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Stairs Tkr

Posted , 8 users are following.

lorri_3432
lorri_3432

My surgery date is coming up I have 14 stairs to my house thoughts ,suggestions? I’m nervous !

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • pattiecake
    pattiecake lorri_3432

    Posted

    Do you mean the 14 steps are basically a one time thing to get into your home after surgery or are you talking about having to navigate 14 steps often? And if so, how often on a daily basis?
    • lorri_3432
      lorri_3432 pattiecake

      Posted

      I would have to do the stairs to get in and three times a week for physical therapy!
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX lorri_3432

      Posted

      Make sure you stay safe and hold onto the handrail.  I would suggest always use your good leg first going down since the new knee's leg will have zero strength to support you.  At first, use your good leg first to go up too since the other one will also have no strength to pull you up to the next step.  Take this VERY SLOWLY and stay safe.  As you get further along with PT to get your ROM back, the new knee will bend better and it will feel more normal.  Then it will take months of exercise to rebuild your quads, glutes and core to regain your strength so you can walk correctly, be balanced again and start doing stairs like you used to.  Time, work and patience.  For now...stay safe.

      Click on my name and then "See All Discussions" for lots of topics...including pre-op expectations...

  • Neizie
    Neizie lorri_3432

    Posted

    I only have about 6 or 7 into the house but its a 3 story and laundry is in the basement! The first couple of weeks I came downstairs and pretty much spent the day on the first floor. But as the weeks have gone on I've gotten pretty good at doing the stairs. Tomorrow is 5 weeks post tkr for me and I'm no longer using crutches and actually I find the stairs are good for helping strengthen the quads. I used crutches on stairs in the beginning and its slow, but wasn't a problem.

  • pattiecake
    pattiecake lorri_3432

    Posted

    I think you'll be fine. I was also concerned about stairs prior to my surgery but it didn't end up being an issue. My stairs are the same as yours - entrance and exit only. The day after surgery PT in the hospital showed me how to go up and down just holding on to the railing. It's a slower process than you are used to now but it gets you there. It's basically good leg up on the step and then meet it with the bad one - and just keep going like that. It is the reverse going down - bad leg first and meet it with the good leg. was amazed at how simple it was. Later on, as I gained ROM of about 100 - I was able to go up and down the way I had prior to surgery. I would say that was at about 4 weeks post op.Good luck to you!

  • susan47321
    susan47321 lorri_3432

    Posted

    That's easy, Good leg first then bring up bad leg.

    On the way down bad leg first then good leg, holding onto rail.

    The hard part comes when the physio makes you come down the other way - bad leg first, you hold onto the stair bannister rail like grim death.

    Good luck, you can do it and the physio' will show you day after the Operation.

    Best of luck,

    Sue

  • debbie40320
    debbie40320 lorri_3432

    Posted

    Lori, 

    I have a one floor home with basement.. I did not have to do steps at first, probably two weeks after.. but one at a time.. I’m 6 months in on 1 leg 4 months on the other, and I can bend but I have to still go slow.

  • michelle50265
    michelle50265 lorri_3432

    Posted

    I have about the same amount of stairs my house that was a big concern of mine after having total knee , as long as you have a handrail you should be okay. going up is a lot easier down is definitely harder or just good to keep the motion going and hold on.
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