TKR in a few weeks - what about stairs?

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Newknee

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Wisconsin, United States
I am scheduled for the operation on June 8th and will spend 3 days in the hospital. Beside the fact that I'm terrified about the surgery, when I come home I will have to deal with stairs. The downstairs powder room is 4 steps down and the bedrooms and full bath upstairs is 12 steps, a landing and 4 more steps. Will I be able to get up and down the stairs? I'm just wondering what other folks have done.

I hate the idea of a nursing home...and have considered a hotel room that's handicapped accessible as an alternative. Any opinions on the stair issue? I would be most comfortable at home, but only if I can get to the bathroom!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
Hi, Newknee and welcome to the forum. We're glad you found us and we'll be here to support you as you go through your surgery and recovery. Don't worry....we've all been where you are now and understand fear of the unknown.

About the stairs....you will be taught how to go up and down stairs before you leave the hospital. You do it one leg at a time and although slow, it works.

After surgery, the only reason you might need to consider a rehab facility (not necessarily a nursing home) would be if you had no one at home to help you out. The first couple of days or a week can be a bit rough if it's just you (prepariing meals, icing, moving around). A hotel room wouldn't be a good choice because you would still have the same problems if it was just you. But if you have someone who can be with you for a bit at the first, you should do just fine at home. When you're in the hospital, staff will discuss all this with you so they are sure you will be adequately cared for when you leave.

Do take a look at some of the older threads. They will tell you things that you should do to prepare home for your return....frozen meals, raised toilet seats, shower stool, plenty of stool softeners, etc.....lots of great ideas if you do a little poking around.
 
I am happy you got your own thread in here. I replied to you in the operation thread. Yes if someone can stay with you for a lil bit, you will be fine. Alot of members go to rehab centers and get great phyical Therapy for there knees and or hip. Usually few days to a week, I dont think a nursing home !! That first week is a lil hard but take your medicine, use ice that will be your new best friend, and elevate your leg..And remember if you have any questions please post them . We will all try to help. Great, caring people here, The best... It will be ok.......
 
Hi and welcome to the forum!

I too was
(a) worried about the surgery .......which was needless. As Jamie says, there are lots of threads in this forum about that. After the actual surgery the first couple of weeks are hard work, but then it just gets easier and better.
(b) worried about stairs. However, it is actually very easy to cope as long as you have something to hang on to - either a rail or a crutch (or two!). I've now had two TKRs and can manage to go upstairs without holding on to anything, and can go downstairs without help if I think about it! I've not been using stairs normally for years so have had to relearn - and I can do it.

Do keep asking questions. I've been doing it since I joined the forum and have had lots of useful help.
 
Before leaving hospital I had to pass a stairs test in the Physio Dept. Remember the good (non-op leg) goes up first and the bad (op leg) goes down first. I was worried about stairs but found them OK. We have a rail on the left side going up. I was able to go up properly at about 7 weeks but cannot yet do so coming down but practice whenever I see steps with a lower rise. I had a low wattage light on at night in the first weeks.

The NHS supplied on loan a perching stool for the bathroom, a raised toilet frame (both returned at 7 weeks) and an oblong adjustable stool to put your feet up, which I will keep for a while. Social Services supplied a step for the front door and blocks to raise my bed. The criteria for sitting on a bed, chair or toilet is that they should be 2" higher than the distance from the back of your knee to the floor, so that your thighs slope.

I bought a Soxon sock aid but found it painful to use (so didn't) and a memory foam knee pillow.
 
newknee,
Welcome! I am sure you are excited, anxious, nervous, and more before this TKR. I had BTKR last June 18th. I go back for my 1 year check up on June 19th this year.
I too live in a 2 story house. During my initial first 6 weeks at home I set up an area in the living room for myself to stay and even sleep at night.
I have a recliner which I lined with a feather bed (twin size). I made a removable sheet cover for it, tube style, so it would fit well within the seat and back of the recliner. This is where I napped and slept. I also set up my ice machine on a TV tray and was able to ice whenever needed. It also allowed me to elevate my knee above my heart. Not having to climb up and down 12 stairs daily will help you be less tired. Post op you will be very tired for weeks. Your whole body needs time to recover from the surgery never mind your knee! You will be exhausted the first time you shower...... Needing a nap afterward!
If at all possible, please set up an area for yourself on the first floor. The 4 steps you will manage quite well for using the bathroom daily and will be good exercise for you as well.
I wish you a good surgery, and the joy of getting your life back on track post TKR!
I am back to downhill skiing, walking, standing, gardening, and even found myself kneeling on one knee recently.
Best,
 
NewKnee.... everyone is scared before the surgery but that's true before all surgeries I think .. if youknow about them ahead. I have a difficult, old house with the bedroom up a flight of stairs and the bathroom down 2 stairs on the main floor. There are stairs all over the house - 2 usually - to get to each room and 3 very big steps to get up to the kitchen (entry) door. I managed all but the big staircase just fine with one crutch coming home after 3 days in the hospital. One foot at a time of course. I opted to open one of our living room futons and stay downstairs at night for maybe 2 and a half weeks . Left lights on low so I could get around at night. I couldn't shower until the staples were out (2 weeks) so I just sponge bathed at the sink and washed my hair standing at the kitchen sink every 3 days (stretching it). some people do the full stairs up to their bedrooms just fine. Everyone uses at least one crutch and as others said they will teach you how to do the steps with the crutches as well as a cane at the hospital. Good luck -- and keep asking questions....
 
