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Out for the season
- Thread starter skibum4ever
- Start date
Checking in w/ you @skibum4ever and hope you are doing well. No need to reply if you're not up for it. 
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
Checking in w/ you @skibum4ever and hope you are doing well. No need to reply if you're not up for it.
@Pequenita actually I am doing very well. I walk or go to the gym every day. Yesterday I walked my longest distance at 3.3 miles. Admittedly quite slowly but that will change. It's also a pleasure to be able to drive again.
Tomorrow I will see the endocrinologist to start determining the condition of my bones and whether I will be able to ski next winter.
newboots
Angel Diva
We will be eager to hear about it!
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
Yesterday I walked down a flight of stairs properly, foot over foot. A major accomplishment for me since I have not done it in 15 years, since before my first knee replacement. And also because I feel like my progress has plateaued, so it's nice to see that my leg is getting stronger.
Re: the endocrinologist. The short version is that I have started taking Fosamax. I had hoped that he could prescribe a full body Dexascan, but apparently that just doesn't exist. So I'm getting a regular Dexascan on Monday, of my hip, spine and wrist. This will determine whether or not I ski next winter. Fortunately (hopefully!) I will get the results prior to the increase in the cost of IKON and EPIC passes on the 22nd. I'm really nervous about the outcome, but I need to know the state of my bones before committing.
Re: the endocrinologist. The short version is that I have started taking Fosamax. I had hoped that he could prescribe a full body Dexascan, but apparently that just doesn't exist. So I'm getting a regular Dexascan on Monday, of my hip, spine and wrist. This will determine whether or not I ski next winter. Fortunately (hopefully!) I will get the results prior to the increase in the cost of IKON and EPIC passes on the 22nd. I'm really nervous about the outcome, but I need to know the state of my bones before committing.
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skinnyfootskis
Angel Diva
newboots
Angel Diva
Oh, @skibum4ever - I have my fingers crossed for the scan!
I had my scan a month or two ago and now, after some blood tests, I'm starting on injectable Prolia every six months. I have a diagnosis of GERD, which I seem to have just gotten under control, so no bisphosphonates for me. I did a course of Fosamax years ago - I think it continued for five years. Lots of years ago. The bones improved, but apparently have been going downhill since!
I had my scan a month or two ago and now, after some blood tests, I'm starting on injectable Prolia every six months. I have a diagnosis of GERD, which I seem to have just gotten under control, so no bisphosphonates for me. I did a course of Fosamax years ago - I think it continued for five years. Lots of years ago. The bones improved, but apparently have been going downhill since!
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
Of course I got my results today:
Hip -1.4
Spine. 2.0
Wrist. -2.8
Obviously the wrist does have osteoperosis. The other numbers have not changed, but I have never had my wrist scanned before. have asked my PCP what this means in terms of my legs and ability to return to skiing.
However, I did purchase my Ikon pass a few minutes before the deadline last night.
Hip -1.4
Spine. 2.0
Wrist. -2.8
Obviously the wrist does have osteoperosis. The other numbers have not changed, but I have never had my wrist scanned before. have asked my PCP what this means in terms of my legs and ability to return to skiing.
However, I did purchase my Ikon pass a few minutes before the deadline last night.
snowski/swimmouse
Angel Diva
Ooh, I don't know what any of those numbers mean. ???
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
Here's an explanation of the numbers.
+2 is excellent. -1.4 is just slightly into the osteopenia range and does not require special treatment just the usual calcium, Vitamin D, etc. Unfortunately the wrist at -2.8 is slightly into the Osteoperosis range.
The bone density scan is normally based on the spine and hip. I asked them to scan my wrist because I thought it might be an indicator of the bone density of my arms and legs. Here's the official definition:
"Osteoporosis was defined by the World Health Organization in 1994 as a T-score that is 25% lower than the average 30 year old or 2½ standard deviations below the mean or a T-score lower than -2.5.
Some people have low bone density. You may hear this called osteopenia. Osteopenia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 10% to 25% below an average healthy 30 year old adult, or a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5 standard deviations below normal. Having a T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 is not “pre-osteoporosis” or a medical condition, but it is very important for people with low bone density to develop a good plan to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis."
+2 is excellent. -1.4 is just slightly into the osteopenia range and does not require special treatment just the usual calcium, Vitamin D, etc. Unfortunately the wrist at -2.8 is slightly into the Osteoperosis range.
The bone density scan is normally based on the spine and hip. I asked them to scan my wrist because I thought it might be an indicator of the bone density of my arms and legs. Here's the official definition:
"Osteoporosis was defined by the World Health Organization in 1994 as a T-score that is 25% lower than the average 30 year old or 2½ standard deviations below the mean or a T-score lower than -2.5.
