SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
How does knee replacement surgery affect your ability to hike? How painful is the recovery? When can you resume hiking after surgery? What advice would you give to hikers with arthritis of the knee? As a frequent hiker, I’ll share my first-hand experience with you.
When to Seek Medical Advice
I can still remember a hike up Mt Moosilauke in June 2017, when I felt like I’d injured my knee. I haven’t always had the greatest knees for hiking, but this felt really off. I’d done a long loop over the mountain, coupled with a few bushwhacks. Initially, I just brushed it off as overuse, and things gradually improved but never returned to where they had been before that hike. That hike had somehow suddenly broken me.
The hikes continued because it’s what I do, but I quickly found that I couldn’t do what I did before. Mileage and difficulty were all lowered. Instead of climbing 4,000 footers in the White Mountains, I was leaning more on the 52 With A View, lower peaks in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, and walks on Concord, New Hampshire’s local trail system.
I eventually sought out an orthopedic doctor and to make a long story short, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in both knees, with the right one being more advanced. Those initial x-rays were eye-opening: I didn’t have much cartilage left.
Obviously, osteoarthritis doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. The progression was largely unknown to me until it finally roared up and got my attention on that Moosilauke hike.
Initial treatment included anti-inflammatories and bracing the bad knee. However, these efforts didn’t provide much relief due to the bones clanking together in there. With much consideration and thorough discussion with my ortho doc, the decision was made to go ahead with a unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement at the age of 51, which is a young age for this type of procedure.
Do I Really Want Knee Replacement Surgery?
So here I was, a person who’s never had surgery for anything about to have one of the most complex joints in the body broken apart and repaired. Would this work? Would it get me back to “normal”?
Fortunately, I live in the modern era where this surgery is fairly commonplace, although less common than a full replacement I would later learn, performed by skilled surgeons. No stick to bite on or whiskey to swig in this scenario.
As far as surgeries go, I didn’t feel a thing! I recall being quite anxious beforehand, but that’s what the anesthesia is for. I remember being wheeled into the OR, seeing the familiar face of my Physician’s Assistant, then going to sleep. The next thing I knew someone was waking me up but things were fuzzy after that.
From what I understand, most knee replacement surgeries require an overnight stay, and that was certainly the case for me. This is probably a good place to say that there is a choice of anesthesia method beforehand. I went with general anesthesia and hoo boy that was not fun. General shuts everything, and I mean everything, down in the body which resulted in a quite unpleasant experience.
The next morning resulted in being awakened by staff who want you to get your butt up out of bed when the last thing you want to do is stand on your new bionic parts. But stand you do. And walk up and down steps. And back and forth in the hallway. And get in and out of a wooden car. If you can do all this, then you’re sent home, usually the day after the surgery.
Once home, it’s a regimen of physical therapy to strengthen up everything around that shiny new metal and plastic. For me, it was in-home PT for a few weeks or so, then on my own with a home routine with the option of seeing a therapist in a clinic. I got to know my neighborhood pretty well with all of the crutch-assisted walks around the block.
When Can You Resume Hiking?
As is probably the case with most hikers, I find it difficult to sit around and not be active. But I knew I had to deal with some forced downtime here. Driving was out for several weeks and a constant rotation of DVDs and laps around the living room helped to pass the time.
Everyone’s recovery time is different and your doctor will advise you as to when you can start getting back on your feet again. For me, I took my first steps onto a flat trail about a month after the surgery. A whole half mile! It wasn’t much but it was a beginning.
Eventually, those half miles turned into miles, which turned into longer hikes, which turned into some actual hill climbing. By late summer 2018, I had hiked a few White Mountain 4,000 footers and was feeling pretty great.
In retrospect, my activity level was probably ramped up a bit too soon. It can take up to a full year to completely heal, and I was just going on a partial replacement here — a full knee overhaul can take longer. Unfortunately for me, I had setbacks regarding pain and limited movement. The prosthesis itself was fine, it’s just that my mind had gotten ahead to a place that my body wasn’t ready for yet.
As active people, hikers can likely expect to recover a bit quicker than the average joe, but if you are considering undertaking knee replacement surgery, the key to a successful recovery is really sticking with the PT, if you feel “nah, I’m fine”. This is an invasive procedure that requires intense strengthening of the area around the knee. Do what the physical therapist tells you over and over and over again.
