When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Unfortunately, I have to have both knees replaced; partially from being mid-70s and partially from major damage from a high speed head-on accident (dude running from law enforcement).
Question is for any who may have had knee replacement surgery, how soon after surgery before you were ready to get into and out of your C5? (I won't even ask about the C4 - I'll just double or triple the C5 time. )
Thanks!
My dad had both knees done, 1 at a time, 2nd one completed about 2 years ago, hes currently 78 years young. He has trouble getting in and out my C5. After the first knee, I’d say a good 6 months before somewhat comfortable getting in and out.
He loves riding in the C5, but it’s to much trouble for him. It’s not really an option anymore. But you need to do your own rehab. The farther you can bend the leg, the easier it will be. Do body squats every other day, even after knee surgery, it will help you keep the strength in the thigh muscles. Good luck on your double knee surgery, try to bend the leg 130 degrees or more after all your rehab is complete.
I had both knees replaced (one at a time, about 2 year apart) as well as a complete shoulder. I had all the operations done on late Oct or early November and by the following April, I had pulled the Corvette (which is a'99 FRC with a warmed over LS6 and 6-spd manual) out of winter hibernation as usual and drove it normally without any issues and with a lot less pain and discomfort. Do the physical therapy and you will be fine!
Last edited by JHrinsin; Apr 20, 2026 at 08:56 PM.
Both hips replaces in March. Took my C5 out last weekend. As soon as I could sit down and swing my legs in I went for a ride. Car has been parked since November.
Good luck with the new knees!!!
Worked for an orthopedic surgeon for almost 10 years both in the office and in surgery…… everyone rehabs and progressively differently so a little hard to say for you specifically…… main concern is your left knee and your car is a manual…… assuming you will be staged 3 months apart or so? Bilateral knees on the same day are doable but very rare and require you to be very healthy and we would have you donate a unit of blood a few weeks before and reinfuse during the surgery. If staged and your car is manual I would do the left first if this is a primary concern….. left knee and auto it’s mainly just you have to be off your pain meds…… right knee regardless will take a bit longer. 4-6 weeks is pretty average if you rehab and do your exercises correctly but may be longer depending on strength and reaction time….. emergency braking is the primary concern……… getting in and out of the car you will just need to adapt ….. you’ll figure out what works for you….. this all assuming you are active and pretty fit for your age….. if mobility, obesity, etc is a struggle for you now beyond just your knees it could be 6 months before you’re capable….. your surgeon and his team will be able to help you identify a realistic timeline based on you specifically following an assessment of all these things I’ve mentioned…… you would be amazed at what a good surgeon that practices soft tissue preservation and proper ligament balance can do for recovery time vs a traditional cut and cement type surgeon….. but…… your willingness to do exercises and therapy correctly afterwards are the biggest factor.
Last edited by Tyler_RN_EMT; Apr 20, 2026 at 09:24 PM.
Hip surgery is a fast heal. Knees a little longer but working a. Latch may be just flat good therapy.
As long as there is no issue with braking in the doctors eyes stretching that clutch legs is good rehab. They want you to work the muscles and stretching them is very important.
Throttle is no issue. But braking and force there is a prime concern. If the Doc is good then just drive.
Worked for an orthopedic surgeon for almost 10 years both in the office and in surgery…… everyone rehabs and progressively differently so a little hard to say for you specifically…… main concern is your left knee and your car is a manual…… assuming you will be staged 3 months apart or so? Bilateral knees on the same day are doable but very rare and require you to be very healthy and we would have you donate a unit of blood a few weeks before and reinfuse during the surgery. If staged and your car is manual I would do the left first if this is a primary concern….. left knee and auto it’s mainly just you have to be off your pain meds…… right knee regardless will take a bit longer. 4-6 weeks is pretty average if you rehab and do your exercises correctly but may be longer depending on strength and reaction time….. emergency braking is the primary concern……… getting in and out of the car you will just need to adapt ….. you’ll figure out what works for you….. this all assuming you are active and pretty fit for your age….. if mobility, obesity, etc is a struggle for you now beyond just your knees it could be 6 months before you’re capable….. your surgeon and his team will be able to help you identify a realistic timeline based on you specifically following an assessment of all these things I’ve mentioned…… you would be amazed at what a good surgeon that practices soft tissue preservation and proper ligament balance can do for recovery time vs a traditional cut and cement type surgeon….. but…… your willingness to do exercises and therapy correctly afterwards are the biggest factor.
