Hunting Africa after knee replacement

15 February 2010, 18:00

I had my left knee replaced last summer and will have the right knee replaced this summer. Other than not being able to kneel on my left knee, I'm back to normal. I have no problems with dragging deer out the woods or hiking back to little brook trout streams. I slogged through the mud and muck of this duck season without incident. I mention the duck season as this was always the activity that generated the most pain prior to the replacement.

For those of you who have had a knee replacement, did it impede your ability to hunt Africa? I'm planning my first PG trip and don't want to book something that I can't physically complete. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

15 February 2010, 18:33

Brooks Carmichael

It will have some effect, especially kneeling. Long walks will take their toll. I speak from experience since I have had one knee rebuilt and several operations on the second knee. I Riding in vehicles over rough roads caused most of the problems. But, that did not stop me. Go for it. It is worth the what pain you will have. Just becareful and not step in any holes or twist the knees. I found that the biggest problem I had on my last trip to africa.

15 February 2010, 18:34

JPK

Two PH's who post here, Buzz Charlton and Shakari (Steve Robinson), have guided handicapped hunters to elephant and buff respectively, so plains game ought not be an issue, especially if you made it through our duck season this year, as wet as it was and with with all of the mud and ice...

BTW, I had a great duck and goose season, how did you fare?

JPK

15 February 2010, 19:08

Aspen Hill Adventures

I am curious too, I go home today from rehab, just got my right knee done two weeks ago!

15 February 2010, 19:09

dogcat

Go. Your new knee will be fine. Just tell the PH what you can and cannot do. My daughter went to Africa 5 weeks after her second ACL recontruction. Rest when you need to and walk when you want to.

Go.

15 February 2010, 19:19

boondoggle

JPK- We wore the divers out and had a few good mallard & black duck shoots

My favorite photo of the season

15 February 2010, 19:22

miketaylor

Buzz Charlton's 2nd DVD Zambezi Extreme has a hunter on it hunting Elephant and he is using crutches. You see him wading through the river and walking through some very thick bush.

Dont let it stop you from going. Just talk to your PH before you start hunting.

Mike

15 February 2010, 19:29

PhilR

I had a double knee replacement in July '09 and despite the rigorous physical therapy program post surgery, I'm still having some pain issues with my left knee/leg. I also find that walking on uneven terrain & up and down grades is still a bit challenging. If I were you, I would have the other knee replaced before commiting to non refundable hunt deposits. May just be that a "double" requires a little more recovery time, but to be safe, I'm waiting till 2011 for my first DG/PG hunt. Good Luck!

15 February 2010, 20:09

ddrhook

I have talked to Steve Robinson fairly in some detail about hunting with leg problem ie. one legged hunter(ME) he assured me that it wa not a major problem a hunt could be worked around my disability. so knee should not be a problem. just be sure your outfitter and PH both undersatnd you ability's or lack of

15 February 2010, 20:43

zzz

Handicapped hunters, are you kidding?? Geez, louise. I just had a total knee last month. It will turn me loose to a new level. I have been in knee preservation mode for the last ten years which meant Africa most every year, since sheep hunting was out. Luckily, Africa lends itself to bad knees. I have tried to stay out areas that aren't tough for vertically challeged. I am fit and fairly young (50's) in comparison to the average knee recipient. Technology and less invasive procedures have changed the game, especially in the last few years. If you are planning a replacement, spend some time doing your research on the professionals involved. Unfortunately, a lot of doctors in the field are slow to adapt. I am planning new frontiers, not the handicapped parking section at Cabelas.

15 February 2010, 21:46

Aspen Hill Adventures

ZZZ, I like your attitude! I feel the same way as I am only in my 40's. I will use my temporary capper tag for a few weeks though!

15 February 2010, 22:06

boondoggle

I've got a few years until I start counting birthdays beginning with a five. The new knee is performing well and I expect it to continue to do so. I was concerned that my inability to kneel or crawl on hands and knees would be a limiting factor. After ZZZ's post, I adapted and made a crabwalk transit of the first floor of the house with ease and to the amusement of my spouse.

15 February 2010, 22:22

Aspen Hill Adventures

What prevents kneeling anyway? Is it just painful or does one lose range? Right now I can just manage 110 degree when sitting. Too swollen and painful to push my leg back any further than that at the moment.

Boon, at least you can crab walk, I did a lot of that when stalking impala in the past.