I was also told that because of the increased activity from hiking, we can expect our replacement parts to wear out a bit quicker than those of folks who are not as active. In the case of a partial replacement, it may have to be later replaced fully. A full replacement may need to be completely redone.
Advice for Arthritic Hikers
I’m still going, although maybe not as strong as I once was. While I’m definitely slower, I get there. These days, the replaced knee is fine, but it’s the other knee that’s the issue. It’s in the same boat and will need to be replaced, but after a difficult recovery and lessons learned the first time around, I’m in “maintenance mode” and am trying to put it off as long as I can.
If you’re dealing with arthritic knees, I feel your pain. But hiking with replaced knees can be done. Heck, look at long-time White Mountains uber-hiker Ed Hawkins. He is in his 70s, has had both knees fully replaced, and has completed the White Mountains grid eight times. That’s a staggering 4,608 four thousand footers climbed, with close to eight million feet of elevation gain.
A few caveats do apply though. Jumping off a ledge, for example, ain’t a good idea due to potential damage to the joint. Also, be mindful of twisting. It took me a while to consciously walk a bit differently to make sure I was keeping the leg straight. And for hikers that downhill ski during the winter, your doctor is probably going to say you won’t be able to do that anymore. One surgery is traumatic enough and having to do a second one to repair damage to the prosthesis isn’t a fun thing.
My advice for arthritic hikers is to stay small if needed. Hike smaller peaks, which can be just as rewarding as the big ones. Listen to your body. In time, you’ll become in tune with how far you can go and what types of terrain may aggravate things. Unfortunately, when we climb up things we also have to come down them, so using trekking poles is essential for offloading some of the effects of gravity. Anti-inflammatory medications are ok to use in moderation, but be aware of the potential side effects from long-term usage.
It’s also important to strengthen everything around that knee, including quads, glutes, hamstrings, and core. The less stress you can take off the joint itself the better. A good physical therapist can recommend a regimen of exercises to keep you going as long as possible before surgery is needed.
Some days it will be really difficult. Pain really sucks and it can wear on your mind as well as your body. But those days won’t happen all the time. If you’re passionate about being in the woods like I am, I think you’ll find that the mental benefits of being in nature will counter the physical symptoms somewhat.
With patience, a strict physical therapy routine, and mental determination, you can get back to what you love to do after knee replacement surgery. I was reminded of this when I returned to climb Mt. Moosilauke, four years after my knee replacement story began.
I realize that you’re talking about hiking and its effects on the knee, but I was wondering if you have any thoughts on backpacking. Specifically, after knee replacement, do you find that you need to switch to ultralight gear/minimal gear, or is pack weight (within reason) of no particular concern to a properly-rehabilitated knee?
Hi Glenn, I am primarily a day hiker and can’t speak too much to backpacking, but some of the same advice mentioned in the article would likely apply. Everyone will heal differently, but it can’t hurt to lighten up your gear as much as you can. One aspect of post-surgery life that I neglected to mention in the article is the importance of keeping excess weight off — both your body and gear. Excess weight can put more strain on the surrounding structures of the knee as well as the implant itself. That said, I’ve seen accounts of folks backpacking just fine after surgery.
I had a partial knee replacement 5 years ago I’m happy to report that I’ve had no issues backpacking with it. In fact, it’s a loss less painful than it was before surgery. I did my first backpack trip 7 months after surgery. Since then, I’ve backpacked the JMT, Teton Crest, sections of the PCT, and AZT plus many other routes averaging 10-20 miles per day. I had already converted to lightweight gear, and highly recommend it. Every person has a different experience, and I’m very grateful mine has gone so well, but there’s reason for optimism is you need knee replacement. I even took up downhill skiing last winter!
Totally agree with Marla! I had my knee replaced 2 years ago. Prior to the knee replacement, hiking was incredibly painful on the downhills. The knee replacement has been amazing. I now hike 4000 footers every week, have completed the 48 4000 footers and then again in the winter – and most of them with the new knee! I hike with others who also have had knees replaced. I ski in the winter and cycle all year round. So very glad I listened to the doctors (and some hiking friends).