I also worked in Orthopedics for about 10 years. Our docs liked to start PT before surgery when possible. The stronger you are before the surgery, the better you'll do after it. The number one thing you can do to recover is to do your exercises afterwards. It's probably going to suck for a bit, but if you keep working, it'll e eventually get better. It's never going to be the same as it was, but once you work through it, you won't be in pain anymore. Good luck with your surgeries.
I had my right need replaced a year ago. I was driving my manual Vert about 3 weeks after surgery. As soon as my range of motion allowed me to get in and out
I am 67 and had my left knee replaced in December. I have a 6 speed manual C5 and was able to start driving about 3-4 weeks after surgery. I did a lot of leg work prior to surgery and a lot of physical therapy after and I think that helped a lot!
My dad had both knees done, 1 at a time, 2nd one completed about 2 years ago, hes currently 78 years young. He has trouble getting in and out my C5. After the first knee, I’d say a good 6 months before somewhat comfortable getting in and out.
He loves riding in the C5, but it’s to much trouble for him. It’s not really an option anymore. But you need to do your own rehab. The farther you can bend the leg, the easier it will be. Do body squats every other day, even after knee surgery, it will help you keep the strength in the thigh muscles. Good luck on your double knee surgery, try to bend the leg 130 degrees or more after all your rehab is complete.
Originally Posted by JHrinsin
I had both knees replaced (one at a time, about 2 year apart) as well as a complete shoulder. I had all the operations done on late Oct or early November and by the following April, I had pulled the Corvette (which is a'99 FRC with a warmed over LS6 and 6-spd manual) out of winter hibernation as usual and drove it normally without any issues and with a lot less pain and discomfort. Do the physical therapy and you will be fine!
Originally Posted by jjcoledo3
Both hips replaces in March. Took my C5 out last weekend. As soon as I could sit down and swing my legs in I went for a ride. Car has been parked since November.
Good luck with the new knees!!!
Originally Posted by Tyler_RN_EMT
Worked for an orthopedic surgeon for almost 10 years both in the office and in surgery…… everyone rehabs and progressively differently so a little hard to say for you specifically…… main concern is your left knee and your car is a manual…… assuming you will be staged 3 months apart or so? Bilateral knees on the same day are doable but very rare and require you to be very healthy and we would have you donate a unit of blood a few weeks before and reinfuse during the surgery. If staged and your car is manual I would do the left first if this is a primary concern….. left knee and auto it’s mainly just you have to be off your pain meds…… right knee regardless will take a bit longer. 4-6 weeks is pretty average if you rehab and do your exercises correctly but may be longer depending on strength and reaction time….. emergency braking is the primary concern……… getting in and out of the car you will just need to adapt ….. you’ll figure out what works for you….. this all assuming you are active and pretty fit for your age….. if mobility, obesity, etc is a struggle for you now beyond just your knees it could be 6 months before you’re capable….. your surgeon and his team will be able to help you identify a realistic timeline based on you specifically following an assessment of all these things I’ve mentioned…… you would be amazed at what a good surgeon that practices soft tissue preservation and proper ligament balance can do for recovery time vs a traditional cut and cement type surgeon….. but…… your willingness to do exercises and therapy correctly afterwards are the biggest factor.
Originally Posted by hyperv6
May want to talk to the Doc.
Hip surgery is a fast heal. Knees a little longer but working a. Latch may be just flat good therapy.
As long as there is no issue with braking in the doctors eyes stretching that clutch legs is good rehab. They want you to work the muscles and stretching them is very important.
Throttle is no issue. But braking and force there is a prime concern. If the Doc is good then just drive.
