Posted , 15 users are following.
Hi everyone. me again...just a quick question, how many weeks approximately till we can walk up and down stairs concurrently? I know it depends on how much we exercise that quad, but i can now feel my muscle (whereas it was non existant). Is it a mental thing? I cant remember how long it was when i had my first TKR. I am 7 weeks post op. thanks
0 likes, 40 replies
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eileen15268 elaine94716
Posted
Hi Elaine . I'm 7 weeks & can just about walk up the stairs ( with s little difficulty) but still have to go down on at a time just can't put one foot in front the other. Good luck
ali95530 elaine94716
Posted
Hi Elaine, I've just started walking up and down the stairs ('properly'
in the last few days ... I'm 6 weeks post op this Tuesday.
ali95530
Posted
Should say 'properly' sort of ... very ungainly
elaine94716 ali95530
Posted
Wow well done. I just can't do it yet, alhtuogh I can stand on one leg and walk around the house without a stick. I think it's a mental thing with me!
chris00938 elaine94716
Posted
I think there is a bit of a void in instructions on this sort of thing Elaine. Like at what point should we start not just bringing the second leg up to the operated leg when walking on crutches, but taking it in front to get a more natural walking gait? I was told to go on to sticks from crutches at 3 weeks, but when do you go on to one stick? They expect you to walk into the hospital without a limp at 6 weeks but no mention on how far to walk each day until then is made. I've NO idea how much walking I should be doing at 11 days post op! I'm just getting up to go to the loo and having a very quick saunter about when I do that (the loo is about 50 ft from the chair). It all feels very vague and I'd love a sort of plan to give a rough idea!
ali95530 chris00938
Posted
At physio this week he told me to walk 100% all the time without crutches. I was 5 weeks post TKR
I'm looking forward to this Tuesday as I'll be 6 weeks so I can finally remove those horrible compression stockings 😊
chris00938 ali95530
Posted
I've not minded the compression stockings at all, but I think it's because this time they fit me, while last time they kept rolling down. I'm finding them very comfortable. Getting them on after the shower is slightly difficult but husband is getting them over the heel and then I can pull them up easily from there. I actually think I might miss them when I don't need them anymore LOL! Yep, feel free to tell me I'm nuts LOL!
elaine94716 chris00938
Posted
I don't think you should be doing very much walking at 11 days! Just a bit here and there and of course your strengthening exercises.
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
chris00938 martinarvelo
Posted
That's interesting Martinarvelo. It was drummed into us in hospital to take walker forward (crutches came the next day but it was the same 'style'
and then operated leg and then bring the other leg up level to the operate leg, then crutches, then operated leg and so on. But I found I can take the other leg forward with no problem. I must admit, like Elaine, I feel I'm using the crutches more like a security blanket, but then since they said not to go on to sticks until three weeks post op, I guess that's OK. I'm frightened to do too much in knee bending exercise now because I think the wound is still leaking, but I'll find out tomorrow and then hopefully can do more. I'm just frightened of delaying healing by knee bends at the moment. But I can lift the leg easily, as well as I could before the op and the muscles generally seem better than I expected. I hope I'm doing the right thing by not pushing the bending at the moment, but I'll find out more tomorrow when the dressing comes off, hopefully, then should know what to do next.
martinarvelo chris00938
Posted
jackie23554 chris00938
Posted
Put a plastic bag over your foot before sliding the stocking on. Makes it much easier. Just pull it out when you've got it over your calves. I hate the things!
martinarvelo elaine94716
Posted
Sute martinarvelo
Posted
good luck with your recovery
Eizie elaine94716
Posted
My PT had me doing stairs pretty quickly. I did stairs by 3 weeks post op but slowly. I'm now 7 weeks and a little quicker but not normal on stairs yet.