Some people have low bone density. You may hear this called osteopenia. Osteopenia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 10% to 25% below an average healthy 30 year old adult, or a T-score between –1.0 and –2.5 standard deviations below normal. Having a T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 is not “pre-osteoporosis” or a medical condition, but it is very important for people with low bone density to develop a good plan to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis."
santacruz skier
Angel Diva
I might add not everyone is at risk for osteoporosis but if you are small boned, light weight, and over 50, an MD will most likely order a dexa-scan (bone density) test for you at age 50. Genetics plays into this too. Big time. Some friends have never had a bone density test and probably don't need one.
snowski/swimmouse
Angel Diva
Thank you both!
newboots
Angel Diva
I was very pleased that my gynecologist ordered a DEXA scan when I was in my mid-forties. I guess he looked at me and saw fair skin, maybe small-boned, not-too-heavy (back then), and early menopause, which is also a significant risk factor. I had osteopenia on several measures and osteoporosis on one. I treated with Fosamax for five years, and the next scan came out fine. But this year's scan revealed that osteoporosis was back with a vengeance.
Sorry! I can see I'm on the wrong thread, and I'm likely repeating myself.
Sorry! I can see I'm on the wrong thread, and I'm likely repeating myself.
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
But no problem it's worth repeating!
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
I graduated from PT today. Now the real hard work begins.
I bought an IKON pass and hope to do some skiing next season.
I will be looking for a personal trainer who specializes in returning from injury.
I bought an IKON pass and hope to do some skiing next season.
I will be looking for a personal trainer who specializes in returning from injury.
snowski/swimmouse
Angel Diva
Those in my area (in ski club) share both our surgeon (group that supports the US Olympic Ski Team) and our excellent PT as well. We feel ~very~ fortunate!
skibum4ever
Angel Diva
I joined a new forum recently. It came up as a result of googling "skiing after distal femoral replacement". Not sure if I've mentioned that I received a very special knee which is normally reserved for much older and feebler patients. Because the normal recipients are over 80 yo it's hard to find data on the viability of sports activities post operation. This forum is called "Snowheads" and is based in England. Their members include a doctor who is a knee specialist. I wrote to him asking about the possibility of skiing next season. His name is Jonathan Bell and below is his response.
"That’s quite a saga. sorry to hear how much you have been through.
I have huge numbers of patients who ski after knee replacement and have never seen a fracture in one of mine but i have seen patients who have fallen and fractured, usually, around the femoral component. They can be very challenging cases to manage.
Having said that i have seen some good results of both ones i have operated upon and other surgeons cases.
I only know of one patient who skis post distal replacement. Her Swiss surgeons view, which i agreed with is that to fracture again around the prosthesis would be exceptionally challenging to sort out and retain a good functioning knee/leg.
However, we know there are some risk in all sports (3 injuries per 1000 skier days).
So my view is as follows:
If you are a “can take it or leave skier” i would think you might feel the risk wasn’t worth it. If skiing is a passion ( and skiers are about as passionate about their sport as any) and you whole winter is geared up around skiing, skiing friends and family then of course the balance changes to a point where you might accept the risk.
Injury rates rocket when you are fearful. So i would ask your surgeon if the implant is fixed well enough to tolerate skiing. I would also advise that if you can't overcome feeling quite scared of falling ie regain your confidence to ski then you may need to stop. Of course you might build confidence on easy , quiet areas with and instructor until your fears have subsided."
Sorry for the long post.
P.S. some of you may remember a Diva named April whose forum name was "abc". She was one of the people who responded to my thread. Small world.
"That’s quite a saga. sorry to hear how much you have been through.
I have huge numbers of patients who ski after knee replacement and have never seen a fracture in one of mine but i have seen patients who have fallen and fractured, usually, around the femoral component. They can be very challenging cases to manage.
Having said that i have seen some good results of both ones i have operated upon and other surgeons cases.
I only know of one patient who skis post distal replacement. Her Swiss surgeons view, which i agreed with is that to fracture again around the prosthesis would be exceptionally challenging to sort out and retain a good functioning knee/leg.
However, we know there are some risk in all sports (3 injuries per 1000 skier days).
So my view is as follows:
If you are a “can take it or leave skier” i would think you might feel the risk wasn’t worth it. If skiing is a passion ( and skiers are about as passionate about their sport as any) and you whole winter is geared up around skiing, skiing friends and family then of course the balance changes to a point where you might accept the risk.
Injury rates rocket when you are fearful. So i would ask your surgeon if the implant is fixed well enough to tolerate skiing. I would also advise that if you can't overcome feeling quite scared of falling ie regain your confidence to ski then you may need to stop. Of course you might build confidence on easy , quiet areas with and instructor until your fears have subsided."
Sorry for the long post.
P.S. some of you may remember a Diva named April whose forum name was "abc". She was one of the people who responded to my thread. Small world.
santacruz skier
Angel Diva
Excellent advice I would say.