Originally Posted by MWWarlord
[img alt=""]file:///C:\Users\Larry\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtm lclip1\01\clip_image001.gif[/img]
I also worked in Orthopedics for about 10 years. Our docs liked to start PT before surgery when possible. The stronger you are before the surgery, the better you'll do after it. The number one thing you can do to recover is to do your exercises afterwards. It's probably going to suck for a bit, but if you keep working, it'll e eventually get better. It's never going to be the same as it was, but once you work through it, you won't be in pain anymore. Good luck with your surgeries.
Originally Posted by bearone2
4 weeks to the day after left knee replacement, off meds, drove 2004 a4 to outpatient therapy!![img alt=""]file:///C:\Users\Larry\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtm lclip1\01\clip_image002.gif[/img]
after surgery i was on a cpm/knee cycling machine, 6 hours/day, went to pt with 130+ rom!![img alt=""]file:///C:\Users\Larry\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtm lclip1\01\clip_image002.gif[/img]
before surgery i had been going to the gym, took pretty good legs into surgery!![img alt=""]file:///C:\Users\Larry\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtm lclip1\01\clip_image002.gif[/img]
Originally Posted by Ron C!
I had my right need replaced a year ago. I was driving my manual Vert about 3 weeks after surgery. As soon as my range of motion allowed me to get in and out
Thanks everyone for all the great info and insight! I will be the same age as Beast's dad in a few weeks so I have been a little concerned that I might hit that point where getting in and out is too much of a hassle which is probably why I have put this off so long. But, I remember a sign outside our mess hall in Viet Nam that said, "Can't is not a Ranger word" so I plan on embracing that attitude.
I am not in as good of shape as I would like to be (or should be), but I am bike riding about 3 miles a day to try and stay a little flexible. Unfortunately, the head on we were in took its toll; it was five months before I took my first step using a walker and a couple of months after that before progressing to a cane. I think some of my current issues with the knees came from tearing the meniscus in both knees and some of the "CLs" - got confused when they started explaining TCL this knee, PCL that knee. Ultimately had all the metal taken out of the more severe leg when, over time, some of the screws were backing out and pressing on the skin. Can't remember for sure the number my wife told me, but 30 something plates, screws and pins came out, so very blessed to be walking at all.
Guess I've been neighbors to some of you all over the years.
Ron C - I lived my high school years in Orlando (PD - Pre Disney). Sure is changed when we've been back for visits. Did some of my early drag racing at Bithlo Drag Strip with a Bo Laws car when it was a little strip in the middle of nowhere east of Orlando. Guess it is a monstrous complex now.
Bearone2 - Lived in the Phoenix area for several years - primarily the western side (Garden Lakes, Litchfield Park area), and left PHX about the time they were developing the off ramp for Phoenix Raceway. Ran a few times at Firebird when it was basically a drag strip and boat race complex. Now, it's huge. Got to introduce our sons to John Force - think he had just teamed up with Austin Coil then. The kids' reaction were something like, "he can talk really fast." Very nice guy and back then he had time to spend with anyone who approached him. Think the kids still have the T-shirts he autographed (while they were wearing them). Also got to watch Eddie Hill in drag boats there - I think fast on land is probably safer than fast on water.
MWWarlord – Not sure what part of VA you are in but we lived in NVA (around Fairfax Circle) for a couple of years in the early '80s.
Tyler RN EMT - Lived in Mooresville twice (many moons ago); about 50 miles SW of you.
Thanks, again, friends, for all your valuable feedback and insight!
Timely discussion. I will be scheduling surgery soon, but want to wait till fall so I can get some good driving time in this summer. I have been apprehensive about this surgery's effect on Corvette entry/egress, but am determined to make it work as I do right now. I'm an obese 62 year old. Both of my knees are so bad now, I can't imagine how new knees could be worse, once healed. . I already have a method to get in and out of my 'Vette. and WILL devise a new method as needed.
It's a physics problem I've worked out and it's always executed the same. Currently, I swing both my feet out, and set them. The hump in the door frame is a great place to put my left palm and I "chicken wing" my right arm against the A pillar to push myself up to my feet. My right foot is planted and takes intial weight and as I rise, I kick my left foot under me and at that point, I can begin using leg muscles to assist. I don't struggle, I use a burst of strength and it all happens smoothly. Since I use the A pillar to push on, I leave my targa top on always. My hope is with new knees that aren't ready to collapse at any moment, I'll need less arm to push me up. To get in I'm butt in first, left hand on door hump, right chicken wing against A pilar, bend knees and slowly lower my butt to the seat, and swing legs in. Mind over matter: If you don't mind, it don't matter.
Last edited by Gorn Captain; Apr 21, 2026 at 12:53 PM.
Good luck with the surgery. You will be out shifting gears in no time!
Thanks!
Originally Posted by Gorn Captain
Timely discussion. I will be scheduling surgery soon, but want to wait till fall so I can get some good driving time in this summer. I have been apprehensive about this surgery's effect on Corvette entry/egress, but am determined to make it work as I do right now. I'm an obese 62 year old. Both of my knees are so bad now, I can't imagine how new knees could be worse, once healed. . I already have a method to get in and out of my 'Vette. and WILL devise a new method as needed.
It's a physics problem I've worked out and it's always executed the same. Currently, I swing both my feet out, and set them. The hump in the door frame is a great place to put my left palm and I "chicken wing" my right arm against the A pillar to push myself up to my feet. My right foot is planted and takes intial weight and as I rise, I kick my left foot under me and at that point, I can begin using leg muscles to assist. I don't struggle, I use a burst of strength and it all happens smoothly. Since I use the A pillar to push on, I leave my targa top on always. My hope is with new knees that aren't ready to collapse at any moment, I'll need less arm to push me up. To get in I'm butt in first, left hand on door hump, right chicken wing against A pilar, bend knees and slowly lower my butt to the seat, and swing legs in. Mind over matter: If you don't mind, it don't matter.
Thanks everyone for all the great info and insight! I will be the same age as Beast's dad in a few weeks so I have been a little concerned that I might hit that point where getting in and out is too much of a hassle which is probably why I have put this off so long. But, I remember a sign outside our mess hall in Viet Nam that said, "Can't is not a Ranger word" so I plan on embracing that attitude.
I am not in as good of shape as I would like to be (or should be), but I am bike riding about 3 miles a day to try and stay a little flexible. Unfortunately, the head on we were in took its toll; it was five months before I took my first step using a walker and a couple of months after that before progressing to a cane. I think some of my current issues with the knees came from tearing the meniscus in both knees and some of the "CLs" - got confused when they started explaining TCL this knee, PCL that knee. Ultimately had all the metal taken out of the more severe leg when, over time, some of the screws were backing out and pressing on the skin. Can't remember for sure the number my wife told me, but 30 something plates, screws and pins came out, so very blessed to be walking at all.
Guess I've been neighbors to some of you all over the years.
MWWarlord – Not sure what part of VA you are in but we lived in NVA (around Fairfax Circle) for a couple of years in the early '80s.
Thanks, again, friends, for all your valuable feedback and insight!
Wow! You've really been through it. The fact that you're walking after all that tells me everything I need to know. You're very clearly willing to put in the work. I'll be honest, this may be a bit harder for you depending on what other damage you have. However, I have absolutely no doubt at all that you're going to have a great outcome, because you'll do whatever you have to in order for that to happen.
I live in NOVA now, but in the 80's I was in Richmond. NOVA is VERY different now. We have some of the worst traffic in the nation.
Good luck with your surgery. I wish you the very best in your recovery.
Seems like they’re getting good at these surgeries, with a lot faster recovery. Maybe something like this would make it easier to get in and out? I have 62 year old skateboarding knees still riding but after a heavy vert session the old knees are pretty sore so not to far behind you!
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
Driving C5 - How soon after knee replacement?
)
Very nice guy and back then he had time to spend with anyone who approached him. Think the kids still have the T-shirts he autographed (while they were wearing them). Also got to watch Eddie Hill in drag boats there - I think fast on land is probably safer than fast on water. 
