My riding season is over before it started.

[KW]

And, it’s my fault. I NEED a knee replaced. It’s a longs story that I won’t bore anyone with, but I’ve needed a replacement now for two years and I’ve been putting it off. Well, knees don’t heal themselves and it’s gotten to a point where I can’t even bend it now. I had Hyalgan (3) injections put in late last summer and it allowed me to continue to ride, though it was very limited. Over this past winter my knee didn’t seem all that bad, so I decided to wait thinking I could get another year out of the old joint. I was wrong. And, I was stupid. The ‘bakers cyst’ (caused by the bad knee joint) is so bad now I can’t even sit in a chair with my leg bent. Sitting on the Valk is out of the question. I just can’t do it. I’ve tried 4 or 5 times now. I’m going through the series of injections again in hopes it will work to allow me to ride this summer. It’s a series of three shots. I had the first last Tuesday and it was barely noticeable. As of right now, it looks like I will have to have the surgery in June (soonest they can do it and that’s not guaranteed. July or Aug is more likely) Rehabilitation time is variable on a whole host of factors, but the ‘best’ case scenario is usually 4 – 6 weeks.  We’ve been planning an out west bike trip for the last 2 years, not to mention ‘Inzane’ in July. Man. . . . I’m bummed.          

[Devl]

Ohhhh Mannnnn!!!  Soooo Sorrrry to hear this!!!  Well, taking care of yourself is the first and most important thing that you need to do.  Everything else will fall into place.  Believe me, we are experienced in this also.  The past 2 years has really been bad for Bob & I and hopefully we can be back to riding this summer.  While you are healing, come up to InZane with your car or truck.  Thats what we did last year, Bob was on crutches.  It was still alot of fun!  Your bike will be there waiting for you when your all healed up.  Take Care of you!!!

[John Schmidt]

OK Jerry, you saved yourself some hard case antagonizing from me. Because if I had known I'd been on your case to get it done long ago. That way it would be history by this summer. See how lucky you are, you didn't have the "old man" bugging you. 

Take Devl's advice, drive up to InZane. I did it once, still had a ball. As they say in the Nike ads...."just do it." Hope they can get to you soon, that way you won't be off the bike for the entire riding season. See ya.....
John a/k/a Mr. Gadget.   

[laserpat]

Good luck with the bionic knee. F-stop just got one and I think he was on the Valk in about 6 weeks.

[f-Stop]

Yep, 5 1/2 weeks actually.  Couldn't reach my rear brake (right knee replacement), but had a blast on my first post surgery run which was to The Gatherin' of the Fools.  About 500 miles round trip. 

Sitting on my Valk is more comfortable than sitting in my truck!  Plus, wind therapy is the best kind of therapy!

Just now starting week eight post surgery and still working on my flexion.  Lots of scare tissue to stretch out from three prior surgeries.  Strength is coming back, but I still have a lot of swelling.  As a matter of fact I have the knee on ice as I post this. 

Good luck!

[KW]

I’ll find out more Tuesday. . . As far as Inzane; I already paid the registration fee and reserved a room, so we’ll see. Honestly, I’m not sure it would be therapeutic for me to be around that many bikes and not be able to ride. It may be just plain depressing. We’ll see.

[sugerbear]

sorry to hear, wife is looking at the same thing soon.  good luck

[Paxton]

""Depression is merely anger w/o enthusiasm."

 

[alph]

get a trike.  then at least you can stretch out your let and not need to put your foot down at lights.  i had an old co-worker that triked out his goldwing for that exact reason.

[Bama Red]

I'll be having my right knee replaced May 31st, if all goes as scheduled. It'll be the fourth surgery on the knee since '03. The incompetent quack who replaced it the first time, installed the bottom component 6* off plumb!

Better luck with yours.

[KW]

Wow Bama Red, sorry to hear that! You live in Alabama, right? Isn’t that the lawsuit capitol of America? Sounds like you have a legitimate complaint. I had Laparoscopic surgery on my knee about 16 years ago. They took out some of the meniscus and now, after all these years, there’s just nothing left.

[Bad On 3]

Hi im going thru the same thing ---going in for replacement on left knee --i triked my 2002 wing in 2003 and it helped my knees alot --now its time to replace --hope to go in as late in summer as poss. good luck --

[Grizhead]

What is with it, Valk riders and bad knees.  I had mine replaced in Aug of 06 and last week while loading a few boxes into a trailer I broke some of the plastic parts in it.  It needs replacing but as of yet no schedule. Big Bummer

[art]

VW trike .Long low an you can sit with your legs out in front of you an be comfertable ..Good luck

[Bama Red]

Wow Bama Red, sorry to hear that! You live in Alabama, right? Isn’t that the lawsuit capitol of America? Sounds like you have a legitimate complaint. I had Laparoscopic surgery on my knee about 16 years ago. They took out some of the meniscus and now, after all these years, there’s just nothing left.

KW, I live just north of the state line in Tennessee. The first surgery was done in 2003, in Knoxville. That's where the bottom component was installed incorrectly. I then had three revisions to the knee done by another ortho doc in Huntsville, Alabama. This latest surgery will be done by the Vanderbilt University Bone & Joint clinic in Franklin Tennessee on May 31st. The doc at Vandy really seems to have his sh!t together and has said that he will stay with me until the knee is at its maximum level of operation. I sure have a lot better feeling about this operation than any of the rest.

BTW, I had the left knee replaced in '05 (by yet a third ortho doc - since retired) and it is completely trouble free.

[KW]

Bama, how did the new knee turn out?

[solo1]

Take four wheels to Inzane, I did and had a good time.

I have two bad knees but I'm hoping to ride at Inzane this year.  My daughter is getting her second knee replacement next Tuesday and she's never rode.

[MacDragon]

Good luck with the surgery KW... and Bama... how's the new bionics.  Lot of F6 million dollar men around here...

[KW]

Solo, my new knee goes in on the 25th of July. Not sure I 'can' drive/ride in a cage that soon after. I would really love to go, especially since I already paid for a room, plus there
s some people I really want ot meet   

[Bama Red]

Well, hehehehe, the surgery didn't quite go as scheduled!

Two days before surgery, I was out weed-eatin', the knee gave way on me and dropped me, surgical knee first, onto the asphalt driveway. Got a good case of road rash that covered the entire knee cap. My surgeon said "No go, Pard - not till the knee heals again - too great a risk of infection."

So.......surgery is now scheduled for June 28, if he thinks it is healed enough. I go see him a week from today and he'll decide then. If its a no-go then, it'll be the middle of August before we can reschedule .

[Rams]

Interesting information.  I've got bad knees, the right much worse than the left.  Had surgery on the right one about two years ago.  Helped but didn't fix the problem.  The right femur has a dead spot in the knee joint.   The docs want to replace the right knee, I'm simply not ready for that. 

Yes, there is constant pain but, I'm either too stupid, stubborn or lazy to get it done.  Most of my knee damage came from my younger days (highschool and college football, rodeo stunts, skydiving and military things) I should have known better.   But, you know how much kids, teenagers and young studs listen to common sense.  NOT.  Thinking I was un-destructable wasn't the brightest thing I ever did.