Knee replacement surgery, anyone gone through this?

[routlaw]

After a life time of running, hiking, biking and walking finally wore out my left knee and just went through this myself 5 weeks ago today. I am healing up pretty well and walking over a mile each day and on some days up to 2.5 to 3 miles. It's much slower than my normal pace of course but even that is improving. Cycling currently is out of the question. My physical therapist have been awesome and very encouraging stating I am ahead of schedule by a long shot.

What I am really concerned about is ongoing maintenance of the Oliver, climbing on ladders or scaffolds to wash and wax, crawling under for wheel bearing maintenance and the list goes on. Then there are long drives with knee in the same position which for me to this point can be quite problematic. 

So my question to the group for those who have gone through this how long before you were fully operable in terms of using your camper, Oliver or not? At this point I am actually considering the sale of ours and either downsizing or abandoning camping altogether due to the diminished mobility. My therapist said it's unlikely I would ever be able to get 140-150º of flex or range of motion which eliminates being down on your knees and completely bending over for many of the task and maintenance chores of RV'ing. 

Thanks for taking the time and look forward to any insight from the folks here.

Rob

[jd1923]

Knee replacement was suggested for me by a local surgeon. I had fallen hard on my right knee as a teenager which caused bone spurs/arthritis over the years, first tore my meniscus playing tennis mid-90's and years of tennis and pickleball. I'm less of a biker and hiker, though I understand since mountain biking is so big here that it is very hard on the knees. The surgeon I met was only about replacement and not trusting him, I keep nursing my old knees. My knee locks up and I get jarring pain on occasion when playing which thankfully goes away as I walk it off and keep playing!

PT videos from Dr Adam Fields on YouTube are very helpful. He has 100 videos on almost every body part and condition.

This is the first I'm hearing that a full knee replacement has movement limitations! Perhaps you also had considerable ligament damage that needs PT correction. Chris and I know almost every senior in Prescott that plays pickleball (there are 100s), we also know a good 10 players that have knee replacements, some have both knees replaced and are playing pickleball again like having young knees. I hear from some that the pain after surgery is severe for 2 weeks. But there is certainly more knee movement in mountain biking than playing a racquet sport. 

Rob, I wish you the best and hope you store your Oliver just ONE season, get back to it next season when you work more PT and get back to full movement! My right shoulder is about as bad as my right knee. I was under the truck again, installing an A/C compressor yesterday. With maintenance you can take your time. You'll be able to work Oliver maintenance soon and I also hope you will enjoy your sports to the max asap!

Edited yesterday at 04:23 PM by jd1923

[Rolind]

I would recommend you fight tooth and nail to preserve your mobility and ability to continue what you love. Recovery from knee surgery is really tough. I’ve not had it but am an MD and many of my patients have. Once you give things up they will never come back.  The body and people in general have a remarkable ability to adapt and overcome limitations.  Good luck on your recovery! I hope this helps!

[mossemi]

@routlaw

I had a total knee replacement in 2016, 46 years after ACL and cartilage tears in my right knee were repaired.  That amounted to about 20 years of limited activity due to pain and discomfort.  I stopped all racket sports and was content saving my knee for walking and used 2 poles while hiking.  The 3 different knee doctors I saw in those years all wanted to wait until I was on my deathbed before replacing my knee.  After having knee replacement surgery, it was about a year before I really didn’t think about it anymore.  I really regretted not doing it sooner and I recommend it to anyone who has asked.  

I do believe that as we age, we should probably pick and choose some things we have always done.  I gave up blowing pine needles and oak leaves off our house roof and gutter this year and pay someone to do that job, but my wife had to talk me into it.  There are OTT maintenance jobs that you might have to give up and unless it is a financial decision, I would suggest giving up some maintenance jobs and keeping your Ollie, you can always sell it in the future if you find the maintenance issues to much to deal with.

Mossey 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by mossemi

[tallmandan]

@routlaw Your're only 5 weeks out...give it some time and stay on track with the recommended activities.  I have two total hip replacements and the hardest part was being patient and allowing time for my body to recover.   I know knees replacement is tougher than hip replacement, but I think you may be plesantly suprised how much mobility and function you have in 3, 6 and 12 months. Modern total joint technology is truly amazing but there is still the brutal trauma to your body that needs time to heal.  Don't sell your camper yet!  

Wish you the best for health and healing!

[2008RN]

Been there and done that x2  (ten years apart..  Both times I used a stationary training bike during rehab.  It few weeks after surgery  before I could get the knee joint loose enough to get all the way around the top of the pedal stroke.  it was probably 2 months before I could get a above 40 rpm still without force.  By 3 months I was walking 5 miles a day and standing on my feet 8 hours a day before I went back to work as a cardiac RN.

Both times I did each knee during the summer.  It wasn't until spring that I got out on a real bicycle.  Even at 9 months I still had to Ice the knee after bike rides. As mentioned above it was about 1 year the I forgot that I had a knee surgery.

Also as stated above rehab is tough and painful.  Do what PT tells you.  The important thing is getting full mobility back. Then getting muscle stronger.  This takes months.  I still have a minor problem with my left leg (Dominate) with standing on one leg and balancing long enough to put my pants on easily standing up.   I still do it, but I am clumsy.  I did have an exterior tendon release a few years before the surgery because  the tracking on my patella to the knee joint, which might has cause the slight balance issues.

