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TKR

Posted , 11 users are following.

susan21547
susan21547

9 weeks into my TKR and still goin upstairs two feet at a time is this normal😣

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 susan21547

    Posted

    Don't worry, plenty of time, legs take a few months to get stronger!

    • susan21547
      susan21547 jenny80029

      Posted

      I'm probably in a hurry or irritated that i can walk upstairs like i use to before my op

  • kay42141
    kay42141 susan21547

    Posted

    Does take some time to get back to normal. Still going downstairs one foot at a time even now -5 years later.

    Listen to your body and it will come.

  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX susan21547

    Posted

    Stairs are literally the last skill a TKR-er gets to master.  First comes PT to regain your 0 / +120 ROM.  Then you have to rebuild all the strength in your dead quads, glutes and core...the actual musculature that that supports the knee...and finally getting normal with stairs again...up and down alternately without holding onto anything.  All of this takes time and work.  Reference...

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/post-tkr-exercising-565527

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/mastering-post-tkr-stairs-552728

    My PT started me on the stairs about 10 weeks post-op...not a chance as I was dragging myself up step by step.  Gotta do the strength work to make stairs normal again.

  • MarieMichelle
    MarieMichelle susan21547

    Posted

    Hi Susan, Chico is dead on.. I am 13 weeks post op and still steps are one at a time. I just got my flexon at 0 and ROM at 118 and just started a bike last week, so yes it does take time and my PT told me around 16 weeks we will work on the steps... slowly.. good luck and be patient ( trust me I have not been patient - but this site is very helpful and full of great information ) 
  • julie6664x
    julie6664x susan21547

    Posted

    Hi Susan

    I had my TKR on 11th December

    I’m the same that’s one thing i’ve found the hardest to do. I am carrying extra weight i though that was why but apparently it’s a common thing.

    Wish you well

  • Aunt_Dee
    Aunt_Dee susan21547

    Posted

    I'm going on 12 1/2 weeks and still going up the stairs one leg at a time. My therapist said to continue doing so but try with bad leg for the last 2 stairs. It hurts!

  • cheryl90571
    cheryl90571 susan21547

    Posted

    Took me awhile to climb steps in the regular manner. Going down is STILL scary for me UNLESS I have railings on both sides of the steps.

    Try going up just two steps then turn around and go down two steps. This will help build confidence. Soon you will find steps to be easier.

  • davidjk22
    davidjk22 susan21547

    Posted

    Recovery is a journey, not a race. You get there one step at a time, there is no list, chart, or graph of where you should be at anytime during this journey. We all recover at a different rate, it is impossible to compare one recovery with another. People have had one knee replaced and had a relatively easy recovery, then had the other knee done with completely different results. You are a patient and you need patience, it takes time don't try to rush or force recovery you will get there in the end.  

  • marilyn10235
    marilyn10235 susan21547

    Posted

    Hi Susan, there are no timetables in TKR recovery! You will do stairs when your knee is ready!

    I had my 1st TKR Oct 2016 & could go up & down the stairs normally by 7 weeks.

    I had my 2nd TKR Dec 2017 & at 6.5 weeks cannot do stairs normally!

    Two different knees, the same operation, 2 very different recoveries.

    Listen to your knee, when it is ready for the extra work of doing stairs normally you'll know it.

    Good luck on your recovery

    Marilyn 

    XX

  • deb06149
    deb06149 susan21547

    Posted

    I'm at 13 weeks and still do that. Strength has to be built up, so yes it's normal.

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