Riding With Shiny New Titanium Joints!

Hi,
I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long ago.
I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of exercise
in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years ago.

I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the prosthesis
as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride. I
have a way to go in the endurance department.

To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible. After
a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
80 degrees and above.

Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.

I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.

Thanks,
Gary

On Sun, 1 Aug 2004 23:37:26 -0400, "GaryT"
wrote:



Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.

I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.

Thanks,
Gary


Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1800c.jsp

looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
pelvis. Look at this Trek-

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1500.jsp

and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)

Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
as the population ages?

"Dan Daniel" wrote: (clip)I appreciate any information and/or help with my
question.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I had my right hip replaced last September, and I was urged to ride a
stationary bike as part of the recovery therapy. As you know, there are a
number of restrictions on your hip during recovery--the 90 degree angle is
one of them. I was given to understand that this limit is relaxed as your
hip heals and the muscles become strong again. It has nothing in particular
to do with bicycles--it applies to tying your shoes, bending over to pick
things up, and your movements in general. It seems to me that by now, after
two years, you should be able to do just about anything you want. Of
course, your case may be different than mine, so you should go by what your
surgeon says.

But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
be able to use your feet in an emergency.

If you are required to observe the 90 degree limit, be sure your seat is not
too low, and your crank arms are not too long.

Ain't it wonderful to be back on a bike? And no more pain!

"Leo Lichtman" wrote

But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very tough
For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important to
be able to use your feet in an emergency.

I don't know about this. I think clipless pedals are mostly a safety feature.

Two of my friends have had hip replacement, and another has had a knee done.
They all are ultra-cyclists. One of the guys completed a
Boston-Montreal-Boston (1200K/750 mi in 90 hr) 8 months after surgery.

"GaryT" wrote in message
news
Hi,
I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long
ago.
I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of
exercise
in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years
ago.

I've been advised that riding and swimming will be kindest to the
prosthesis
as far as maintaining long-term viability. So, I'm (attempting to) ride.
I
have a way to go in the endurance department.

To the bicycle question. Because of the prosthesis, I was advised to
purchase a hybrid/comfort style bike in order to stay within the parameter
of keeping at least a ninety-degree angle between my torso and thigh while
riding. I did and have been as true to this restriction as possible.
After
a great two-year checkup, I've been told I could lower the angle to around
80 degrees and above.

Generally speaking, is it feasible/practical to attempt setting up a road
bike to honor these restrictions? I'm tall (6'3") and currently have an
extra-large frame size Diamondback hybrid. However, I would like to get a
lighter bike, more suitable to riding longer distances as my endurance
increases Hence, the investigation into a road bike.

I appreciate any information and/or help with my question.

Thanks,
Gary

Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't. I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently, it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I know at least one guy I ride with sometimes who has an artificial hip. He
rides mostly in the mountains 'cuz that's where he lives. He rides a racing
bike. He's about 50. I haven't heard of him having any problems.

GaryT wrote:
Hi,
I've started riding - for the first time since childhood - not too long ago.
I started as a means of exercise. I'm limited as to the methods of exercise
in which I can participate because of a total hip replacement two years ago.

I have a friend of mine who got a total hip (left) and got back on his
bike as soon as he could stand it. He reports no specific problems. He's
also swimming. My my limited POV, his activity level increased due to
him feeling better than before. He started on the bike within months of
the total hip. YMMV.

-paul

"Dan Daniel" wrote in message
...

Seems pretty possible to me. Many road bikes are set up with a more
upright position- usually called' sport' or 'comfort' or some such
name, a level or two below the full race models. Looking at this Trek-

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1800c.jsp

looks like it could be adjusted to fit your needs. With a long steerer
tube and spacers and various stems, it is possible to raise the bars
and bring them back to lessen the amount of forward tilt in your
pelvis. Look at this Trek-

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1500.jsp

and imagine the stem from the 1800 on the 1500. An easy swap to make
at purchase, and then you can change the stem again as you are able to
tilt forward more. (if you open the pages in two separate windows and
click back and forth, you can see the changes pretty clearly- why I
choose the trek site, but other companies have fine bikes)


Those are very nice rides. Thanks for the links. I've been looking at the
Giant OCR-3, the Specialized Sirrus, and the Scattante R550. All of these
have compact geometry. The Scattante seems like it offers good value.

Sounds like you could use a really good bike shop that knows how to
fit people and how to go over your position on a bike. And is willing
to swap parts and make adjustments. Maybe remind them that more and
more of their market is going to be people with limits just like yours
as the population ages?


I've been to a couple - both have "Fit Kit" but I haven't made use of it
just yet. I'm also consulting with a couple of cyclists from the local bike
club. I don't know if the "...limits like yours as the population ages,"
argument will hold much water at the bike shop. I'm only 38 at the moment -
had my hip replaced at 36!! : )

Gary

"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message
...

"Dan Daniel" wrote: (clip)I appreciate any information and/or help with
my
question.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I had my right hip replaced last September, and I was urged to ride a
stationary bike as part of the recovery therapy. As you know, there are a
number of restrictions on your hip during recovery--the 90 degree angle is
one of them. I was given to understand that this limit is relaxed as your
hip heals and the muscles become strong again. It has nothing in
particular
to do with bicycles--it applies to tying your shoes, bending over to pick
things up, and your movements in general. It seems to me that by now,
after
two years, you should be able to do just about anything you want. Of
course, your case may be different than mine, so you should go by what
your
surgeon says.


I also did the stationary bikes, along with other resistance and
weight-based therapy. I rehabbed like a maniac once I was given the
go-ahead. I had a six week period with a "no weight bearing restriction."
My prosthesis attached via bone in-growth, not with any type of cement.

The restrictions were relaxed after the rehab was "complete." However, I
believe a lot of my surgeons caution stems from the fact that I was 36 when
the hip was replaced. Additionally, my prosthesis is 100 percent Titanium
Alloy - no urethane cups lining the socket. The prognosis is a three to
four decade life for the prosthesis, which would put me in my late 60's to
late 70's. However, I've dropped all of my prior impact-type
activities(i.e. basketball, volleyball, running, etc...) The only 100
percent doctor-approved forms of exercise are swimming and riding.

To be honest, range of motion is not significantly different from my
natural, right hip. As far as riding goes, I believe, in addition to the
cautions previously mentioned, it is a combination of the potential force
applied on difficult grades or in lower gears plus putting the angle of the
femur head inside the "natural" 15 degree position for an extended period of
time.

But, a couple of things I was warned about are worth mentioning. DO NOT
take any bad falls. Your replacement hips are more easily broken than the
originals. If you damage one of your new hips, the repair may be very
tough
For this reason, I no longer use my SPD pedals. I think it is important
to
be able to use your feet in an emergency.

If you are required to observe the 90 degree limit, be sure your seat is
not
too low, and your crank arms are not too long.

With my prosthesis, dislocation is the major threat. However, because of
the long-term nature of it, my "risky" activities are long gone.

Ain't it wonderful to be back on a bike? And no more pain!


That is very true. I walked around in pain for a number of years; hobbled
into the hospital on a cane and woke up in recovery completely pain-free.
My first words in recovery were "I feel no pain in my hip. None!"

"psycholist" wrote in message
...


Congrats on being back on the bike.

I think you need to get to a different doctor/surgeon for some more
opinions. I think yours is a weenie. There are those who know about
exercise and those who don't.

I know what you're saying, but that's not the case here. She's not trying
to put a blanket restriction on all types of activity. I mentioned the
reasons in a reply to another post for the caution. This particular caution
is also very "cycling-oriented." Although, I do curtail my activities
because of the expected long-life of my prosthesis.

I had my upper femoral lobe nearly severed
when I was hit by a car while riding just under 2 years ago. Apparently,
it
was a tough decision for my doc between replacement and repair. She went
the repair route. The downside, she said, was a much longer
rehabilitation
than a new hip would have required. But even with that longer rehab (and
several other severe injuries, too), I was riding my racing bike on a
trainer in six weeks. In five months, I rode my first century ... in VERY
hilly terrain ... in under 5 hours. I was 47 at the time.


From my lengthy experience with joint degeneration/damage, repair is nearly
always preferable to replacement - as long as the repair leaves the chance
of regaining a significant percentage of pre-injury/condition capability.
Of course, I'm not a doctor; I just try to quote one on Usenet! : ) The
only real downer of post-surgery for me was the lengthy rehab period due to
the initial 6 week, no weight-bearing period. I was amazed how much muscles
atrophy in six weeks.

I know my circumstances are somewhat different, but I know some doctors
are
overly-cautious weenies when it comes to stuff like this. You're never
going to know your limits until you test them. Two years of babying your
hip seems quite excessive to me.

I'm sure some are - whether by nature or by fear of legal action. I haven't
babied the hip. I was back to "normal" activity once I completed rehab.
But, I won't take any unecessary risks - including impact activities -
considering it has to last 30 to 40 years. I was without much use of the
hip for years. I have no desire to go that route again. Low quality of
life sucks. Especially when you have two young boys.

I'm glad your injuries have healed well and allow you to participate in
activities you enjoy. Have fun and take care of yourself.

Gary

"GaryT" wrote: (clip)My first words in recovery were "I feel no pain in my
hip. None!"
^^^^^^^^^^^^
I remember saying that, too. I didn't realize, however, that was due to the
morphine.