Is a successful thruhike possible after complete knee replacement?
After COMPLETE KNEE REPLACEMENT, is a successful AT thru possible? If so, how long after the surgery possible to begin?
last year (2021) met three thru-hikers that each made it the whole way with double knee replacements.
On youtube Just a Farmer (look at some of his pre-hike videos, I recall he talked about the timing of his surgeries and showed his scars): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ9...MlhJDJg/videos
Gary-TwoKnee-Dailey : https://www.youtube.com/c/GaryTwoKneeDailey/videos
Also Kathy of Mike & Kathy...their posts are on The Trek youtube site. and apparently they are giving the PCT a try this year.
It's not unheard of, though I would imagine the pre-trail preparation will be the key. Probably a question best answered by your surgeon of the viability of a trek of this sort and how to prepare for it.Originally Posted by SAWNIE
I'm no doctor but, probably 6 months to a year of good rehab and exercise one could take on such a task.
First question
What does your doctor tell you? I would think s/he would be a better way to get advice on this subject, rather than complete strangers who who have absolutely no (1) medical training, (2) relevant knowledge of the extent of your procedure, or (3) way of knowing how well your recovery has gone.If so, how long after the surgery possible to begin?
If you're looking for re-assurance, permit to give you some: if your doctor says you can do a thru-hike after X amount of time, I won't disagree with that person.
I have had bi-lateral TKR 2 years ago (6 months apart) 68yrs old
I walk 18 holes twice a week. Just got back from 6 days skiing in Vail. Hiked 50 miles in 5 days last fall in Yellowstone. I could not do these things without intense pain (and pain relievers) before replacements.
I am not a gym rat but stay active-but still 20-30# too heavy.
Could I do a through hike? Maybe--and still might. But, my knees will not be the limiting factor. Need to get better aerobically. I think my new knees would be just fine (with 8-15 mile days).
Do the re-hab as prescribed--and more as tolerated. Your physical therapist should be able to help you in hiking specific exercises.
Everyone is different and every knee surgery is different (my 2 were vastly different)--second was easier.
Good luck with your surgery, re-hab, and hiking. For me, the surgeries and rehab were worth the effort (although a real PITA for a while!)
I am a 73 year old section hiker with a 5 year old knee replacement. I did a lot of walking but not backpacking the first year after surgery; since then I've done 3 10-day backpacking trips on the AT. So far, something else has always failed before the knee did.
I am also a physician but not a surgeon. Surgeons can't extrapolate from their surgical procedure to distance hiking. They need data from someone studying that question specifically. There are not a lot of those, but here's a small one, from 2009. (Anna K Nilsdotter, Sören Toksvig-Larsen & Ewa M Roos (2009) Knee arthroplasty: are patients' expectations fulfilled?, Acta Orthopaedica, 80:1, 55-61, DOI: 10.1080/17453670902805007)Walking ability.jpeg
102 patients (39 men) had the surgery (mean age 71 (51–86) years). The best result, those reporting "Unlimited walking ability over uneven ground" (the dark green) looks to be about 15% or so at 1 year post-op, declining to less than 10% at 5 years.
So I say go out and give it a try, if you haven't already.
Rusty Joints
Half Vast Expeditions
Chapel Hill NC
Springer - Susquehanna, Hanover - Housatonic
Many doctors are not necessarily familiar with sports medicine. I was once told by my doctor that he doesn't recommend "extreme sports" like marathon running. When I had plantar fasciitis another primary doc told me just to stay off my feet for a month or two. Physical therapists skilled in sports medicine have a totally different view of things. The internet is probably a bad place to get advice, but many doctors aren't the final authority of these subjects either. I'd see a specialist in the sports medicine field.
There was a backpacking back in the 1980s who hiked the AT three times with MS. Did the who trail on crutches.
As for any kind of medical advice on how long afterwards you are better off speaking with your doctor. Everyone is different. WB members can be very helpful, but most will not know you, know your conduction, or often has little to no medical training. Any advice here on how long to wait afterward would not be as well inform as your doctor.
Had knee replacement June of 2022. My doctor says go for it. I did the rehab then a good exercise routine to feel confident. I am beginning my thru hike Feb. 2024.
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A good friend had two TNRs done a month apart. He interviewed several surgeons, and they interviewed him. He is very active. The surgeon he worked with was insistent that he go through pre surgery physical training to build up muscles and conditioning in advance of the surgery. This allowed more agressive post surgery therapy. The bone heals up and grows around the implants fairly quick, the tough part is the soft tissues that take longer. If the patient is willing to do extensive therapy, the soft tissue can heal quicker, but a lot of the therapy is short term painful as scar tissue is being pushed to break up and regrow. Many sedentary folks really are not capable or interested in regaining full function, so this type of therapy is skipped leading to long term loss of range of motion.
my wife had knee replacement,and I asked the surgeon if she could hike the AT again,and he told me absolutely not
loose lips sink ships
I did the Oregon section of the PCT with mild cerebral palsy. I had to do my stretches every few hours, I went very slow, and ibuprofen was involved in my hike. I think you can probably do the AT but talk to your dr and consider physical therapy and specific exercises to strengthen your knee with therapist guidance.
The AT has been successfully hiked by many people with both single and dual total knee replacements (TKR). I had a TKR in mid April and now at the 4-month mark I am doing moderate to difficult trails this month. I have some swelling associated with that, but swelling following this type of surgery can go on for a year regardless what you do so I chose to try this route. Honestly, there are times when I am walking on trails that I forget I have had the operation. I won't say (yet) I should have done this years ago, but given how recovery is going I probably will once I reach the 1-year mark.
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