Hi Leslie. Your comment makes me hopeful. It looks like I will be facing knee replacement surgery coming up. I was wondering, did you have a partial, or full replacement?
I just passed the one year mark after a total knee replacement. I worked daily on my rehab for six months. Excercising and walking daily was my regimen, under a physical therapist for 6 weeks and on my own there after. After 6 months I was back to normal activity. Your mileage may vary.
Back to hiking as I did and am able to carry up to 30 pounds for camping and other hobbies. No running, no heavy carries, have not gone over a ten mile day…but I keep moving on giving me me tests of my self since surgery.
Mark, glad to hear you recovered quickly!
Hi I am going to be 70 in 3 weeks , I had Bi – lateral full knee replacements 16 1/2 years ago also have had 4 hip replacements . Life goes on , I still hike , climb mts , x- c ski , backpack ; just not as fast . After the knees I did intense PT for 10 weeks , skiing in 8 weeks with Dr. OK . Enjoy and go for it , also PT’s rock !
Ah…how many *legs* do you have? Just kidding.
I I’d a 40 mile hike in wales las week
10 peaks at 2500 feet climbs
Shale grass etc
Have had both knees tar and both have been brilliant
No problem I carried a back path the 40 miles and proud to say our group raised £100000 for cancer resreacrh
Brilliant consideration to the fact before my surgery I was in constant pain
And now on to Hip Replacement.
My new Knee is great but the range of motion is about 10-15 degrees less then pre-surgery.
The new hip is not as strong as I had hope. It also limits the range of motion.
I second : Scaling back your climbs for the first year and recognizing/accepting you will be slower is key….
Strengthening the upper leg and core is critical.
Hi Paul, absolutely good advice and sorry to hear you’re having issues with the new hip. Hope it improves for you. I still have close to the range of motion in my knee that I had pre-surgery, but I’m definitely mindful about bending or hyper-extending it too far. The body will definitely let you know when you’re hitting that limit!
I am a year out on a total knee replacement and am working on backpacking again. I have always tried to lighten the load but still want creature comforts so would consider myself light but not quite ultralight.
Go slow and build up your strength and follow your PT’s advice. I pushed to get all the movement I could and still push the envelope on movement but am starting to get to the mechanical limits. Low tarp type tents are no longer for me, they just have too much crawling around. A pyramid though still works.
Yes, crawling around and crouching have been difficult, even with a partial replacement. I used to rest my bad knee to the ground when taking photographs, but that doesn’t happen anymore. As you say, you start to hit the mechanical limits of the implant at a certain point.
I had double knee replacement in the summer of 2015. I spent a year rehabing and walking in my neighborhood. Since then I’ve been backpacking in New Mexico two or three times, hiked Guadalupe Peak (3000′ climb) in Texas five times, and Truches and Wheeler Peak in New Mexico, both over 13,000. I never think about my knees anymore unless someone asks about them. The new knees gave me a new life.
Berry, that’s amazing, glad it worked out so well for you!
Berry, I’ve heard of a few double replacements. Does insurance allow for that? Does the Ortho surgeon have to write a special request? I ask because osteoarthritis has laid both knees to waste. I’m doing PT which does help, but hikes went from 15 mile mountain day hikes to 3 mile creekside hikes knowing I will suffer afterwards. I just came off 1.5 years of PT and don’t relish the thought of two replacements with a year each of PT.
I had both knees replaced the same day in 2012. The only way to go if you need both in my opinion. I pretty much do what I want, I joke and backpack. I am always trying to lighten my pack as much as possible. It’s a life changing surgery.
My orthopedist would not replace both knees at the same time because it leads to a higher mortality risk. I had my knees done a year apart. Did very well with recovery & PT. I’m 63 & hike the mountains of West Virginia.
Fourteen years ago, my wife had total replacement of both knees a couple months apart. Eight days after the first knee replacement, I found her out front mowing the lawn. We read her the riot act about overdoing it when she had her second knee replaced and it wasn’t until the ninth day afterwards that I caught her mowing the lawn. I guess she was taking it easier! She had a doctor visit this week to check on her knees and he says they are holding up very well. She doesn’t hike but she’s having no problem with her knees whatsoever.
