Cave Diving After Total Knee Replacement
I am facing a TKR in the not-to-distant future. I have read up on the intense therapy required to achieve the best outcome. What I want to hear about is what is not available online like any limitations I can expect cave diving after the recovery period.
Thanks
Vince
my wife had it done, and a cave diving buddy also had a TKR. My wife was totally mobile again in about 6 weeks. my buddy was back in the caves in about 8 weeks. No limitations at all on the cave diving buddy. Both were glad they did it
Once it has completely healed you should be able to perform activity to tolerance. The considerations that you may not read about are 1) May not have complete articulation in flexion, so you may have some difficulty with squatting. 2) Some inherent knee instability because when they do the surgery they will remove one or both cruciate ligaments. This could make up and down steps and slopes challenging. 3) Some decrease in proprioception in the knee, such that you lose some kinesthetic sense.Originally Posted by OutlawCaver
There are quite a few people on this forum who have had a knee arthroplasty and can give you feedback on their outcomes in reference to diving. If I can answer any questions please contact me, I do a lot of subacute rehabilitation on people with knee arthroplasty.
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
I have not had TKR but 20 yrs ago I did have 3 of the 4 ligaments replaced after a knee dislocation and broken leg, right below the knee cap. Other than waiting 8 hrs in The Taos Box for evac, the worst part was the therapy and 6 months of rehab. I have about 95% motion back and have no problem swimming or carrying bm dubs.
Will I still have a frog kick?
We can probably find a toad or two for you to punt around if you really want to.
"Have you ever noticed
When you're feeling really good
There's always a pigeon
That'll come shiat on your hood?" John Prine 4-7-2020
"Into the blue again; in the silent water
Under the rocks, and stones; there is water underground" Talking Heads
Could you before??? If so yes.
You may find modified flutter a little more difficult
"Not all change is improvement...but all improvement is change" Donald Berwick
one of my buddies has had major surgery (I don't know if it was TKR) on both knees. He can no longer throw his UV 26 on his shoulder with the batteries in and walk it to the water (I can't do that with good knees). He had to buy a Viper. He's still a cave diving maniac. Thank God we had the sense to switch to sidemount before his surgeries. Best of luck. Heal well. See you under the rocks.
I had a graft from my hamstring taken to replace my ACL, two bolts hold either end in place. I also had some of the meniscus shaved down. Full recovery (no more brace) took about 12 months. I didn't think about it at all after 24 months. It hasn't stopped me from doing anything.
Sappers Forward
841st Eng (Cbt/Hvy) 81ARCOM, 84th Eng (Cbt/Hvy) 2ACR, 40th Eng (Mech) 1AD, 588th Eng (Mech) 4ID
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