 Poster: A snowHead
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Due to a motorcycle accident 35 years ago and aggravated by lots of skiing I now have a knee with limited mobility and bad arthritis. Lately it has become particularly bad despite taking large doses of anti-inflamatory drugs.
Could anyone suggest option available to me? If I had an artificial knee would I still be able to ski?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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John Scott, Sorry to ask but how old
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm 55, had my accident when I was 20 and started skiing when I was about 30.
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John Scott, I know someone that skis with 2 artificial hips, but am interested on the replies you get on the knees.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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My ex MiL has had a knee replacement and was told the only thing she couldn't do was ski. But then she is nearly 69, so that might have something to do with it? What have your medical bods said to you about it?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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clara_jo, I haven't seen my doctor yet, probably going tomorrow to my GP. I seem to be falling apart as I am just getting over the skin grafts I had last May!
I am not sure if there are different types of artificial knee available.
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John Scott, no, you can't ski with an artificial knee. This is mainly because there are no cruciate ligaments to hold it together, and it is therefore vulnerable to both twisting and forward and backward movement that can't be dealt with by the muscles alone. I was told I would probably need one in the future because of a major road accident, and it was estimated that this would be age 50 I was also told that I could do cross-country skiing with a knee replacement. So far, my knee is managing OK and I'm 48. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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| Frosty the Snowman wrote: |
| John Scott, I know someone that skis with 2 artificial hips, but am interested on the replies you get on the knees. |
That's interesting. I have met two people having artificial hips. The common thread being the hip is laterally unstable. So I would have thought skiing would be a bad sport?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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John Scott, I am in almost exactly the same situation as you - my motorcycle accident was 30 years ago and I am minus one cruciate ligament and have traumatic osteoarthritis in both my right knee and ankle joints.
I shared a ski lift a couple of years ago with the European Sales Manager from a company who design and market knee joints (Johnson and Johnson?) and he claimed that they currently had two skiers who skied with artificial knee joints. He recommended that if you were going for knee replacement and wanted to remain active, get it done as soon as your surgeon would allow age wise as you stood a better chance of recovery.
Hope you get some more information and opinion on this subject - have you tried Reiki for the pain relief it gives? I was up to 2,000 mg of Ibuprofen a day last Autumn before Reiki treatment and can now manage on about 400mg per day. I still need 2,000 mg and at least a pint of vin chaud when skiing though! 
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A friend has a 1st stage hip replacement and he goes skiing. Another friend has just had a new knee and is delighted with the new state of his leg..so much so, he wants the other one done. At this stage I am not sure what his skiings options in the future may be. He will want to ski, for sure.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| bev bish wrote: |
| [He recommended that if you were going for knee replacement and wanted to remain active, get it done as soon as your surgeon would allow age wise as you stood a better chance of recovery. |
What about the lifespan of the man-made joint, though?
Many of the existing joints were designed to last 10-15 years only. It was thought good enough to be put into a 60 year old. So, by year 20, it's really, really worn out. Trouble is, many of the bodies are still ticking pretty strong at 80+. So, they need to have another one done at the ripe old age of 80!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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abc, A friend of mine had both his hips replaced aged 45, 16years ago. He's hobbling again now & putting off going to see an orthopaedic surgeon, but is fully expecting when he does, to be told he has to have them both replaced again. He only gave up skiing 2 years ago.
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John Scott, There are unicompartmental knee replacements (ie either lateral or medial compartment) which I guess might be more skiable on that a TKR (total knee). These are sometimes used in younger patients to buy some time before a more major TKR procedure.
I can see that hips would easily be skiable- but there is only one joint involved (the knee really has three) and is less dependent on ligaments for stability.
If you are referred, probably quite important to get a knee sub-specialist, and probably preferrably one with sports expertise. Orthopaedic surgeons are very sub-specialised these days. I don't know who is good at Derriford, but might be worth finding out who the team orthopod for Plymouth Argyle is.
According to this page the Knee society could not reach a conclusion on whether to recommend or discourage downhill skiing, but note the loading they quote skiing subjects your knee to
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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John Scott, a close family friend is a specialist knee surgeon and consultant and this is a conversation we've had. I'm paraphrasing: There are many replacement knee joints, partial through complete and there are a few that will perform . . . if fitted well and with no additional complications . . . quite closely to the original joint. NONE of which are available through the NHS (yet).
He's away on a junket this week  But I'll be seeing him on Sunday (I think) and I'll ask him for more detailed info. It does depend on how much of your knee needs reconstructing. Bit of a minefield but private will probably get you the best result . . . however, with the NHS, the squeaky wheel gets the grease . . . find a reason to demand the correct treatment rather than the most cost effective for them and you'll get it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm not a doctor so FWIW. My wife has a colleague who has had a knee replacement and he told us his doctor told him he could not ski on it. He is in his 60s so I don't know if age was a factor. We recently met a woman who was a former high profile ski racer who has recently had knee replacement surgery. She said she had the surgery so that she could resume skiing. We mentioned my wife's colleague and the ex-racer's response was that he had the wrong doctor. So whether she's simply going to ski on regardless of medical advice, or if she has her doctor's blessing, she's skiing on it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I think it could be summed up as
Skiing with a knee replacement is safe.
