When can I expect to climb stairs normally?

[prairienut]

Hi everyone. I am 2-1/2 weeks post-op. Just got back from a walk around my yard in this beautiful spring weather. What a great feeling! We have several flights of steps in our front walk and in the side yards which I managed nicely using the PT taught method ("up with the good, down with the bad"). I have a curiosity question for those who are further along. When were you able to take stairs one foot per step? I guess this would have to happen after you ditched the cane or other assist?
Gail

 

[nickji]

Hi Gail,

My OS told me not to climb stairs one foot per step for the first four weeks. I did as I was told (for once), and after the month just took them normally - though I must say that even at 7 weeks I prefer to have a rail to hold when I'm going downstairs - the fact that I pay medical bills from my own pocket may have something to do with that

Nick

 

[hurtingbuthopeful]

Hi Gail

So happy you were out enjoying the beautiful weather today. Yippee for you

I am @ 7 weeks post op and just started to take the stairs normally one over one about a week ago. My PT recommended to start by just going up the stairs that way. After I felt more comfortable, confident and stable I could do both up and down. I pretty much walk up and down normally unless I am really tired.

 

[oldbones]

I concur with both Nick and Hurtingbuthopeful that it may take several weeks to feel comfortable taking the steps as you normally would. Tomorrow I will be 15 weeks post-op and I would say that it's just been within the last 3-4 weeks that I've felt ok to do so. I still, however, rely on the handrail quite a bit.

 

[Josephine]

My PT recommended to start by just going up the stairs that way.

How funny! I have been going up and down normally but mostly down. I find going up normally takes a lot of effort and the muscles at the back of my knee seem to give way. I plan to discuss this with the physio that's calling tomorrow. Perhaps I need to strengthen those muscles more.

 

[Judles]

Hold on to that bannister, Jo! Just in case!!!

 

[HopAlong]

Hi Gail

So happy you were out enjoying the beautiful weather today. Yippee for you

I am @ 7 weeks post op and just started to take the stairs normally one over one about a week ago. My PT recommended to start by just going up the stairs that way. After I felt more comfortable, confident and stable I could do both up and down. I pretty much walk up and down normally unless I am really tired.

I started alternating legs going up and down the stairs too. It just happened incidentally and I caught myself reaching a milestone!
Do you also go to Sportscare Institute for PT? Dr. Hartzband recommended that place, and they are great-----we have a good time there.

 

[hurtingbuthopeful]

I love going to PT for that very reason. So many people with different personalities and stories to share. It's fun for me too - hard work, but fun.

Hartzbands office is about an hour from me so I go to a place local to me. I did hear great things about Sportscare Institute.

 

[YoungM]

Hi Gail! I started alternating legs at about week 3.5. It actually happened by accident too, and I found it to be easy (while using the cane). Going down is a lot easier and more natural for me than going up. Going up, I tend to put more weight on my banister and cane. (I'm at almost week 5 now).

 

[Judles]

I never likes going up, but especially down with a cane!

 

[prairienut]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am walking pretty smoothly with the cane now but it seems that normal stair climbing is a ways off. I guess I will know when I am ready. I doubt I'll be ditching the cane as early as 3 weeks like some of you. Maybe 4 weeks.... I am now taking loops around the yard several times a day. I figure the rougher surface of the lawn is good practice.
Gail

 

[Peta]

Hi Gail - it's good to hear how well you are doing! In all honesty - even though I am 6 months post-op, I still get a slight muscle pull in my left thigh when I am climbing a flight of stairs. AND I still use the handrail, although that may be because I have a painful right hip.

Peta
LTHR 23/10/08

 

[mvo]

Hi Gail,

For me it was about 10 weeks or so before I walked upstairs normally, a little earlier for going downstairs. I have lots of practice at stairs both inside and outside as the University where I work is built on a hill and my office is in a 5 level building.

I still “lurch” a little when going upstairs, but I think that is because my right hip is painful now. My technique is better when I run up stairs, or maybe the “wee lurch” is disguised ;)

Regards,
Monica
LTHR 8 months ago

 

[nickji]

. My technique is better when I run up stairs, or maybe the “wee lurch” is disguised ;)

Regards,
Monica
LTHR 8 months ago

Hi Monica,

One of the problems with THR is the huge difference between the advice we each get from our surgeons. I'm both amazed and impressed that you're allowed to run - and upstairs to boot. I've been given a life-time ban on running.

I wonder why the differences. Is it that we're all different, or is it different fashions in different schools of surgery? Drives me a bit crazy sometimes, trying to make informed decisions when there's so many conflicting schools of thought.

It certainly is good to hear that you can do that - gives me great hopes for the future. Enjoy the run.

Nick

 

[Scott]

Hi Monica,

One of the problems with THR is the huge difference between the advice we each get from our surgeons. I'm both amazed and impressed that you're allowed to run - and upstairs to boot. I've been given a life-time ban on running.

I wonder why the differences. Is it that we're all different, or is it different fashions in different schools of surgery? Drives me a bit crazy sometimes, trying to make informed decisions when there's so many conflicting schools of thought.

Anyway, enjoy the run.

Nick

Nick - I agree 100%. The opinions, it seems, are sometimes even vastly different. Like you say, frustrating when you try to make informed decisions.

 

[creblue]

HI Gail, how has your experience been thus far? I am still dreading June 8th

 

[prairienut]

Hi creblue, I have been outside quite a bit the last few days as the weather is getting so nice. Our front steps and garden steps are a little deeper and not as high as our inside steps so I couldn't resist practicing outside taking the stairs with alternate legs, both up and down. I surprised myself by being able to do it with just a little help from the cane! I am very happy about that. The tightness in my right quad and my right ankle is definitely easing up. I even did a little gardening today with the long handled tools. Hubby had to dig the hole for the rose and haul the bucket of compost, though. I was mostly limited to hoeing weeds.
Gail

 

[mvo]

Hi Nick and Scott,

I hasten to say, that "running" up stairs is the only running I do. Since we have so many stairs where I work, I use it as a fitness test. My aim is to do 2 or more flights without puffing when I get to the top, and I haven't "puffed" for a long time!

Since my right (not-yet-operated) hip has begun to hurt I am running up the stairs a lot more - you get to the floor you want quicker, so the "painful time" is shorter.

For about a year before my LTHR I could only get up a flight of stairs by slowly hauling myself up via the handrail, so it feels pretty damn good to run up them now!

My surgeon banned running, but since I never was a runner (other than those stairs) that has been a very easy restriction to keep to. I am happy to walk or cycle for miles and do a fair bit of both, as well as swimming.

Cheers,
Monica

 

[Texas]

Gail you really are an insiration. I know you are now about 4 weeks but boy you have been going at it. I think that is terrific..Well done (lil pat on the back) keep up the good work but you dont seem to need that because you are very strong...but still in my prayers. Thanks for posting such great improvements.......