Our age for hip or knee replacements?

How old were you when you first had one replaced?

  • < 50

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 51 - 60

    Votes: 5 31.3%

  • 61 - 70

    Votes: 7 43.8%

  • 71 - 80

    Votes: 4 25.0%

  • > 80

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    16
Sadlsor

Sadlsor

Site Supporter
Joined
Jan 15, 2020
Messages
576
Age
68
Location
Birmingham, Alabama
Bike
2008 ST1300A
I read here and on other forums of guys having a knee or hip replaced, or both, or multiples thereof.
At present, none of this seems to be in my future, but I'm not yet 70.
If you have had a major joint replaced, how old were you the first time? I ask it this way, as some have had both hips or both knees rejuvenated.
 
I just have to hope you're the exception, UP. (We already know you're exception-al!)
Thought of you when I posted this... "hmmm...I know a guy who spans decades of this routine."
 
Not knee, but I had an ankle replacement in my mid 50's which failed in short order. Long story I won't get into. Knee replacements are so common that some people don't realize they are not a slam dunk, as a high percentage of people, around 20% or more I've read, have ongoing pain and regret about the procedure. Recently I had an insurance adjuster come to my house that had knee replacement the year before, and he was still limping around in pain. Both of my knees give me problems, but I'll wait till I literally can't walk before I get one, especially after what I went through with the ankle.
 
Consultation with a physician or physical therapist? Everyone's body and life experiences are unique. We all know people our age that are "old" and we all probably have peers that have had joint replacements that went really well. My wife had a STAR total ankle replacement at age 43 and it allowed 23 more years of mobility.
 
Everyone's bodies are different, certainly, but I wanted to get an idea of the riding population on this forum.
I'm not concerned for myself, but curious. Seen several of our group here mentioning it, so I'm hoping for a little more detail.
Only in regards to age.
 
You did not mention shoulders, but from what I'm learning lifting heavy items overhead can lead to rotator cuff damage requiring shoulder replacement. This is a hazard for electricians.
 
Sadlsor said:
At present, none of this seems to be in my future, but I'm not yet 70.
Click to expand...

Activity levels, sports injuries aside a lot of joint issues may well be heredity related.

In my family, including siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins on both sides I'm not aware of any joint replacement. On spouse's side same thing.

My MIL fell while on a cruise excursion in 2016 at age 90. Cracked her hip and recovered though physio vs. surgery. She turned 100 two months ago. Tough bird. Her sister fell at age 94 and did require surgery to fix the break, still doing ok at 98. Bone density issues here contributed to the breaks I think.

So, IMO it is not a foregone conclusion that you're going to need any joint replaced in the future.
 
Right hip at 55, left hip at 67, right knee at 69.

Both hips recovered well, no cane necessary at 3-week checkup for either one.

Knee recovery was much easier than either hip, walking without cane within 1 week.

I waited too long to have the left hip done, can not put on left sock with ankle on knee.

There is no advantage to putting off surgery, only the risk of reduced range of motion.
 
As with anything, the key is finding the right ortho doc who has done a bunch of them and very, very few complaints.
My knee guy retired but I've got a new one.
When he looked at both my replacements (which were 15 years old+-) in his words -
'They are just like they are brand new. What a great job!'
 
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Interesting topic. For those with hip replacements, did you need to be especially carful when getting on the bike? I’ve seen a few patients in the past with a hip prosthesis dislocation (usually due to hyperflexion at the hips, like bending forward)…kind of brutal to put it back in (lots of tugging under sedation and on occasion, patient had to be put under general anesthesia to reduce the dislocation).
 
Erdoc48 said:
Interesting topic. For those with hip replacements, did you need to be especially carful when getting on the bike? I’ve seen a few patients in the past with a hip prosthesis dislocation (usually due to hyperflexion at the hips, like bending forward)…kind of brutal to put it back in (lots of tugging under sedation and on occasion, patient had to be put under general anesthesia to reduce the dislocation).
Click to expand...

I had my hip replaced at age 74, because I couldn’t get on the bike. After surgery, no problem.

My surgeon does several each week, using robot assist to help position the hardware. I was walking without a cane on day 3. On day 4, the therapist nearly had a hard attack, when I was standing in the driveway, unassisted, when he drove up!

John
 
Uncle Phil said:
As with anything, the key is finding the right ortho doc who has done a bunch of them and very, very few complaints.
Click to expand...
How did you find out the "very very few complaints?

The problem - if it is one - is here in Cleveland there are a lot of ortho guys who specialize in shoulders and who have impressive resumes. But finding out who has messed up more than his share of procedures is more than difficult. I did find out - word of mouth - that one very highly regarded guy slips a tablet to the patient during the operation's prep asking for a signature that authorizes a payment of $1,000 in addition to the medicare being paid. This is illegal and despite my friend's complaint (this happened to his wife) nothing is being done about it.
 
SMSW said:
How did you find out the "very very few complaints?

The problem - if it is one - is here in Cleveland there are a lot of ortho guys who specialize in shoulders and who have impressive resumes. But finding out who has messed up more than his share of procedures is more than difficult. I did find out - word of mouth - that one very highly regarded guy slips a tablet to the patient during the operation's prep asking for a signature that authorizes a payment of $1,000 in addition to the medicare being paid. This is illegal and despite my friend's complaint (this happened to his wife) nothing is being done about it.
Click to expand...
There are a several websites that can provide that information as they have it.
Healthgrades is the first one that pops into mind but there are others.
Even Yelp as gotten into the act ... ;)
Can you trust the info - as much as anything else out there I guess.
The 'safest' way is ask around, especially medical techs that work in the surgical centers and encounter those surgeons
 
SMSW said:
How did you find out the "very very few complaints?
Click to expand...

My daughter files the insurance for my ortho, and can see how many patients have to have additional surgeries. Sorta like reading the reviews on Amazon. She highly recommended my surgeon. Plus, he’s pretty efficient. From 1st office visit to surgery was less than 2 weeks. He asked if I wanted to try shots or PT, and when I declined, he set the surgery date during my first visit.

In at 7:00 AM, home at 2:00 PM, same day. Considered outpatient procedure and cost me $18.

John
 
Erdoc48 said:
For those with hip replacements, did you need to be especially carful when getting on the bike?
Click to expand...
I rode my 1300 on the 26th day after knee replacement, but I don't remember the time after either hip.

I'm sure it was sooner than the surgeon would have recommended. :hurt1:
 
Aftermarket left knee at 69, right knee at 71 (1 year ago now). Recovery and rehabilitation is no joke. In my case I'm much better off after having them done. Walking a block was a challenge before, now I walk miles with no pain. They'll never be as good as a healthy natural knee but way better than my worn out OEMs.
Both of my knees were done using robotic assist which is supposed to reduce complications and speed recovery (compared to conventional) according to studies I read.
 
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