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When can I expect to walk up and down stairs following TKR

Posted , 19 users are following.

Schumacher13
Schumacher13

Hi, I am just over 9 weeks post op and I really want to walk up & down the stairs without pain?

I keep trying but although I can go up it's not without pain and I can't do downstairs yet?

Prior to the op I struggled with the stairs for about 2 years and I so want to be able to do this with ease!! Am I expecting too much too soon?

Would really appreciate hearing how others did with stairs

Thanks

Pauline.

1 like, 46 replies

46 Replies

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  • richard89308
    richard89308 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I think you are doing extremely well.!!  keep it up

    Richard

    • Schumacher13
      Schumacher13 richard89308

      Posted

      Thank you Richard, I need to keep reminding myself of this, it's still early days in the scheme of things! 

      Pauline.

  • pam39536
    pam39536 Schumacher13

    Posted

    I am 67, I hadnt been able to walk properly up the stairs for years. I am 14 weeks and have been able to do it for a few weeks now. But not without pain . I can hold on both sides and that makes it easier . Coming down took longer but once I had pushed through the first time , it was confidence as much as anything. I was ok. It is not pain free but I can do .

    pam14 weeks

    • Schumacher13
      Schumacher13 pam39536

      Posted

      Hi Pam, I feel I am on a similar level to you? It's a long journey and we always want to run before we can walk!!!

      Thank you for your comments.

      Pauline.

    • pam39536
      pam39536 Schumacher13

      Posted

      Has anyone heard from Nanny lately , she seems to gave gone quiet . Nanny if you are reading this, let us know how you are doing 

      Pam 14 weeks 

    • betty07083
      betty07083 pam39536

      Posted

      Hi Pam,

      I am also 67, will be 13 weeks post op next Tuesday, and I still can not go down our stairs one foot at a time. If they are shallow stairs I am OK, but ours measure 7" deep - going up is fine ( although not very gracefully) but coming down I feel like I don't have the strength to go down one foot at a time & have a terrible fear of losing my balance & falling forward. We only have a banister on one side. Is this normal? I'm doing fine in all other areas, with flex & bending, but going downstairs I just can not bring myself to do it!

      Also, does anyone else feel off balance? I should be doing balance exercises, I know, but I still have this off balance feeling at times.

      Thanks all

    • pam39536
      pam39536 betty07083

      Posted

      My stairs are deep too . Try using a crutch on the other side to the bannister I felt much the same , but after I had done it once I was ok . Keep trying . I was the one thing I really wanted to do , up and down the stairs like an adult 

      Pam 14 weeks 

    • betty07083
      betty07083 pam39536

      Posted

      Thanks Pam, I will try the crutch on my other side. I think once my fear of falling is gone and feel more confident, I might do better. Have to keep practicing - I too want to go up & down stairs like an adult - it's been way too long since I have! 
    • betty07083
      betty07083 pam39536

      Posted

      Thanks Pam, I will try the crutch on my other side. I think once my fear of falling is gone and feel more confident, I might do better. Have to keep practicing - I too want to go up & down stairs like an adult - it's been way too long since I have! 
    • betty07083
      betty07083 pam39536

      Posted

      Thanks Pam, I will try the crutch on my other side. I think once my fear of falling is gone and feel more confident, I might do better. Have to keep practicing - I too want to go up & down stairs like an adult - it's been way too long since I have! 
    • betty07083
      betty07083 pam39536

      Posted

      Thanks Pam, I will try the crutch on my other side. I think once my fear of falling is gone and feel more confident, I might do better. Have to keep practicing - I too want to go up & down stairs like an adult - it's been way too long since I have! 

      Betty 

    • moandrieu
      moandrieu betty07083

      Posted

      Betty, I'm curious why you are still using a walking aid. My PT had me off the cane by my 5th week. One of the hardest things is conditioning our mind to believe we can do something that our body hasn't been able to do for a while. But once you start forcing yourself through the movements, it will return to it's original nature. At least that has been my result. It was hard to believe it would work well, but give yourself the benifit of the doubt and try. I do hold onto the rail. rolleyes
  • debbie02705
    debbie02705 Schumacher13

    Posted

    well that all depends on your recovery , my right knee still feels stiff when coming down stairs , that one was done in feb , my left knee was done in august and has never had a problem with stairs , i have two lots of stairs to come down ,the first 6 steps is always the worse ,then i force myself to do them right ,even though its slow ,just take your time ab=nd dont five up 
  • Clarkey1962
    Clarkey1962 Schumacher13

    Posted

    Hi Pauline,

    I'm 5 weeks post tkr and wondered when I could walk up the stairs properly as well. Just started to try this week and although I can walk up albeit very unglamorous I made it but knee feels strange. Do you sometimes feel like you can actually feel the new joint after exercising?

    Jackie 😃

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