Knee Replacement

[dave h]

Starting out with X-rays to help evaluate wether I need a knee replacement. If anyone that has gone thru this procedure, how did it affect their umpiring? How long was it before you could umpire again? I have read that rehab therapy is a must do 100%. I am now 61 and have had 3 knee procedures done when younger. My knee is starting to veer to the right so I am concerned about future problems with hip or back. Am I done working games???

[mturman]

I feel for you...Sorry to hear the news...But that does not mean you have to get away from it...There are other aspects of officiating games...Check around and see if there are leagues that need score keepers...We have several that were once umpires but due to age or health related reasons, they had to step off of the diamond...Don't jeopardize your health...Best wishes...

Aloha,
Mike

[yawetag]

In addition, your organization may need evaluators or even a backup assignor on some days.

I hope the surgery only sidelines you temporarily, but I'm sure there are ways to keep yourself involved with the game.

[britinmuc]

hi dave.
my grandad had the op (twice - he wore the first one out!!!) when he was 70
he was up and hiking in a few weeks.

don't forget that the normal op's are just meant to keep you going - unfortunately you are going to have to face the facts that you may not run the NY marathon in under 4 hours anymore..

that said I would seriously look into "knee taping". take a roll of leukotape with you or tape up that knee before a game. time consuming, yes. worth it? definetly.

I was faced with a similar problem -
I managed to delay the OP by building up the surrounding muscles of the knee with weighttraining, spinning and swimming.

i havn't had any knee problems in 3 years and apart from doing the games I still am relatively active doing other sports (mostly mountainbiking in the alps ~2500 - 3000km a year)

bottom line.
op will only do you so much.
avoid translateral movement (taping, muscle)
if you need to lose a few pounds, do it -
think about going the gym.

61 is not old - you just need to look after yourself a little more.
hope everything goes as planned

[retired]

Keep in mind, everyone is different. Some heal slowly, some quicker.
I had TKR. Below are my results:
64 years old, male, excellent health, not over-weight. (retired).
Arthritis in both knees. Used knee braces (that helped alot).
Suffered for 4 years, getting injections for that amount of time.
Decided it was time for surgery.
Doc would only do one TKR at a time. (next year I planned on getting the other knee done).
One week after surgery, was walking w/o any assistance (but carefully).
Two weeks (6 visits), of in-home therapy.
Then, 10 visits to physical therapist.
First month, seen significant improvement.
Months 2 & 3, seemed like very little improvement. Was getting depressed. Swelling stopped lessening, (for me swelling was a big deal, I did not feel better till swelling went away, I think it's natures way of telling you how your recovering). Pain in ligaments & muscles around the knee, (no pain from the knee replacements parts, ie no scraping or rubbing of knee joints). During doctor visits, all he could say was x-rays of replaced knee looked good, time will heel.
I continued my excercises at local hs gym after physical therapist visits were concluded. Everyday I did something, 3 days a week I would walk a mile or two, and 3 days a week I would work on the excercise machines.
Somewhere around weeks 13/14, knee felt really good. Believe it or not, I started working grade school basketball games. Still wearing the braces, for better support, had no problems. Week 15, I am working hs basketball games, with my knee braces for security, with little to no problems.
Hope this helps.