As we get older, we have to make adjustments in the way we do things because we can’t do them like we could when younger, however we can still enjoy many of the same activities, just at a different level. After a joint replacement or other major surgery, we just have to adjust and set our sights on amended goals. I’m facing a four level fusion in my low back late this summer. I know it will change how I do some things but I still plan on doing what I enjoy, just at the level and pace my new circumstances allow. It beats living in constant agony.
Grandpa, well said and best of luck with your back surgery!
I had the four level fusion done as two procedures, on the 1st and 8th this month (March 2022). They staged it as two surgeries because our bodies recover better if it can be staged to give the body some time to recuperate from the trauma. It’s a little hard on the patient’s psyche because as I went thru the agony of the first week, I kept thinking, “And I’m going to do it all again next week?”
The fusion lent itself to being staged because it’s actually two procedures anyway, the first went in the side, removed the herniated discs, added cages and spacers and realigned the spine. The second went in the back and added rods and screws. I gained about an inch of height but you won’t see me competing in the slam dunk contest any time soon.
I’m healing well, although still in lots of pain. I’m walking over a mile each day and plan to be back on the trail this fall.
An update on backpacking after my back surgery:
Six months after the four level fusion, I backpacked the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains, including climbing 12,030′ Medicine Bow Peak. Two months after that, I hiked 160 miles on the Appalachian Trail from the south end of Shenandoah National Park to Harper’s Ferry. The following month, my sister and I hiked the South Rim loop in Big Bend National Park (probably my favorite hike–I’ve done it about 50 times). This past spring, a year after surgery, I hiked 120 miles from Harpers Ferry to Carlisle, Rocksylvania and last week finished another 110 miles of the AT from Carlisle to north of Port Clinton, PA.
Although I still have to take pain medication and will likely be on it hencefoth (however not nearly as much as I used to require), there is backpacking life after major surgeries. I feel more hampered by age related limits than the structural problems that led to 27 procedures on my spine in 9 years.
My advice to someone contemplating major orthopedic surgeries is to get it done while you still have the strength and health to recover rather than hold off by worrying and thus creating bigger problems later.
I have had both knees replaced and one re-replaced and 1 hip replacement. PT is the key to successful surgery. At the time of my surgery, I was pretty much a couch potato and very overweight. After the hip replacement, I worked to lose 100 pounds and joined a great gym and monthly PT appointments. I am much stronger and have better mobility than I did. I am just beginning to do some hiking. So far I have stuck to local trails but desire to try some easy mountain hikes in NH. My suggestions are to put up with all the PT you can get post-op. Find a good trainer who will be able to pick up slight mistakes in your form so that you can correct them and not get injured. Use your replaced joint. If you don’t use it, you will lose mobility. Have fun!
Mary Lou, excellent advice and glad you are out on the trails! :)
Ken, great article. I’ve had both hips replaced and had an ACL surgery prior. I may be an exception but I still backpack and dayhike.
I do less winter hiking than I used to and I also go through a specific workout regime during shoulder season (prior to my hiking season) and all is okay. I do occasionally suffer from ITBS in my right knee (the ACL knee) but it’s manageable with two ITBS bands.
I do start small and work higher/longer each season and I hope my knees hold on. I have heard that knee replacements take longer to recover from than hip surgeries?
I’m just so happy to hear about others who keep going!
Take care (of your bionics). Good luck going forward. Peace and out!
Steve, yes, I have heard that hip replacements these days are so much easier than the knees, due to the complexity of the latter. There’s just so much going on in there. Glad you are still getting out there!
Ken, a timely article for me as I have been diagnosed provisionally with a lateral meniscus tear in my left knee. Poor side to side agility and stability as a result. I’m already on physio exercises to strengthen everything around the knee. While it is not a knee replacement, I still need to follow similar steps to get my mobility back. Whether it requires intensive physiotherapy or possible surgery, I’ll find out soon enough.
I would say it is better to get one’s knee issues dealt with earlier rather than later as they can be easier to fix and come back from. Independence becomes more important as one gets older and allows for a better quality of life. Mobility is a big part of that. I’d also suggest relying on your pharmacist for both prescription and non prescription remedies/information as they should be knowledgeable about both and willing to answer any questions you have.
Thank you, Ken!