15 February 2010, 22:37

shakari

FWIW, I conducted a hunt with an 70 year old client a few years ago who had recently had replacement hips and knees and had a few other things wrong with him as well.

We had 21 days hunting in Tanzania where he took everything he wanted including 3 Buff, a lion and a fabulous east African eland (below)

The client clicked a bit when he walked but was a stubborn man, fantastic company and a great hunter..... and he became a good friend!

If he can do that then so can anyone else. I think for the client, it's more a case of mental toughness than anything else and for the PH, it's a case of being professional and keeping an eye on the client to see how he's doing.

16 February 2010, 00:49

Die Ou Jagter

Any PH worth his or her salt should be able to show you a good PG hunt. I hunted PG in RSA before I had my knee replaced and couldn't walk a hundred yards in a week but my PH handled things just fine. He told me he wouldn't hunt me for Buffalo etc until I had my knee replaced. I had it replaced and have hunted the Big five since. I can walk with out too much trouble but just can't do it like I did 50 yrs ago. Go you will have a good time. Also that is why they make shooting sticks so you can shoot standing upright. Instead of crawling (when needed) I butt scoot. They most important thing is DO YOUR PT!

16 February 2010, 01:07

JPK

quote:
Originally posted by zzz:
Handicapped hunters, are you kidding?? Geez, louise. I just had a total knee last month. It will turn me loose to a new level. I have been in knee preservation mode for the last ten years which meant Africa most every year, since sheep hunting was out. Luckily, Africa lends itself to bad knees. I have tried to stay out areas that aren't tough for vertically challeged. I am fit and fairly young (50's) in comparison to the average knee recipient. Technology and less invasive procedures have changed the game, especially in the last few years. If you are planning a replacement, spend some time doing your research on the professionals involved. Unfortunately, a lot of doctors in the field are slow to adapt. I am planning new frontiers, not the handicapped parking section at Cabelas.

Knucklehead,

That was the point. Buzz has hunted with a fellow who had but one working leg, the other damaged beyond repair in a motorcycle accident. Shakari has hunted wheelchair bound hunters. Examples like this, true pros working around fellows' disabilities, make hunting on a bum kneee nothing, let alone a replaced or repaired knee.

JPK

16 February 2010, 01:13

JPK

quote:
Originally posted by boondoggle:
JPK- We wore the divers out and had a few good mallard & black duck shoots

My favorite photo of the season

Nice collection of Cans, with a Widgeon bonus!

JPK

16 February 2010, 01:23

shakari

A very important part of being a Professional Hunter is being professional and part of that is knowing and understanding the client's limitations and finding a way to work around them.

Admittedly a lot of that comes with experience but the same can be said of most things in life.

16 February 2010, 02:21

ledvm

quote:
What prevents kneeling anyway? Is it just painful or does one lose range?

When the procedure is done...the suprapatellar fat pad is removed making kneeling painful even if good range of motion is achieved post-op.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM

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No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.

16 February 2010, 06:30

cal pappas

Boondoggle:
Great question. I passed on a hunt in 2007 as knee pain had been growing greater every year throughout 5 operations beginning in 1981. I had the knee replacement in January in 2008 and (this is most important) did 200% of my rehab exercises. I was on the mechanical knee range machine for 8 hours a a day and began walking on a walker, then crutches, and then a cane as soon as I was able. There is absolutely NO pain at all now and in 2008 I took a good buff with a .600 John Wilkes in Zimbabwe. A fat lady I know had the same operation and only did exercises when she went to the rehab place and she still has pain and probably will never be right with it. Take care of yourself and you'll run down your kudu or buff or out run a charging lion when your rile jams. Good luck with it, mate.
Cal

_______________________________

Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska
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16 February 2010, 07:26

zzz

JPK, I have never been called a name on this venue (knucklehead- maybe said in jest, but taken as if you were trying to feel important).
I don’t read this sight enough to know you from Mark Sullivan, but I must assume your egos are very similar.
I just noticed this will be my 87th post on the website I began reading this sight around 1999 and started posting a few years later. I lurk in the shadows. JPK, our little mini-exchange makes me realize I have better things to do.
I will now make my last post here by saying if I offended you with my exuberance in celebrating my new knee, tough. If I have misinterpreted your name calling, oops. To the rest of you, I apologize in advance for this rant. Just call it an impromptu “Harper Valley PTA” moment.