How many racers here have knee problems?

[KG4]

Been having problems with my right knee.Swelling,burning and locking up.Doctor said tendons are shot and need surgery.Been having problems with it for a few years now.Who else is had or having knee problems?

[racer121M]

Sore Knees

I had an ACL done about 15 years ago and it really bothers me on long races. After the Top O I can't even get out of the boat. I try to take 2 Aleve before a marathon and hope for the best.

Bob

[bill van steenwyk]

a better question?

Might be better to ask how many can walk normally!!

[Steve Warnock]

Yo on a Knee - not from racing!

KNEEd to get a new CT scan or MRI will tell the story. Mine turned out to be a cartilidge piece that flipped over and doubled up. A current Digital Xray, new equipment will do as well-cheaper. Had it for about 10 years. Been racin for 38yrs and never missed a yr. Finally it popped good. Had outpatient Orthoscopic during the Xmas holidays and back within 6weeks. Never missed a day of work. Todays techniques are top shelf. This was about year 2002 when I had it done.

Steve W
GE Healthcare

[blueskyracer]

KNEEd to get a new CT scan or MRI will tell the story. Mine turned out to be a cartilidge piece that flipped over and doubled up. A current Digital Xray, new equipment will do as well-cheaper. Had it for about 10 years. Been racin for 38yrs and never missed a yr. Finally it popped good. Had outpatient Orthoscopic during the Xmas holidays and back within 6weeks. Never missed a day of work. Todays techniques are top shelf. This was about year 2002 when I had it done.

Steve W
GE Healthcare

Same here. Knee kept locking up to where I would pull my ankle up till my foot touched my rear and it would pop back in place. Did that for 3 years about once a day and finally had surgery. One week recovery and no problems since. So Far!!! That was back in 1995

[Guest]

I do it again

I owe 40 plus years of boat racing:
• Bad knee – both legs
• Paralyzed right arm
• Missing parts in right leg
• Many cuts – one about 24” long
• Damaged eyes
• Damage hearing
• Damage neck
• An education in engine and boat construction
• Some very good friends
• A hell of a ride

[David_L6]

I'll be having surgery in the next few weeks. Trying to put it off until after the NBRA race at Pineville, LA in May. I won't be able to drive at that race but I'm not sure I'd be able to attend if I have surgery before the race.

I can't attribute my knee problems to boat racing. Hearing problems may be a different story....... My knee problems came from football and motorcycles. I gave up football a long time ago. I'll give up motorcycles right after I give up my guns.

I injured my left knee the first time playing high school football. Had to have surgery to remove torn cartilage. About 6 weeks ago I injured the same knee riding a dirt bike. This time: torn meniscus, torn ACL, torn HCL, chipped bone, a bone spur - and if all that isn't enough - arthritis. The ligaments aren't damaged that badly but are causing plenty of problems because of two of them being damaged at the same time. Won't know for certain what, if anything, has to be done to them until the surgeon gets in there and pokes around a little. Right now I know that he's going to repair the meniscus and remove the bone spur and chip.

From what I hear, knee surgery now isn't as bad as it was 30 years ago. Back then they whacked you with a machete, dug around inside for a while, then used a hundred stitches or so to sew you back up. I was out of commission for a while and it hurt like all get out. I'm told that arthroscopic surgery is not nearly as painful (I'll let you know in a few weeks) and doesn't almost totally incapacitate you.

[spunky64w]

Eastern Medicine anyone?

Now I know I'm a bit of a youngin here but I found out a bit ago that the cartilage in my knees was splitting, wasn't serious now, but later it could become just that. Anyway, I went to an acupressureist.(sp?) 10 minutes and $20, and my knees which typically crack every time I bend down, haven’t made a squeak in the past 2 weeks. I’d be willing to recommend that guy to anyone.

[kampenracing]

Knee problems

I have had 2 surgeries on my right knee and probably working on a 3rd. I cannot attribute all of that to racing because I played soccer for many years but alto of it from racing. My surgeon has told me that the compression of being on your knees with them bending up and down all the time while kneeling in the race boat causes alot of damage. My first surgery was the one of the worst experiences of my life. My second surgery was the complete opposite. I was recovered and back to work in less than a week. After my second surgery they sent me to physical therapy and really seemed to help also.

[bill boyes]

Left knee is a big problem. Have had surgery and fluid drained. Then had 3 injections 3 months ago to regrow cartilage. Not helping much. Cannot bend my knee to even put my pants on. I am in constant pain. looking at knee replacement. An ex runabout driver.

[Racerkyle20]

I've had knee/ankle problems since i was 15 years old. After a weekend of racing my knees are usually brused, cut, sore...my ankles have started to be really sore after a weekend. After Lawerance 2 weeks ago my ankle was swollen like a baseball! I've learned to deal with it, but i'm pretty sure i'm gonna have to have surgery at some point in my life. oh well totally worth it!

[Dave M]

I Do

One knee blown out from a boat racing flip (blow over) and the other knee due to an auto accident, drunk hit me head on. So I do have issues bending down some times. After a race I usually take a few extra seconds to get out of the boat because my knees don't work right away, I have to lock them to stand.

Now that we have side fins on the runabouts it makes racing them more easy to race without all that bouncing around.

[kampkurz]

Save your knees.

I'm a twenty-five year finish carpenter, and have spent way too much time on my knees doing fun stuff like hardwood flooring, baseboard and such. By the mid-nineties, I walked like I was drunk all the time. And I was drunk only part of the time! I have a problem with a loose piece cartalage that sometimes needs to be wiggled back into place.
Luckily, in '99', I bought a mountain bike and more or less, kinda made it a lifestyle, riding from two to three thousand miles a year. I keep the seat at the proper height and keep my pedals at a high cadence, (RPM, for you fellow racers), it has made all the difference in the world, first of all, I rode about fifty pounds off in the first year. I also have noted that a lot of lateral strength has been added back in.
I started boat racing last season with Top'O as my main objective, and while my knees burnt like hell by the time I was finished, I was walking normal at the awards, not like I needed to go walk up there or anything. Of course, now that I am racing, I am not riding quite as much. Probably well under two thousand miles last year, but I am certain that it is regular cycling that has played a major role in the recovery of my knees. Race, then ride on!
KampKurz

[Gootz 142M]

Might be better to ask how many can walk normally!!

Ever watch the awards banquet after Top"O"?????

[HRTV]

Don't feel bad guys read my signature which is what I live by.

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride!"