Driving your t after knee replacement

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules

Topic author
23ford
Posts: 185
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 1:53 pm
First Name: Warren
Last Name: Webb
Location: Owasso OK

Driving your t after knee replacement

Post by 23ford » Fri Apr 15, 2022 12:45 pm

How well you feel about driving your T after knee replacement?

User avatar

CudaMan
Posts: 2531
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 4:17 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Strange
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
Location: Hillsboro, MO
Board Member Since: 2013

Re: Driving your t after knee replacement

Post by CudaMan » Fri Apr 15, 2022 1:03 pm

Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

User avatar

George Mills
Posts: 619
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
First Name: George
Last Name: Mills
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 Roadster, 1919 Hack, 1925 Fordor
Location: Cherry Hill NJ/Anona Largo FL
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Driving your t after knee replacement

Post by George Mills » Fri Apr 15, 2022 2:03 pm

I think Mark's links provide the guidance for you to decide what is best for you and how it applies to your personal situation.

I'm a little different than the rebuild guys. They had their patella and all of its stretch parts pushed to the side while the 'inserts' were done, and then the patella (knee cap) pulled back into position and aligned for healing with all of the stretchy stuff still intact. My patella kneecap had shattered during a 2nd story fall into over 50 pieces with nothing big enough to pin...but it was rebuilt in place with a very patient ortho-pod and his surgical super glue. Recovery after I learned to walk again 6 months later is pretty much the same as a knee-job as most of my basic PT cohorts were knee replacement folks.

I DO believe that life after is exactly what you can make it, if you have a body that will allow it. I had doubled down on the PT cycle (old SF warrior thing where pain and endurance don't belong in the same room...(still stupid after all these years :lol: ), but by the first anniversary I was able to get in, and get out of the T respectfully, often with only an unexpected head bang. CHECK. While thinking out did I need to kluge up something for control I discovered that pedal work and lever work was actually possible also. CHECK. My first local show was only a mile from the house so yeeha...until it broke down halfway there. Getting under was easy, getting back up turned out to be an ut-oh and an embarrassing laugh!

Again, back to my thought...that too passed. Like Rob Heyen said in one of his posts in the link his ortho-pod said he would never kneel again...and he made it a goal to do exactly the opposite (Rob was Ranger...they do stupid things too, on a just because basis ... lol)

Just take it easy and take it cautious...it will be fine! You hit a roadblock on something, find a way to take more PT with focus on what was holding you back before it becomes engraved in your mind.

There's a PS to the story that is cute and I recommend to anyone...My PT person was pretty pushy, but her boss had been the PT guy who walked my wife back from twisted off and reattached knee ligaments when her dressage days came to an end with a balky high spirited horse some 40 years ago so aggressive was expected. My issue was all said and done, walking again without a gait or a limp, my angular movement max bending was 5 degrees short of where it probably started based on the other knee. For an old guy I thought that pretty good. She said nope...we'll get there. One day while I was doing knee bend crunches with a weight while lying on my back, she appeared out of no where and pretended that she was an NFL defensive end, and my shin bone was the tackle buddy! Grimiss all you want, she not only got that 5 degrees back but that knee came out at + 7 degrees by the time we were done.

Good luck

User avatar

BE_ZERO_BE
Posts: 628
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:27 pm
First Name: BOB
Last Name: CASCISA
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 TOURING
Location: POULSBO, WA

Re: Driving your t after knee replacement

Post by BE_ZERO_BE » Fri Apr 15, 2022 3:13 pm

 
I have had both knees, both hips and one shoulder replaced.
It has had no impact on my ability to drive my '16 T.
The key to success after joint replacement is to :
1. Do the physical therapy as directed.
2. Do the home exercises.
This will restore your strength and flexibility.

Then drive and enjoy your T as if nothing happened. :D
Respectfully Submitted,
Be_Zero_Be

I drive a Model T ... Microseconds don't matter :D

For every Absolute Model T Fact there are at least three exceptions.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic