Just ordered the new Smik last week This week, today have been referred to a specialist for " Surgical review on osteoarthritis in rt knee " - x ray shows no gap between thigh and shin bone - explains the crook/ painful knee! Anybody had a similar problem? ( no cartilage left ). OPTIONS? Love to hear from you - can a fake cartilage be pumped in ( minor surgery ) or is it a knee replacement - not after a medical opinion - just your own experiences. Thanks Steve

Knee replacement

Knee replacement

When you say no cartilage are you referring to the meniscus ? How painful is it ?

X Ray shows no gap - always sore, walking downstairs is worst - paddling has been painful as well - new board should help - tell you more when I see specialist - an x ray of a normal knee beside my knee was confronting - do not know wether it is meniscus or cartilage missing

No doubt you will want to keep paddliing for many years to come. Make sure you get a second opinion from another orthopaedic surgeon. Some are a bit more supportive of sports orientated patients. Know anyone involved in Masters sports like touch footy, hockey, skiers, netballers etc., they all have knee problems that need fixing in order to keep going.

I feel your pain. I have had 4 knee surgeries including 2 full ACL reconstructions (first one 4 decades ago). Taking too many risks skiing when young and stupid. The result - no cartilage (nor functioning ligaments) left in both knees.
What works (kind of) for me:
- maintaining very strong leg muscles - quadriceps and hamstrings
- stretching to maintain knee flexibility
- using as small boards as possible. First, balancing on a small board is an amazing - low impact exercise - to strengthen muscles around knees, hips, and core. Second, when on a wave, a small board is much more gentle on knees. Seems contrarian but large bouncing boards can only exaggerate impact on knees. I can feel the difference when using wide boards over 1.2 Guild factor.

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BigZ said..
I feel your pain. I have had 4 knee surgeries including 2 full ACL reconstructions (first one 4 decades ago). Taking too many risks skiing when young and stupid. The result - no cartilage (nor functioning ligaments) left in both knees.
What works (kind of) for me:
- maintaining very strong leg muscles - quadriceps and hamstrings
- stretching to maintain knee flexibility
- using as small boards as possible. First, balancing on a small board is an amazing - low impact exercise - to strengthen muscles around knees, hips, and core. Second, when on a wave, a small board is much more gentle on knees. Seems contrarian but large bouncing boards can only exaggerate impact on knees. I can feel the difference when using wide boards over 1.2 Guild factor.

Yes - stretches every morning, taken up bike riding to strengthen legs ( good afternoon thing ) and ordered a new more stable bonzer. One good mate has had surgery and he is back surfing - pretty well to. Currently only surf for half an hour and the pain outweighs the pleasure. Good for an hour on the flatwater cruising. Could be a couple of months out of the surf - bummer!

As a temporary assist for OA or ReA, check out 'unloader' type knee braces. They can take some of the pressure off of the damaged surfaces. Not a fix but can help relieve a bit of pain while you work out the best way forward for you. Ossur do good ones - not cheap but worth a shot

Thanks

I hurt my right knee in late June . Split indecision on a hollow wave and the board dropped from under me . I am pretty sure half my right foot landed on a near vertical rail (which was pushed against the water ) and straight away I could feel it buckle . I managed to keep surfing for ten minutes , walked to car washed board , packed board ..cleaned at home . Then I thought i better ice . As soon as i iced it ..game over . Walking stick for a week. It was first week of lockdown . Went to see physio . Their opinion was that it was an irritated medial meniscus . Performed strength exercises for a few months however pain has never really gone . It actually feels better when i surf and even for the day after .
Worst pain is actually when trying to sleep on my side .
Getting up after sitting down caused stiffness , pain and a temporary limp. To be honest i don't want to see a doctor or surgeon . I feel like I can do what i need to and am hoping that eventually it will he's with time . The lack of blood flow in the area is a problem (if it is actually a torn or irritated meniscus) and they location of tear / irritation may mean that it never fully heals without surgery . But as physio said once you are in your 40's the evidence shows that surgery could still lead to osteoarthritis .

Been nursing this for two years or so, doing strengthening exercises, bike physio and trying to look after it. 35 years of competition squash have worn the knees down - quality of life has dropped! Better to go now while I am still young and healthy (71 year old) than put it off, health could deteriorate when I move into old age.

