Can bad knees end riding?

I was told there are 2 reasons not to do them on younger people
1: they wear out fast
2: younger peoples bodies reject them and develop scare tissue in the healing process and creates a lot of constant pain. (My mother had this happen in her first knee)

Destroyed my knee in 2005 while doing some practice runs at the Nakiska super park for the Forum Youngblood slopestyle competition. Since then have Had 3 left knee surgeries, all before my 24th birthday. Have no miniscus, have plates and screws where the ACL and MCL should be and they hacked up my patella tendon twice to get parts to build ligaments, lots of bone on bone contact, and bad arthritis since 2007. It is possible to ride lots and continue to ride after, have had to take a couple seasons off over the years due to re injuring etc but it always comes back eventually, some recoveries have been 4-5 months. I’m a prime candidate for an early knee replacement, docs all figure by the time I’m 50 I’ll have had about 5 surgeries and it will be completely shot and in need of a fake one. Due for another scope next year and then again 10 years after. One saving grace is about a year after my first injury to the knee I re injured it at work while walking into the basement hole carrying a couple concrete forms. That was a good thing as it then became WCB’s problem, which means no more surgery wait times for ever lol. My last two surgeries all happened within 3 weeks of consult with surgeons. Eventually WCB will replace my knee but not looking forward to that, my mother has had 2 knee replacements, both before she was 50 and they are not WCB claims just normal claims. If your knee is bad enough they will do the replacement before your old enough so yours is obviously not to bad yet . Do yourself a favour and get on a good excercise regiment with a physio therapist, you’d be amazed at how well specific target excercises will help it out, if your are diligent about it.

Brian Kublik said:

hey ronaha. do you get a crackling noise from your knee. if so try using glucosamine sulphate. takes a week or two.had left knee surgery for torn cartilage,then my right knee started giving me trouble. took glucosamine and problem went away. if yours is just pain and your cartilage is still ok try prolotherapy.

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Not the saving grace if there is real damage, cartilage is a very minor injury, mine cracks pops clicks snaps all the time. Tried this so called glucosamine after my grandmother told me to try it. After a year I stopped taking them as I hate taking pills or scheduled meds . It wasn’t doing a damn thing other than costing me $40 a month

I had both my knees replaced last year, I have almost 1000km on them this year already. I don't hurt anymore, I had put off about 3 rides the end of 2017 as i could not deal with the pain. I ride a 290hp turbo apex and a 190hp turbo viper. I very seldom follow anyone's trail. Yes there is sledding after total knee replacement!!!

My knees are getting close to ending my sledding. Nowhere near bad enough for replacement, but I can barely walk after a day of sledding. Used my tracked RZR more than my sled already this winter. My snow bike is way easier on my whole body than my sled, and usually more fun, but the snows a little thin for it around here this year. Lots of options to get out there with bad knees. The sled may get parked, but I won't.

I ride both a snowbike and a boosted King Cat (Sidewinder). I need both knees replaced, have had surgery twice on my left knee. Done the pills and various painkillers, nothing seems to help. All I can suggest is keep at it. “ you don’t stop doing stuff cause you get old, you get old cause you stop doing stuff”. I figure I have another 10 years left in me, only because my riding has slowed a bit, and I’ve realized I’m not Brandt or Rasmussen, nor will I ever be. And I’m good with that, I still have fun every time I ride. My wife had 4 vertabre (spinal fusion) in April, and she’s ridden this season. It been a rough go for her, but she loves the sport & isn’t ready to pack it in...

What I will say is if you need knees don't hesitate get them. I could hardly walk,I hobbled for over 2 years alway in pain. Now I ride and enjoy every trip.

Here are some stretching exercises that can help also

https://www.self.com/gallery/best-stretches-for-knee-pain

If your knees are wore out like mine were, no stretches, exercises or pain killer helped. Next step on the pain killers would have not allowed me to work or really function in day to day activities. I tried everything from knee braces, massages, physio, and everything in between. Replaced the knees and I can walk, sled, do my day to day activities and more. Yes if I over do it they stiffen up but sit for 5-10 min the stiffness subsides and away you go. I expect some of that will go after the full year of having them. Just my experience.

sirkdev said:

Ok so this may seem far fetched but if it is a arthritis related thing I have had tremendous success with Lakota Joint care caplets, can get at costco, walmart etc. Obviously this is not going to fix mechanical damage but was a game changer for me. I could barely move my knee sometimes in the cold weather, as long as take 1 capsule per day I don't even notice an issue anymore. May help someone.. Took 1 week before I noticed the results.

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Actually my wife found better stuff, it's human pills medi pot, no thc at all, real good for joints

Even have a friend with m. S that's just about off her m. S pills and on these, that's says something

Check out Stephen Ave health agency, Canada made in East coast

My knees aren’t destroyed yet but they also aren’t In great shape. For me wearing a good knee brace makes a huge difference in end of day pain and I would assume long term mobility. For all you guys still in good working condition, take care of your body before it turns to shiit!

A floorlayer friend of mine needed both knees replaced in his early 40's they didn't want to replace them cause he was to young and they can wear out, he was in pain all the time, he told the doctor he would kill himself if they wouldn't replace them, 3 months later he had his knees replaced, he was told he could never do flooring again, well he has been for 4-5 years now, he is 50 now, I'm sure I only have another 10 years in the trade if I'm lucky, getting harder everyday but sledding is still ok,

I'm lucky as my doc say he puts no age on knees. If you need knees he will replace them. I'm sure if you wear the implant out it can de replaced again. The only issues I have found is it is extremely uncomfortable to kneel. Just feels really weird. I'm riding my sleds almost at the same level I was before my knees went to he!!.

Do not fill yourself full of pills. If jackwads can change there identity you can get a new knee. This is Canada. If your current dr won’t clear it get another opinion. Alberta isnt the best and pushing stuff thru. But. I know for sure that anyone that’s got it done wishes they had of done it a lot sooner.

We r having such a good year I better see what elbows and knees are going for in Mexico....

Are any of you guys wearing a supportive or protective knee brace while sledding now. If so what have you found is working best. I find that most of them want to slide down. Most of the mototcross ones are designed to sit on top of the boot.