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?
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
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.
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.
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...
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.
You are kind ThankyouTT
I think I was still using stairs one at a time at 5 wks. I kept pulling myself up on bottom step using handrails and was determined to do it! you will soon be able to go up normally, maybe in a few wks,I can go up and down fine now at 13 wks tho coming down is a bit painful.
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.😊
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.
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.
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!
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
I m 12 weeks post tkr..can manage to use both legs, walking upstairs, but I m really struggling to walk down..keep trying, but seem to have to twist my leg! I still get lots of pain, front and back of knee abd its stii warm a lot of the time..I ve been exercising in the pool from six weeks...but, if I walk any distance..it still aches..seeing Surgeon in January for second xray, so will let you know if I learn anything about stairs!! Five weeks post op is very early to be aiming for up and down normally!
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.
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 🙂