Anyone have a knee osteotomy and still running?

I had an osteotomy in 2011. I have since run several marathons with no problems. I just recently got accepted into the 2020 Boston marathon.

Hi Rick, can I ask you a question?

With your osteotomy, how old were you and how has it been getting back to distance running? I ask because I am facing this right now and considering giving up long distance running. I am only 35 and really want this surgery (assuming all goes well) to be the last surgery I have. My fear is that it wears down again over the next 10+ years and i need more surgeries.

Any advice or thoughts? Currently I can't run at all without pain so I will probably have the surgery anyways. It is just a matter of if/how far I can run after, and if I can still trail run too.

thanks

I an 73 and had a medial upper tibia opening wedge osteotomy on Jan 9th and was allowed to ditch the crutches after week 4 and move from the massive leg brace to a smaller knee offloader brace at the same time. (I used this offloader brace for the past year after having had an arthroscopic knee procedure that didn't remove the knee pain.) I have been walking (or running when the physical therapist wasn't looking) on the AlterG machine (without brace) at 60% weight bearing since then.

Called the doc yesterday and they said I could run on the AlterG machine but wanted me to wear the brace at the same time, even though that seems redundant to me. He also suggested that I should continue to wear the offloader brace for 6 months post procedure, which would mean another 3.5 months. (I'm sure I won't wear it that long though.) In fact, I only wear the brace when I am out walking the dog for a 2 mile walk in the morning over very hilly terrain, and I guess will start wearing it to physical therapy so that they will let me do weight bearing exercises. I will wear it when I'm cleared to run outside again.

I've done 30 marathons and the doc says that this procedure should let me continue to run the rest of my days. He had talked me out of a total knee replacement because he said that I would wear it out with the number of miles I run. I am scheduled for the Chicago Marathon this October and hope to be able to follow a 20 week 40 - 60 mpw schedule, down from the 60 - 80 mpw schedule that I've followed in the past. I just won't have time to ramp up my mileage fast enough for the heavier schedule.

Can you give me the name of the doctor? I’m in a similar situation where my knock knees and previous patella dislocation is causing early onset arthritis. Every doctor I’ve spoken to have told me to wait until it’s bad enough for a partial knee replacement. I’d rather go for a joint preservation surgery while I’m young so I can avoid the replacement altogether.

Hey risky tanner,

What was the name of the doctor? I have a similar issue with knock knees and early onset arthritis because of a previous kneecap dislocation. I’m want a procedure other than partial knee replacement so I can go back to sports.

I’m 33 and recently referred for a Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy. I’ve never had a surgery or major injury before. Apparently I’ve worn through the cartilage on one side because my kneecap is naturally positioned off kilter, so my tibia is getting upset, and my body is responding by developing bone spurs and cysts around it. Surgery seems a bit drastic since it isn’t painful to do most things. Running/stairs/lunges/etc are painful but not incredibly so. I’ve been told I can take my time in getting the surgery but the sooner I have it, the more cartilage I’ll be left with and the better the result. Seems like I should just get it over with now so I can recover and get back to running. Is it a big mistake to do this? Anyone have a good/bad experience with this?

As a follow-up if anyone is ever interested, my surgeon decided at the last minute that she could correct the alignment of the tendon doing only soft tissue work (not an osteotomy). The recovery from this procedure is much lighter. It has been less than 6 weeks and I'm off crutches. I can walk up the stairs on it Maybe 6 more weeks until running. Very little pain.

i got patellar realignment ( tibial tuberosity transposition) i both knees 4 years ago , they needed to do my right knee again because the bone wasnt healing (hurted af) , they put a piece of metal plate and more screws in my knee and a bone graft from my pelvis to fix it, its healed know, and im running better then ever, i did run the rotterdam marathon 2019 1 year after last surgery , both knees feel fine now, no more dislocations and torn cartilage / tendons .

btw they dont want to remove the metal pieces and screws, they are scared that i never run or walk normal again.

How long after your surgery in 2011 did you start running?

How long did it take you to run again?

How’s your knee remrott? Background is semi elite marathon runner, 40 years old I am having MACI surgery with TTO however the TTO scares the hell out of me knowing I have metal in my knee as I’m worried I won’t be able to run!