Post a photo of your X-ray

Pick up on Monday - or get doc to email image

Pick up on Monday - or get doc to email image

Had a total knee replacement 7 months ago.When i met the surgeon his philosophy was not to wait.If you have quality of life i.e. you can still do what you want like SUPing, bike riding etc you will recover quicker than grinding your knee/hip to dust..pre-op physio is important also.I did a lot of bike riding.my quad has diminished somewhat but i am back on the SUP,push bike and recently started windsurf foiling.my knee was 14 degrees out from the joint but the surgeon got it back to one degree.

don't wait till it's too late!
i am 65 and 98 kgs..

Wow - good value!

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rick deckard said..
Had a total knee replacement 7 months ago.When i met the surgeon his philosophy was not to wait.If you have quality of life i.e. you can still do what you want like SUPing, bike riding etc you will recover quicker than grinding your knee/hip to dust..pre-op physio is important also.I did a lot of bike riding.my quad has diminished somewhat but i am back on the SUP,push bike and recently started windsurf foiling.my knee was 14 degrees out from the joint but the surgeon got it back to one degree.

don't wait till it's too late!
i am 65 and 98 kgs..

How bad was your pain and limitation pre op and for how long ? Surgery is a big step

the issue with the pain was worse if I stubbed my toe sideways..sore at night because the inflammation increased also..i put up with the pain but you don't realise until the replacement how bad it was.now the new knee is a bit uncomfortable but getting better and better.Surgery is a big step but I came to the conclusion that the knee was not going to get better, only worse.

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stehar said..
Pick up on Monday - or get doc to email image

Wednesday unfortunately, till they are picked up!

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rick deckard said..
Had a total knee replacement 7 months ago.When i met the surgeon his philosophy was not to wait.If you have quality of life i.e. you can still do what you want like SUPing, bike riding etc you will recover quicker than grinding your knee/hip to dust..pre-op physio is important also.I did a lot of bike riding.my quad has diminished somewhat but i am back on the SUP,push bike and recently started windsurf foiling.my knee was 14 degrees out from the joint but the surgeon got it back to one degree.

don't wait till it's too late!
i am 65 and 98 kgs..

Is that your knee or chicken parmajana?

X RAYS ONLY

Been riding the E-bike most arvo's, has made a big difference - muscles have tightened up and become slightly bigger - maybe holding knee together or something. Anyway, had a great surf this morning ( exercises, arthritis cream and kneebrace included ) BUT no pain! Seeing specialist on Thursday - ????? who knows.

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rick deckard said..
the issue with the pain was worse if I stubbed my toe sideways..sore at night because the inflammation increased also..i put up with the pain but you don't realise until the replacement how bad it was.now the new knee is a bit uncomfortable but getting better and better.Surgery is a big step but I came to the conclusion that the knee was not going to get better, only worse.

Same conclusion I came to yesterday when talking to the specialist - booked in for knee replacement - waiting to hear from hospital for the date!

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rick deckard said..
the issue with the pain was worse if I stubbed my toe sideways..sore at night because the inflammation increased also..i put up with the pain but you don't realise until the replacement how bad it was.now the new knee is a bit uncomfortable but getting better and better.Surgery is a big step but I came to the conclusion that the knee was not going to get better, only worse.

Same conclusion I came to yesterday when talking to the specialist - booked in for knee replacement - waiting to hear from hospital for the date!

you are on your way Stehar.well done!
the biggest thing I found when I got back on the SUP was finding the right spot to put my feet as my weight
placement had changed after the new knee..
I have a Starboard Whopper 10'5".i am 2m tall and i kept moving my right leg(the new knee) back and forward trying to find the sweet spot.weird feeling.took a while but no problem now.
I even managed to score a Naish Mana 9'5" for $300 in great nick so the Whopper is up on the rack having a rest.
Keep up the prehab..my quad is still diminished and I still feel minor discomfort going up and down stairs after 8 months.i was always asking my physio questions during therapy.they know a lot.he mentioned it might take a full year before it settles down.everyone is different.
good luck!!

thanks

Check out KNEES OVER TOES GUY on youtube.He is building up a cult following and for good reason.

Got the info this morning - 15th Feb for new knee ---- had to get a surf in today to celebrate! The "shortboard Bonza" Hope the "longboard Bonza" arrives before the op. Steve

New Bonza - 9'9" 31.5" 143 ltrs - mock up - perfect - full deck pad - 5 fins - stable and fast!


YAHOO -Hope it arrives before 15th Feb, or I will need to wait 6 weeks for a flatwater paddle.