If this helps, I had a meniscus repair on my right knee in 2008. Then twice in 2013 prior to going with my son to Philmont in 2014. After the second meniscus repair my doctor said I had arthritis in the knee and eventually I would need to have it replaced. He was right. I was attempting a thru hike of the Laurel Highlands trail at the end of last September and as I was taking the access trail down to the shelters on the first day I managed to get the leg caught on a vine and hyperextended my knee. Ibuprofen did not cause things to settle down so the next day I came off the trail and headed back home to see the doc. After much deliberation I had my right knee replaced in November (the day before Thanksgiving). It has been a long road back but I have been able to day hike and walk quite a bit. Rehab and the gym are my friends (even if they don’t feel like it at the time). I am 58 and already planning my next attempt at the Laurel Highlands this Fall. A meniscus tear does not have to lead to replacement, but it does put more wear and tear on your knee. Take it a little easier and you will get plenty of miles on it. For reference I am 58. Good luck!
I hear you about wanting to get the issues addressed earlier than later. My surgeon balked a little bit because of my age at the time (53) but I was pretty insistent that I have things I want to do NOW, not in 20 years.
I’m about to have a partial knee after 6 previous surgeries, including a high tibial osteotomy. I’m 39! The battle to have them consider doing anything has been hard fought due to my age, but I want to be mobile and enjoy my life now, I’ll deal with the consequences later. Besides, they may be able to grow me a whole new leg in 20 years!
This is pretty remarkable timing for this article. I just had total knee replacement surgery on my left knee on 7/6. I wasn’t hiking a lot before the surgery, but I was doing 300 squats every few days (in sets of 75) for 5-6 weeks immediately before the surgery. I tapered off the last 4-5 days. I went home the next day with a walker and exercises from my physical therapist. I got a machine that stretches my range of motion in both directions: I’m already down to 4 degrees from being able to straighten it out completely and up to 93 degrees bending it back. Goals are 0 and 125. I will be adding formal physical therapy soon: starting with 2 weeks at home and continuing with going to PT after that for as long as I can get it. I live in the Catskills and hike most frequently here and in the Gunks. I have 9 summits remaining to become an Adirondack 46er and hope to be able to complete that before too long. I’m 73, so I don’t have forever left anyway. Friends who have had knee replacements are uniformly doing well – a bit slower and more cautious than before, but still out there. Their most common complaint has been that they shouldn’t have waited so long. Best wishes to all of you with your new joints, and thanks so much for sharing your stories. They are an inspiration for me! This is an amazingly fantastic newsletter! Thanks for that.
Dale, thanks for the kind words and best of luck with the ADK finish! Sounds like you have a sensible plan to make it happen. :)
As the person above said, excellent timing with this article. Thanks, Ken. Thought about it many times yesterday, all the way up Webster and all the way down! In addition to using poles, folks might want to uses their a$$e$ as well. I sat down and lowered my 4’11 self from one ledge to the next all the way down! Will probably need one, if not two, eventually; but I will be 64 next month and the women in our family (as long as they stay away from their smokes) live into their 90s. So I don’t want to have it wear out and need a second one.
I never knew you had knee replacements. Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Beckie, just one so far, and am trying to put the other off as long as possible. From your trip reports, it sounds like you and Prema are doing just fine out there. :)
Greetings Mark, Your experience is like mine 2 years after a TKR. I just want to emphasize PT. My rehab was cut short by Covid. I started my home program. I hiked a few overnights with my son carrying 30 lbs and some extra depending on water needs. I Started riding my bike indoors on a trainer during the winter. I felt l had plateaued. I got a new PT referral after Covid lightened up. I told my therapist l needed to be able to hike better. She was amazing. She attacked my weak spots like a laser. Things like balance (small muscles), flexibility and simple strengthening. I did the last hike over again with my son and the difference was noticeable. So now l am on my own again. I have just finished my home PT program and read this article. I had to reply. My PT is now a daily routine. My son and l are planning a multi day hike for August. One last thing. Trekking poles are a must. I have lost proprioception around the knee. But the poles have saved me from excessive wobbling on river crossings. Plus they ease the strain on my other knee. When it finally gives up, l have no concerns about getting it replaced. Then onward and upward.
