TKR and stairs
Posted , 11 users are following.
I'm 5 weeks post-op now, steri strips finally off and only using a cane outside. My quads on the operative leg are finally waking up thank heavens, so I feel more mobile. Now my phys therapist is pushing me to walk up stairs "normally".not two feet on the step at a time. It's almost impossible without pulling myself up by a handrail. Anyone else have this problem?
0 likes, 15 replies
chrishappy susan27997
Posted
Yes I did, as I'd walked up and down for years two feet together I found it very difficult to use stairs properly, I'm 13 wks post 2 nd tkr and 12 mths first one. It still aches walking upstairs but is getting easier coming down. Give yourself time to heal and youll be ok
kgunch susan27997
Posted
What you're experiencing is due to your qudas being weak, which is absolutely normal for TKR. It takes a while and a lot of exercise to rebuild what muscle you had. Think of the steps as being exercise and use what little progress you make day to day as motivation to keep at it. Rebuilding muscle strength takes time, and only exercise can achieve it. You've turned the corner where pain only means you're hurting from the surgery. Now it can mean the pain you used to feel after you went to the gym. You're building those muscles and working out the joints and asorted parts of the leg. It's pain from gain. Give it some time.
NZJENNI susan27997
Posted
Crickey !! I have steps to get into my house - 12 in total and am managing well doing one at a time. I must try and do it the "normal" way and see how it goes but I don't imagine it will be fun. I am 5 weeks next Tuesday and down to one crutch and walking without it in the house. Or should I say waddling lol.
kgunch NZJENNI
Posted
Do what you can without really hurting yourself. Do one or two steps the normal way two or three times a day. The next day add another step or two. Your strength isn't gong to suddenly reappear. It's a gradual process. Be sure to celebrate every new step. What you are doing isn't easy, and you deserve praise for the little victories you have every day.
NZJENNI kgunch
Posted
You are kind
ThankyouTT
CHICO_MARX susan27997
Posted
Oh yeah... When I was doing PT, I literally could not get to the next step without a handrail. Quads are dead...they have to cut through the tendon that connects the quad to the patella. Ratz. So after PT, ya gotta hit the gym to rebuild quads, glutes and core. No way around it. Check the Exercise section of my post...
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-tkr-experience-or-wish-i-had-another-kidney-stone--524499
Have fun...
rose05408 susan27997
Posted
nuala16574 susan27997
Posted
Susan I'm 5 months post TKR and find it painful climbing stairs. I go up as normal now and down holding the rail. My surgeon said it takes 6/12 months for recoveryour. Keep working on strengthening quads and it will come when they are strong enough.😊
ellen45 susan27997
Posted
My partial knee replacement was done in May and now in September I still cannot go up or down steps ! It is so frustrating ! I do the ' one step at a time'. Although little short steps I can do fairly well.
debbie87193 susan27997
Posted
Hi, I'm coming up to 6weeks post op, and at 5weeks, I started walking up stairs "normally" but only by pulling myself up with the handrail, I can't walk downstairs "normally" yet.
susan27997
Posted
Thanks y'all....guess I am just impatient because we are supposed to use our RV next weekend and I still haven't mastered stairs yet (5 weeks post op)....and there are several deep steps to get into our RV. but no handrail. I can get up ok, but coming down is a different story....glad I like the inside our RV!
NZJENNI susan27997
Posted
Fabulous !!! I would be using a crutch or cane to help me get up the steps and down again without doing damage to the knee.
Enjoy your trip
maggie00576 susan27997
Posted
NZJENNI maggie00576
Posted
Hi - I am 3 months out also and can walk normally up stairs but still bunny hop down them !! I can do it normally when at physio but not at home for some mad reason
My knee does not like me standing at all and still gets stiff and painful if I over do things. BUT I have found using the stationary bike is my best remedy for this as it loosens every thing up again. I also do pool work twice a week.
maggie00576 NZJENNI
Posted
Yes..I bicycle in the water and my knee feels so much better..not as stiff..afterwards...feel better knowing I m not way behind..thank you 🙂