Stairs

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ern

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I am 11 weeks since tkr and walking ok, still swollen though with some days better than others. I am able to walk up stairs normally but going down is a one at a time thing. Is this to b expected at this point of my recovery rate. Many Thanks,
Ern
 
I had a bilateral in November of '07---I can do stairs fine, but gong down still is slow at times...It takes a year---remember---one lady that I know had one done a yer and a half ago, and she said that stairs still are slow---I believe that most of it at that time is mental. 11 weeks is a little under three months---you are dong fine!

TSC
 
Me too. My bilateral was March 18 and stairs are probably my weakest recovery point. If they are well railed and a reasonable rise, I can go up one over the other no problem. Down is slower and one at a time. And I know that 90% of that is in my head and me not trusting the knees to hold me. Like Tim said, one year . And even then if I'm still "one stepping" it's OK, i don't hurt and it's still better than pre-surgery.
 
I am 11 weeks since tkr and walking ok, still swollen though with some days better than others. I am able to walk up stairs normally but going down is a one at a time thing. Is this to b expected at this point of my recovery rate. Many Thanks,
Ern

My TKR was April 23 and I'm the same. I am just getting to where I can go down one step at a time--but still using the handrail greatly.

I think it is also that my flex is only running about 105 for daily use; still in PT getting it better.

Patience :)
 
I will be 6 weeks post -op on Wednesday of this week from BTKR. I have found that I have to make an effort to remember to bend my foot to go down the stairs alternating feet. If I remember to roll off the toe, it is much easier. Plus I have been working on only holding the railing with one hand and not having my body twisted. I agree going up is much easier, and I do alternate my feet as well going up.
I have found that taking the time to practice using the feet to roll to the next step truly does help me. It helps me keeps my balance and keeps my body in line......
Best,
Crystal
 
I will be 11 weeks on Tuesday since my BTKR and have also got problems with going down the stairs. With me it's trying to keep my hips out of the equation and turning my left foot sideways to accommodate my step. My left knee is still quite a bit stiffer and less flexible than the right one although it straightens out better than the right leg. I have to remember that for AGES I was taking the one step at a time approach to going downstairs due to my arthritis and always holding on to dear life to the railing. I find that if I also use my cane and concentrate, the steps are easier to manuever. Also the steps at therapy are easier to negotiate so there must be something different about the pitch of the stairway. I'm glad to hear that at 11 weeks, quite a few people are still experiencing stiffness and that I need to plan on quite a bit more time to feel normal again. Actually I want to feel much better than normal since the arthritis was "normal" for 10+ years and I am already better than that!

How long should I expect to have to go to offsite therapy? If I am diligent in icing, biking, and stretching at home can I expect to be able to continue to improve on my own? I have gone for 4 weeks off-site, two weeks at home and two weeks in the nursing home.

Any tips besides ice, ice, ice, to help loosen up that left knee? Part of my therapy includes blasting the knee with water pressure and that's suppose to help but of course I can't have that therapy at home.

Holly
 
I'm 11 weeks and have always thought I was slow on the recovery. -- At least recovery wasn't going according to my plan book. I tossed that book away a while back and just take it a day at a time now. I'm able to go down my house stairs holding the hand rail - which I admitt are very low so that is not much to boast about. At work there is a hudge flight of stairs that are very high. This last week I started slowly and somewhat stiffly trying to go down them regular. When I get those mastered. I might just do a victory dance! --dar
 
Re: Stairs and Positive

I'm almost 9 weeks out and stairs ARE an issue... I can go UP, perfectly fine, but I still have to really concentrate going down.

I know my post op advancement has been enhanced because my pre-op attitued was "I'm so excited that I have finally decided to have this surgery, I can't stand it"!!! The attitude carried over and even it I was in pain, tired or felt I was behind in my progress, it didn't matter! I wanted so bad to NOT disappoint those that I shared my PRE-EXCITEMENT with I kept up a brave front and really was able to talk myself into the idea that I was doing well...

I really think alot about the power of POSITIVE THINKING. I have always felt I need to be the one that people talked about because of HOW WELL i was doing instead of how I was such a complainer... I have never been a complainer, I have always felt I was a "cheerleader!" I love beating odds and showing everyone that it can be done.

When my PT told me I was limping, I purposely walked slowly from week two on with the attitude that I WOULD NOT LIMP... So, now, I do not limp.

I know we all progress at different rates, but I am so convinced that the power of positive thinking can really get you going places. It doesn't mean it will happen overnight, it is a long journey. But if you have a positive outlook on life, it will certainly be a much happier life...

Enough on the "good life", but just a pep talk for those of us that need it today...

Thank you to ALL OF YOU for being there for me during my rough times. I sure needed you.
 
I'm a firm believer in positive thinking too and am thrilled that I was able to finally get the knees done and WILL be wonderful sometime soon. Glad to hear that stairs are still "expected" to be a little bit difficult at this stage but practice, practice, practice! At first, it was exhausting but now just another accomplishment. I too never wanted to be known as the one who struggled and complained, so I am always doing very well. I concentrate on not shuffling myfeet or marching or limping which does sometimes take a lot of concentration! But each day is better and some days, my right knee feels normal!
 
I think it's a mental thing as well. I was scared silly and did the "one step" thing for a while too.

IF your PT agrees,

REPEAT --

*IF* your PT agrees -- try this:

Stand with the steps to your bad-leg-side, bad foot FLAT on the step, and hold the banister rail for support. Lift yourself up, then lower just until the "good" heel touches the floor before lifting yourself again, keeping the bad-foot FLAT.

Concentrate on doing this with your knee -- it's all too easy to shift your hips, but that's not good. Make it a knee-thing.

Do this 10 seconds on and 10 off for however long your PT says -- I started with 10 minutes and am increasing from there, but YMMV. I am able to do 7-8 per 10 seconds, could probably do 10-in-10 -- one second per -- but not if I am to keep it up through 30 cycles in 10 minutes.

*IF* you can control yourself with your knee going up and down in this way, there's no real difference between facing sideways and facing "downhill" -- except in your mind -- especially if you re-learn how to "roll" your foot up onto your toes while going down, which takes a bit of the bend off of your knee.

I had to learn this too... Once I did, I was/am able to handle the steps with no problem.

It feels GREAT not to be scared of the steps!!

HTH...

DD
 
I was 7 weeks out yesterday, and I can totally relate to the comments about the stairs, and I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one going through this. I do well going up stairs, but coming down is a different story. I do them MUCH more slowly coming down. I try, but find myself raising my hip in order to get down. I'll keep trying, I'm sure it will come. Again, I didn't get this way in such a little bit of time!

Good luck to all, and have a good day,
Hess
 
Well, I think you all are sounding like you're doing terrific! You are sooo positive and that is a BIG plus!
 
Gee I too was scared stiff of the steps at first - just thought I would take a head-first tumble down them. Now I am just taking it VERY slowly, concentrating on keeping my toes pointed forward and not slinging the hip out. My PT said too to just pratice on the bottom two or three steps in much the same way DD describes for a bit and including some nice calf stretches in the exercise. That's been helpful. For me, though, it takes A LOT of concentration! No fear any more but it's far from being a natural thing yet!

Holly
 
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