weeks, now at 140. You need to keep the weight off before and after operation. I am still 8 lbs. to heavey 5'11" 180 lbs. I have been playing the last 2 years with no problem and would like to play more than league games of 22 to 30 games per year. I run for myself at the similar speed before the operation. Now at 67 I am going to the Senior Softball Camp in Cocoa Fl. My goal is to improve by hitting technique and add bat speed. I want to improve to the point that I will be asked to play in tournaments. Batted .650 in our fall league and goal is .750 in the spring with harder hit balls that go for doubles and triples. I know I take risk with running but I love the sport to much not to continue. |
| Nov. 29 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements I had my right knee replaced in December 2012 after wearing a brace for 26 years. I had a tough one as there was much damage and apparently a slight Dr. error and spent 2 months in a recliner with little therapy, especially for the first month. But overall conditioning before the surgery had prepared me. I did over 1000 miles on my bicycle-outside miles- in the 4 months before surgery in addition to playing tournaments. That paid off as it came back pretty quickly. I cannot overstate how much bicycling helped-before AND after the surgery. I played my first tournament in Vegas in late April as a DH. It went surprisingly well. The biggest thing is there is NO PAIN. The pain that was ALWAYS there for the last year before the surgery is gone. I now go at 100% with no hesitation. There have been 2 incidents that could have damaged a regular knee-like stepping in a hole in the outfield and a collision in the infield, but the only thing that happened was a bit of muscle pain around the knee. Also, I had to relearn to run. Seriously, I was running so flat footed I was extremely slow (Slow is a relative term at our age-LOL) I had to practice getting back up on my toes, which increased my speed a lot. And sometimes it even feels 'springy' and when running I get too much air between strides-that feels funny. Running smoothly after fly balls is more of a challenge now, too. I still slide on the bases and go down after balls in the outfield-although at my age it appears I fell rather than dove for the ball-LOL. I continue to work out and improve-Winter Worlds at 65 M+ with the Old A's was one of my best tournaments since the surgery and always continue strengthening the leg. Softball is still fun and I thank the technology that allows me to play. |
| Nov. 29 Benji4 Men's 55 289 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements All I can say is WOW. I have the utmost respect for all of you that have had knee replacement surgery and still show up to compete on the softball field. Technology is a wonderful thing.... I wish the best for all of you. |
| Nov. 29 MurrayW Men's 65 221 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements I had a partial knee replacement (makoplasty) December 2010, so I am approaching my 6 year anniversary. As far as it wearing out, I will worry about that when it happens. Besides, by the time it wears out hopefully the surgery options will be even better than now. Like others here, I had constant pain and the deciding factor was not being able to sleep at night due to the pain. I never go all my ROM back (it's about 115 now), but it doesn't limit me in anything I want to do on the softball field. I went back to my ortho last month because I thought I might have an ACL or other ligament problem unrelated to the knee replacement. Turns out it was probably a hamstring strain. He took x-rays of my knee and said everything looked great. I rarely have pain. The most is sometimes slight swelling and aching after playing all day on it but it returns to normal after a day. I probably should ice it after playing all day, but I don't. Softball was important enough for me to risk shortening the lifespan of my new knee. |
| Nov. 29 Dbax Men's 65 2101 posts | Durability of Total Knee Replacements Benji, I too have the utmost respect. Webbie is my teammate on the Bandits. I have watched in amazement many times as he goes from first to third, sliding into third! |