Hi Rick, PT was definitely the hardest thing for me, especially on my own. When someone is there to make you do it, it’s a different story. I had a fantastic therapist who unfortunately relocated for another job. I still go the same office for tune-ups, but when you connect with your therapist and they push you a bit, and they get WHY you want to stay active, it’s a great thing.
I had a total knee replacement, it had bee more than a year . My new knee is stronger than my old one. . I still can not kneel on my knee without pain. I am upset about this since I have dreamt about a long distant hike. Without my knee working I can not get into a ?
I haven’t been able to kneel on my left knee without pain since my ACL surgery 29 years ago. I just kneel on my right knee. Can you kneel on your other one? Can you pack a soft pad to kneel on? Can you use a hammock when you hike? You may have to adjust where you wish to hike to make sure there are trees. Don’t give up. Think of other options.
As a word of advice to older hikers who are beginning to feel the effects of osteoarthritis, strength is your friend. My knees began to ache several years ago. My Dr. advised me to increase my exercise with a focus on legs. To someone who has always maintained an athletic weight and fitness that sounded like strange advice, but good advice it was. I began using Kettlebells and following the regime recommended by Strong First. Swings, squats, getups and carries. I also started walking every day with a 30lb pack. Not much weight and not far, just 2.5 miles, but it adds up. The result was a lot of mass increase in my legs especially in the calf. My knees stopped hurting entirely. They used to get worn out and if overused, accumulate fluid. Now it takes considerably more overuse to cause swelling and require rest. My knees, endurance and strength are as good as at any time in my 66 years.
I know it sounds strange, as it did to me, especially to someone who is already fit, but my Dr. was correct. Strength, and lots of it, can provide the support to keep joints at high function. Try it before opting for the knee replacement. (Same advice worked on my shoulders a decade ago).
And by the way, the X-ray and MRI reveal that my days on these knees are limited so I’m exploring my options and getting ready for the replacement that I know is coming. This article came from a request I made to Phillip (thanks Phillip). My Dr. has one more piece of advice for me. Make a list of the three things that are most important to you that require knee function. When you are able to do only one of them, its time to replace the knee.
Hi Ken, thanks for your story. I had a Total Knee Replacement 3 months ago at the age of 50. Was slow going at first due to the pain and swelling. However, I am now hiking up to 15km and have recently started pack walking in prep for a multi day hike in 2 months time.
I find that I still cant bend it as good as I did pre surgery, but at least there is no pain in the joint. Same cant be said for all the other “old” bits attached to the knee
Thanks everyone. I finely quit working and stated doing some day hiking about 15 Km a day, but my right knee started hurting. The xray in the article looks like mine, the Dr said I would need a knee replacement in 5-10 years, but if I can’t hike…. I really wanted to do some of the trails in Europe, they are nice because you can hike from B&B or hotel to B&B and don’t have to carry all the outdoor gear.
I really liked hearing from everyone. I have had an MRI done to rule out any other issues that may be causing my pain when I walk for several Km, that Dr appointment is coming in a week or two. Please keep up the progress reports on hiker’s with knee replacements. Since people are living longer and wanting to do the more this is really good information.
Respectfully,
So glad I stumbled upon this.
I’m 64, and hiking is life. I knew I was going to need a partial on my left knee in a month, but my Dr called yesterday to say I also really need a full replacement on the right as well. I was kinda shocked, and suggested that maybe we could just do the partial for now, since that’s where the pain is. She said yeah, we could do that, and do the full a couple of years down the road.
Then I spent last night tossing and turning and discussing it with my wife. Do I really want to go through it twice? It’s the thought of being laid up for so long that gets me. I’ve been waiting for my wife to retire this July, yay, hiking extravaganza…but instead, nope.
After reading other people’s experiences, I’m starting to think it may be best to just get it all done now, rather than later.
Another question to ask yourself: How many times do you want to put your wife through this? I’ve cared for a woman twice who had knee replacements. Once was enough.
Ha! Yes, my wife is totally on board the “once is enough” train, as am I.
I think my initial shock has worn off, as I had been pretty sure I just needed one PKR. Common sense has now taken over. Going through it twice intentionally would be just plain silly.