Things I have never done again.   I love sports and always pushed my self hard.  Down hill skiing, If I could not do the double diamonds, and push myself it wasn't worth skiing.  Jumping down off of anything: The truck tailgate, large logs and rocks when hiking,  Anything that required cutting side to side, soccer, racket ball, etc.

As far as  trailer maintenance, 3-6 months for some of the easy stuff. The hard stuff like repacking bearings 9+months.  You learn about getting down on the ground and getting back up. I still can not squat down to the ground like a mechanic would to work on things.   Only do what is comfortable and you feel safe.   Remember baby steps.   If you have to repack bearings or such coming up soon you should have someone else do it.  I do all of my maintenance on my Oli it just means modifying how you do things.  I know little old ladies that still garden that have had knee replacement.  

You should be back in the camp grounds in around 6 months or so.  Remember Ice and Stretching during the next 9 months.  I spent my lunch breaks Icing the knee on my lunch breaks.  I was the best surgeries I have done.   Hang in there and don't give up.

[Mike and Carol]

I was always active, marathons, triathlons, racket sports, etc.  I lost the ACL in my left knee due to a college football injury.  I kept up the activity even without that ACL which resulted in re-injuring that knee multiple times.  I had ACL replacement surgery, meniscus repair surgery, excess fluid drainings and kept up the activity.  Finally, the pain pushed me to go to a sports orthopedic surgeon who told me bluntly to stop all the sports stuff!  He told me the last thing I should do is a knee replacement, spend the time you would be running to do strength exercises for both legs.  He sent me to physical therapy to do that.  That was 15 years ago and now I just walk.  He told me that if after physical therapy day to day activities did not result in pain, then avoid knee replacement.  At the time, even my walks (a few miles) resulted in pain, but after the physical therapy and continued strength training that pain has been gone for years.  I still tweak that knee occasionally, but it heals after a few days.  I can squat, climb a ladder, lift, slide under the trailer and drive long distances pain free.

Hope this helps, just another variable in your decision equation!  Mike

[Boudicca908]

On 3/26/2026 at 11:50 AM, routlaw said:

for those who have gone through this how long before you were fully operable

I had total hip replacement (not knee surgery) a few years ago. After two months of dedication to my physical therapy routine, I received my surgeon's approval to take off on my summer trip. Some friends travelled tandem with their own TT to be sure I arrived safely at my destination -- 2,200 miles away. I believe the work on my Oliver helped to keep me limber and I continued with my own home therapy (mostly walking and flexibility exercises).  I would encourage you to stay the course. I have no regrets! 

EDIT: about the sitting on the drive: I found that I needed more frequent stretch breaks. I allowed myself 11 days to drive that 2200 miles, and I moved around enough to avoid pain from sitting.  

Edited 6 hours ago by Boudicca908
added info

[dewdev]

@routlaw

Don't give up so soon. My wife has had both hips replaced and both knees replaced.

She had the last knee done in 2024 on the day before Thanksgiving. (The first one 2 years before that one.) It takes a number of months to recover and it takes about a full year before you do not know it was done. She was told to expect to get 130 to 135 degrees of flex, not what you said.

You do need to keep up the PT to get the flex back, so do not stop PT and after the PT sessions are done you will probably need to do the exercises yourself at home if your muscles are still complaining. After a year, she was able to knee down, but uses a foam pad to knee on. So do not give up on the OTT and camping.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me and I can get you in touch with my wife.

 

Edited 2 hours ago by dewdev

[routlaw]

Wow! Thanks for all of the great feedback and information. Really appreciate it. Some great stories in here too with your injuries occurred and how you have over come them. Congratulations to all who have gotten back to where you wanted to be. 

I will add this regarding my situation. My left knee issue is most likely due scoliosis which renders one leg being ever so slightly shorter than the other, it runs in the family. Playing football in high school at 110 lbs soaking wet didn't help. I was known as Big Bruiser on those days. Name given to me by our coach Bill Oliver who went on to be head defensive coach at the University of Alabama back in the day. Suffice it to say my knees and other body parts took a beating as well. Lesson learned… sort of.

Had to give up running several years ago but always kept hiking, walking, and cycling. This past year, as all of the previous years before, my wife and I walked, hiked and biked well over a 1,000 miles with an accumulated elevation gain of more than twice Mount Everest until it all came crashing down in late Nov or early Dec '25. Knee injections were no longer an option to get through it. The next couple of months I was in a bit of denial, this can't be happening to me. Finally made the decision to get it over with.

On off days from PT I exercise and stretch and will continue this as long as needed. I was at 119º flex on Wednesday but did not get measured today, so getting there slowly. PT's have had me on stationary bikes most sessions for about five minutes and while it's uncomfortable I can kneel on a padded cushion for short periods. And for those who have gone through this you'll love the next part of the story. I fell down our stairs into the basement a week ago due to my stupidity of walking down in sock feet on carpeted stairs. Good knee slipped and bad knee made a forced nearly 140º flex while sliding down. The pain was beyond anything I can ever recall but fortunately got over it within a few days and back to walking again almost every day since pacing at around 3.25 MPH ±. 

Thanks again for the encouragement.