Falling with a knee replacement is not.
DrE
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Snowboarding?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I had a friend (approx 70 odd) who had an artificial knee and can now climb a lot better due to inceased leg mobility.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Just a quick update. (I am John Scott under a new name) I received a a full knee replacement in March 2009 and was skiing again in February 2010. I have skied for a week or two each year since and have not had any problems yet.
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Good to hear, my mother (late 70's) had one new knee last year and was allowed to ski, and skied better than I have seen her ski for many years. Her other knee has now been replaced and I am looking forward to see how she skis in March. She was never a red run skier but she gets a lot of enjoyment from being in the mountains and gliding down blue runs. These knees seem to be extending how long she can do that 
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^^awesome^^ 
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Ms On The Rocks (early 60s) had a partial knee replacement in summer 2015 and was able to ski reds, easy blacks and gentle off piste in March 2016. She had a partial replacement in the other knee in summer 2016 and looking forward to more and better skiing in March 2017. Fitness, positivity, a very experienced surgeon and luck seem to be key factors in making a good recovery
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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A doctor friend of mine is just back skiing after having the second knee replaced. The first one was done last year. The important thing is to see an orthopaedic surgeon who skis if possible! Anyone who tells you that you can't ski afterwards either doesn't know enough about it or is super cautious and afraid you'll sue if you fall and break your leg or dislocate the knee or something.
That's assuming you could ski before the op... Learning to ski with knee replacement would be a totally different ballgame!!!
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@John Scott,
I suggest you post this ion the ski fitness... board as we have a tame (and very generously helpful) knee surgeon who drops by from time to time and offers excellent advice.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Jonathan Bell - you could also PM him
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I met a ski guide at an American resort who had two artificial hips and two artificial knees. She seemed to manage just fine, I was not crass enough to ask her age but 50 to 60 ish.
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Thanks @Sonic the Skier, it is really helpful to have the update. My knee is becoming more and more of a problem and I know I need to do something, so hearing positive stories is always good! Thanks for sharing.
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You know it makes sense.
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To come back after ten years is quite something! Delighted it has all gone so well for you. Bev is still managing to ski, but only for a few hours a day at most.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| lynnecha wrote: |
| Thanks @Sonic the Skier, it is really helpful to have the update. My knee is becoming more and more of a problem and I know I need to do something, so hearing positive stories is always good! Thanks for sharing. |
+1
Mine took 2 weeks to calm down after last years trip and let me wall without pain again last year. I am in my sixties so just accept it is wear and tear from playing too much sport when younger. Did not start skiing until 50. Just bought a ski-mojo to see if that will help other wise could be last year skiing as I did not want to go down the replacement route until as late as possible - now even that advice seems to be on its head as the tech gets better.
Really hopeful now hearing all the positive info above. So [/b]John Scott[/b]please do let us know the advice you get when you do start the process as very interested.
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Poster: A snowHead
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I had a lesson with a ski instructor who had a knee replacement. His method of getting off lifts was interesting, but at 75(!) he could ski. He also cycled one summer from his home (Ischgl) to London in under a week.!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@jedster, it was Jonathan Bell who did my knee replacement- I can recommend him 100%.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Thanks @Sonic the Skier, very useful info...
I'm about to go try out my knee skiing after an arthroscopy in the summer... where the surgeon said that there wasn't much meniscus left and a knee replacement would be next. I've had great support from the docs and the physio team that referred me to the gym for 12 weeks of intensive exercise, to get me back to skiing and skydiving.
So to hear that if it comes to that, it might not be the end of skiing. Thanks again.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@John Scott,
I know someone about your age who has had two knee replacements and still snowboards. I don't think he's ever skied though.
I'm told that skiing is harder on the knees than boarding though.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Jonathan Bell's clinic is about 15 minutes' drive from my home. I cannot overstate how comforting I find that every time I set off on a ski trip! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sometime in the distant (i hope) future my knees and ankles will give out.
I remember years ago seeing old men like me on Ski Bobs
but I havent seen one for years.
Perhaps that the answer ... slither down the mountain like a Hells Angel.
Are they allowed are they band can you still rent them?
Perhaps this should be for another thread.
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@T Bar, limping back to the clinic, more like.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I knew a climber who had an artificial knee installed in his mid 70's and was made up with the range of motion for rock climbing. I also met a guy soloing past me on a 600 foot icefall who was testing out his double hip replacement from 16 weeks previously.
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About 32 years ago I was smashed up in a car accident, then about 18 years ago the arthritis pain started and got progressively worse, to the point where a couple of years ago skiing became almost impossible.
Just over 12 months ago I had a total ankle replacement to get rid of the arthritis and its unwanted pain, and last weekend I managed to squeeze back into my boots, although I'm sure they'll need remoulding now.
I'm now considering skiing again but keeping it at a leisurely level. It would be silly to go... well... silly, wouldn't it.
Anyone else on here in a similar situation, I'd love to hear from you.
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