After my wife had her first total knee replacement, I found her mowing the lawn eight days later. When she was getting ready for her second knee replacement a couple months later, we read her the riot act about doing too much too soon. So… It wasn’t until the 9th day after surgery that I found her mowing the lawn!
I had mine done 8 weeks apart… tkr, not partials. I think it makes sense to only have one winter of recovery.
I’m sorry. I know everybody has a story. I had my TKR 02/17/2004/ I have been cycling 8,000 a year to keep my legs strong. Dur to other medical conditions, I fear that I have to start walking. I’m thinking about walking 8-10 miles a day. Anybody have an opinion on walking that far on a knee replacement that’s 18 years old? thank you for time.
Age 79 (woman), when had two knee replacements 2021, May & August. One year after first: Back to steep hiking daily,1000 ft elevation over one half mile, for strengthening, increasing distance gradually. Did 6 months rigorous PT 2021. absolutely essential..don’t skimp on PT. Now strengthening on my own. No pain, going up or coming down. Amazing. Goals are 8-10 mile day mountain hikes, like before with ave elevation gain of 3-4,000 ft. Will start that in about a month. Pre-op,graduall severe osteoarthritis, bilaterally. Hiking is my life. did 537 mile Camino 2019 before surgeries. Could more easily do that now given pain under patellas is gone. Go for it…if you have motivation to adhere to prescribed PT. Set goals. Expect pain post op pain and use pain meds to keep moving per orders. Don’t anticipate second healing just like first. Always unique factors. Good PT will help you sort it out.
Hello,
Well, I’m just off the trail from a three night hut trip in the Pemi wilderness of NH. The worst section was the Garfield Ridge to Galehead Hut 7.7 torturous miles in wet conditions after being stormed off the summit of Layfayette Mt. This hike was a sobering reality of the fact that my knee is quickly moving toward need for replacement. I’m am fearful of the knee replacement because I am concerned it could be worse than it is now. However, I don’t think I have a choice as I cannot afford to pay for stem cell treatment. I also live alone so I’m wondering what knee surgery recovery will be like flying solo. Anyone with this experience?
As a caregiver for a family member who had 2 knee replacements, I’d say you want to have someone in the house with you for at least 2 weeks. You’re not going to be dancing or driving for a while. You’re going to have a real hard time walking at first.
Great topic and info!
Having had TKR on both knees a year apart, the last one in 2022, I couldn’t agree more with everyone that P.T. is the key to recovery; I would even say it is crucial and one of the most important factors to success, besides attitude. Doing strenghtening excersises before surgery also seemed to help with the recovery.I was 62 when I had the first knee done and by then it was bone on bone, with no cartledge visible.
Help was definitely necessary the first two weeks or so, mainly with excersises and some lifting, but after that my husband went back to his work out of town.
I found that perhaps the biggest adjustment after recovering was not really being able to kneel on a hard surface anymore, also, getting up from sitting on the floor now requires a different technique, but to be honest, I’ve got to admit to myself that I’m not 20 or 30 or 40 anymore and just have to get used to a new normal.
Nevertheless, I am glad that I had this done and although being a novice backpacker/hiker, I am now considering hiking the Camino de Santiago next year!
Can you through hike the AT after knee replacement surgery?
Much of the challenge and difficulty of thru-hiking is mental. I’ve met people on the trail who have had joint replacements, however I don’t know if they were thru-hiking.
There are many forums dedicated to the AT. You might find someone who had the same surgery who can help you.
You might start with a section hike, perhaps a longer, rather challenging one, so that you can test yourself. I wish you the best.
Hello everyone. It has been fun to read all of your TKR experiences. I have had both of my knees replaced a year apart about 5 years ago and did great. My knees have never felt better! With that said, my husband and I would like to hike down the Grand Canyon this fall. Any thoughts about this? I’m 64 years old and will definitely have to do some conditioning. Should we just do the rafting and call it good? Appreciate any advice or comments.
Hi. It is so reassuring to hear all the success stories. I have been supporting orphans in Nepal for 20 years and have been trekking there almost every year. Everest Base Camp etc. I am having a TKR in a month! You have overwhelmed me with the need to adhere to the P.T. I am 78 and a regular hiker but have come to terms with the fact that I shall have to take it easy and exercise sensibly for at least 6 months. Thank you all