stair pain

[Cindy]

Hello, I am new to the forum, but think it is great. I had bilateral TKR on Dec. 9, 2008, and am recovering pretty well. I have 130 rom in both knees, was off a cane after 2 weeks, and back at work as a psychologist after 4 weeks. I am still going to physical therapy. The big problem that I have (other than evening/night ache and poor sleep) is stairs. I have pain across the kneecap area when I go up stairs, and worse when I go down. I can only go down sideways because of this. Is this normal? Could vigorous PT be making this worse?

 

[execk2]

Stair pain is normal until everything gets used to the new joint. I can go up OK but coming down is slow...I'm 15 weeks

 

[Josephine]

Hey Cindy! Welcome, welcome!

So let me get this right - around 10 weeks post-op, yes? Perfectly normal to be getting soreness in various places. Don't fret about it. One day you'll realise you are coming down as normal as you ever did!

 

[maumeefootball]

I would guess someone has brought this up before on the forum, but here is a trick I learned many many years ago to deal with going down stairs. When the pain is really bad just go down the stairs backwards. I know there are stability issues and concerns of falling so I use the handrail but it sure helps. I will even go down hills backwards when we take our hikes if the pain is really bad that day. This also works very well for anyone who has had abdominal surgery. This doesn't solve the problem of why it hurts but at least you aren't in pain.

Don

 

[Josephine]

Cool idea - I shall remember that! I more often go down sideways though.

 

[Max Wallace]

I am 12 weeks out from BI-TKR and I have steps to go up and down everyday, not lots but 10 - 15 each morning and afternoon. At one point I thought I might never go up or down without pain but at 10 weeks I realized that there was no pain going up but still pain coming down now at 12 weeks the pain is almost gone. The further out from surgery I get I realize that some of these things it doesnt matter how hard you work at PT it just takes time to heal.

Max

 

[Lvc595]

Has anyone put in a chair lift? I wonder if that would help. I was thinking about it.

Lori

 

[MikeF]

Thanks Cindy...I am glad I am not the only one...!

I'm 14 weeks out from bilateral TKR and dooin' them steps is a bear...

Sittin', Standin', straight & level walkin"...no problem. but stairs...

I know it's a "pain" thing, but does anyone have a handle on "how long"...

Thanks all,
Cheers,
Mike

 

[Max Wallace]

The whole idea is to return to normal as soon as possible and everytime you go up and down thats called PT which is working toward going up and down without even thinking about stairs being different than walking. I had been cautious of every step I had taken on level ground and stairs for so many years that it seems alien not to watch every step I take. I am 12 weeks out from BI-TKR and just a few days ago I noticed stairs were no longer the devil incarnate and that I no longer watched every step for fear of falling.

I just started at 12 weeks post op that I no longer have the pain during stairs, but everyone heals at different speeds.

Max