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Walking the stairs

Posted , 8 users are following.

jean04276
jean04276

Had a big jolt to my 7 week tkr today. I attempted to walk down stairs, without crutch, one step at a time. Suddenly, one foot followed the other, l’ve been iced up ever since. Any advice, please on when stairs become easier to walk?

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

  • deb1205
    deb1205 jean04276

    Posted

    I am 8 weeks and still can't do it, I tried a few days ago and ended up taking painkillers and using ice packs ?

    • jean04276
      jean04276 deb1205

      Posted

       Looks like we are in too much of a hurry to get moving, Deb. A case of the mind being willing but the knee being weak. 
  • tricia1954
    tricia1954 jean04276

    Posted

    Hi Jean. I think it depends on the depth (or height) of each step. I'm sorry to say I am 19 weeks past op and going down is a nightmare, we have a very high rise so that doesn't help. I find going up much easier. 7 weeks is still very early I wouldn't try it again unaided for another 3 or 4 weeks at least. You need to build up muscle to be able to hold you up. It's a long drawn out process, hopefully worth it in the end.

    • jean04276
      jean04276 tricia1954

      Posted

      Thank you Tricia, l will take you advice. Because l’m feeling stronger l had a go at something my knee is not ready for. I won’t do it again.
  • jen04209
    jen04209 jean04276

    Posted

    Just be patient and keep doing your exercises. It will come. Don’t give up or get discouraged. I had bilateral knee replacements and it was a good six months before I walked without a limp. The stairs will come. Be patience. 
    • jean04276
      jean04276 jen04209

      Posted

      Thanks Jen, it’s easy to feel discouraged when you have a set back, good to be reminded it will get better.
  • jenny80029
    jenny80029 jean04276

    Posted

    For me i think it was later on when all leg muscles much stronger...approximately 6 months.
    • jean04276
      jean04276 jenny80029

      Posted

      Long way to go then. Thanks Jenny, as usual patience needed.
    • jenny80029
      jenny80029 jean04276

      Posted

      You might be quicker, it is my non operated knee which means i still have to go carefully down steps now! 😀😁😄

  • Lywn
    Lywn jean04276

    Posted

    Many thanks to everyone who shared about stairs.  I had no idea all of this would take so many weeks and months.  I hope Jean feels better soon.  
  • CHICO_MARX
    CHICO_MARX jean04276

    Posted

    Stairs are usually the LAST skill you get back after a TKR...and it has nothing to do with your new knee.  However, it has EVERYTHING to do with the strength in your surrounding musculature.  This comes in time since you first have to get your ROM back and then have to rebuild the strength in your atrophied quads, glutes and core.  At three months, I still couldn't do it.  And what is it?  The goal?

    Walking up one step with your new knee's leg first, not bouncing or springing up and not holding onto anything like the railing or a cane.  This relies COMPLETELY on the strength of those leg muscles which are now shot.  Here's a guide...

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

    I will tell you that the post has been controversial since other people have been taught different techniques.  This is the one given to me by my PT and it worked great.  One year post-op, I was doing stairs two at a time with no assistance whatsoever.  Understand that this is not easy because of your dead muscles and not your knee once you have good ROM.  Try it...  Try putting your bad leg on the first step and then using those muscles alone, get up to that next step.  Really hard in the beginning.  It takes ROM plus leg exercises...for a lot of weeks.

    Be prepared.  Going up and down stairs like you once did normally, not holding onto anything and with good balance, takes time, patience and a lot of hard work.

    • jean04276
      jean04276 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Good Morning Chico, a sleepless response. My goal is to get the ROM back but l have started the one step up and down, leading with the op leg to get the muscle strength back. It’s ok too, makes me feel l’m achieving something. I will be with the first step for a while, though, got to get the bends first, Big thanks for your advice.
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jean04276

      Posted

      Yes.  ROM comes first and then rebuild the strength gradually.  I went from -14 / +84 in 10 weeks of PT @ 2X/week plus the work at home.  At 13 weeks post-op I was -1 / +123...but everyone is different.  Then you start the strengthening and eventually get there.  The whole thing takes a year for almost all of us but you can't see that while going through it...only after you're done and can look back.  It takes time, work and patience.  

    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX deb1205

      Posted

      Range of Motion...  Some reading...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/zero-degrees--517809

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-rom-work-at-home-620053

      When you've got your ROM back (took me almost 3 months), you must rebuild the strength in your dead quads, glutes and core.  This will take the remainder of the year PLUS increase your ROM even more.  At 20 months, I'm about 0 / +135.  Here's the program...

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

      Your physical advancements are just one part of the recovery.  Simultaneously, you have to stay focused plus keep your mind and spirit whole and centered.  Try these...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-and-ptsd-569521

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-power-of-rest-some-great-strategies-to-try-on-a-tkr-617892

      Above all...

      https://patient.info/forums/discuss/tkr-strong-594566

      Got about 25 discussions out there.  Have fun...treat yourself with kindness...depression is a Jedi Mind Trick...

    • jean04276
      jean04276 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thanks Chico, l take it day by day. I do the donkey work but remain blinkered, a year seems too much and too far just now.
    • CHICO_MARX
      CHICO_MARX jean04276

      Posted

      That's why we get through it day by day.  You cannot take the whole year in one swallow or allow it to get you down.  In fact, as you start feeling better, it becomes less of an issue.  All of a sudden, without thinking, it's been a year and you're virtually back to normal.  You just let the time pass, do the work and be patient.  There is no other road to take...this is it.  Your knee will be better when it's better...and not a moment sooner.

    • jean04276
      jean04276 CHICO_MARX

      Posted

      Thank you, wise friend. Your words give me the strength to  think patience.
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