Welcome, Newknee! You'll be a whole different person after your surgery! It's unbelievably exciting to really get your life back! Good luck! Looking forward to your future posts! :)
 
I was extremely excited to get my surgery. Not scared at all beyond the usual "pre-surgical" apprehension. Of course, I was snapped back to reality when I woke up after surgery. I spent two weeks in the hospital (four days in the ortho-surgical ward, the rest of the time in the rehab/physical therapy ward).

My house is a two-story house with only one bathroom... upstairs. I had to go up the four steps in the PT room before they would let me go home. I did it one time and I did it badly. From there, I was lucky enough to go to my parents' home, which is one level with a handicapped accessible bathroom. My mom and I usually slept in the EZ-lift recliners (she has health issues of her own right now) because neither of us were comfortable on beds.

Once I got home, I had no choice but to do stairs. I will say that, literally, each time I went up or down, it got easier. Coming down was always easy, but trusting my new knee to hold up my mASSive bulk so I could step up scared me. But, it did get easier- every time. Now I breeze up and down the steps (one step at a time still). The only bad part of steps for me is our steps leading down from our back deck to the driveway. There's only one railing and no place to prop a crutch against to "create" a railing (which is what I do on my indoors stairs).

Anyway, I'm now a bit more realistic in my body's expectations and abilities, but I'm still extremely excited to get back to the stuff I used to do- mostly the exercising (I miss exercising and yoga!).
 
Welcome to the forum, my friend! You echo what almost all of us said and felt in the run up to our ops - yes, even me! Not sure if this be the case in the US and I am trusting it is, but here in the UK they will not release a patient until they are considered 'safe' in carrying out basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This includes things like being able to walk, get into and out of bed, dress, wash/shower/bath and use stairs especially if it should be necessary at home. Just take it gently, one step at a time and you'll be fine!

As for me, I came home on my 7th day - should have been the 5th but there was a hold up. I had no-one at home though my brother and his wife were en route and arrived a few hours later. Almost on arrival I managed to go upstairs and back down on my own - had to, to turn on the router-modem for my laptop in the lounge! :lvros: I also fed the cats and lugged two full suitcases in doors where the cabbie had thoughtfully left them on the doorstep!

Remember that the reason you are having this op is to give you back your normal life - well, this is where it will start! :wink:
 
Thank you all for your kind advice. This is a wonderful forum and I'm so glad I found you all. I have never had any major surgery, so I have no frame of reference for this operation, that's part of the fear. That and general anxiety that something will go wrong. Which I hear from all of you, is pretty normal.

I will have my husband at home to help me, so I'll plan on making the 3 steps down to the powder room and see how the rest goes. I can always do sponge baths and hair washes at the kitchen sink if I can't do the big stairway right away-thanks for that suggestion!

I do love my old home built in 1924...but it wasn't designed for TKR recovery!

Keep your fingers crossed for me on June 8th.

Thanks again
 
That is great that your husband will be with you. Dont worry it is scarey but you will be fine. Just take your medicine after just as your told to. Tell you what it brought my husband and I alot closer, that was the good part, he's my buddy. Did alot of hair washes in the sink. I love those older homes. They don't make em' like that anymore..The detail uh I love it...........You will be in my prayers......Please let us know how you are doing.............
 
Welcome Newknee!

I posted the same exact question when I first joined. This is a wonderful, healing and helpful place to explore throughout the whole process.
I live in a tri-level with no bathroom on the main floor. There is a half bath on my lower level which is six stairs down. The master bedroom and bath of course is on the top floor which is about 9 stairs up. I was able to manage the stairs from the day I returned home. Please, though, during the first couple of weeks have someone there to be there to assist you. Meds can make you sleepy and dizzy. Everyday you will get stronger and it will be easier for you to get around. I took a shower in the hospital before I was released so I wouldn't have to deal with the stairs the first day home.
I am 16 days post LTKR and an finally feeling better. Staples have been removed and had my first PT appointment on Friday. So far so good.
I found that using a cane or crutch helped me to manage the stairs with my trusty walker. My darling husband is always by my side when going up and down all those stairs. The walker helps of course once you have made it up.
It's a bit tiring at first until you get your strength back.
It amazes my how quickly the body works to heal itself after such a difficult operation.
Take care my friend. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Kathy
 
NewKnee-
As everyone here has already told you, all your fears and worries are very normal. I had BTKR on Monday,May 18--on Friday, May 22 I went up and down 4 steps using both hand rails--very painful. On Wednesday, May 27 I went up and down 12 steps with 1 hand rail and a cane--much less pain. You'll be able to do it. Every day gets better!
Blessings,
Irene
 
Welcome Newknee! Just take it slow! You'll be just amazed how much better you will feel! :)
 
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