Clean Run - February 2015 - 45

I started experiencing knee pain," recalls Pam Fabian, who runs Aussies in
AKC and ASCA. "I went to an orthopedic specialist who told me I was 'bone
on bone,' but was too young to consider
a replacement." She endured pain for
five years before switching to a more
willing surgeon. "He advised me that
when my knee affected my way of life it
was time to consider the replacement."
Gwen Tatsuno runs Border Collies and
had a similar experience. "The first
orthopedic surgeon I talked with told
me to give up agility. But thank goodness for the internet; I looked around
online and found a local surgeon who
was willing to watch some agility video
clips. He felt it was absolutely possible
to get back to agility after a total hip
replacement."
Bring videos of your agility runs so the
doctor can see what's actually involved
in the sport. Some docs may think
you'll be abusing your new joints with
miles of running when the videos will,
in fact, show them that agility is a much
milder activity.
You will probably have a lot of questions that your surgeon is unable to answer, unless he's an agility competitor.
How long before you can start working with your dog? How long before
you can enter trials? Will you have to
change your handling? Can you truly be
competitive in the sport again? The best

answers to those questions may come
from your peers who have already run
the course you're still studying.

long before you can
get back to agility?

HOW

The initial two weeks after surgery
will involve major healing of the tissue
around the incision. The joint pain itself
is gone as soon as you wake up from
surgery, but you'll have minor discomfort at the incision, along with minimal
twinges as the muscles and nerves in
that area heal from the trauma. Most
patients, whether knee or hip recipients,
are up and walking the hospital halls the
day after their surgeries, and are sent
home promptly.
Expect to be absent from agility trials
for a few months following a joint replacement, says Judy Clayton, long-time
surgery assistant for Dr. Mark Channer
from Missoula Bone and Joint Clinic in
Montana. "The first two weeks will be
the toughest," she advises. "After that, a
patient can start physical therapy. Walking is the best exercise, and treadmills
work well. For knee patients, we recommend an exercise bike with no tension."
With either hips or knees, you'll probably
start on crutches and have the option of
moving to a walker within days. When
you are cleared to do so, you will be walking with just the assistance of one crutch,
a cane or trekking pole, which it's wise

to use until you no longer limp. The cane
does more than support you; it improves
your posture, which promotes proper
muscle recuperation.
Other obstacles during the first few
months include the restrictions placed
on movement and body angles. You
want to facilitate healing at the incision,
as well as keeping your new parts from
dislocating until they have sufficiently
grown in and are protected by new
muscle. You could still work with your
dog, but your movements must be calculated, creative, and cautious.
Mary McKenzie had a hip replacement
two years ago at age 58. She returned
to competition with her Aussies and
Border Collies about 14 weeks post-op.
"I had to learn to run again gradually,"
she says, "and it took about six months
before I really felt I was at full capacity. I had great physical therapists who
knew I'd been an athlete all my life and
wanted to return to an active lifestyle. I
did PT for about six weeks, two or three
times a week."
According to Judy Clayton, most hip
and knee replacement patients can
be back to normal activities by three
months after surgery. "Recovery times
are influenced by many factors, including the patient's pre-surgery physical
condition, weight, age, physical therapy, and overall health," she notes.

"I had a second hip replacement four years ago at age 60. At the time I was trialing with

a young BC and a JRT. After surgery I was practicing distance sends while using a walker and
was trialing using a cane in ﬁve months. That handicap helped me tune up our timing, and now
my BC is famous in Florida for her distance runs.

I had my knee replaced about six years ago. Before the replacement I could not run.
I had my surgery at the end of December and by the end of the summer I was doing well.
I also lost 80 pounds, which really helped. My girl has gotten a MACH and a PACH and qualiﬁed
for Nationals twice since my replacement. It was the best thing I ever did. I wouldn't hesitate
to do the other knee when the time comes.

"I am 64 now and running better than ever. I was running again with the surgeon's blessing eight
weeks after surgery. Yes, there are restrictions, but they don't interfere with agility in any way."
"I had two knee replacements in summer of 2013 and was able to run my Giant Schnauzer
at the Invitational in December that year."
February 15 | Clean Run

Clean Run - February 2015

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