TKR

Bones, joints and muscles
1

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

2

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

3

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

4

Cant walk upstairs lol

5

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.

6

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.

7

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 ) 

8

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

9

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!

10

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.

11

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.  

12

Hang this on your fridge...

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/the-reality-of-a-tkr-recovery-in-one-picture-626038

One image tells the whole story...

13

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

14

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