How long after TKR will it continue to hurt to do stairs?

Posted by afladland @afladland, Mar 2, 2023

I don't really have any pain other than when I am doing stairs. It seems to hurt the most where my thigh muscle connects to the outer top part of my knee. I am 9 weeks out.

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I am a 76 year old female.
In 2017 and 2019, I had my hips replaced.
2 years ago my left total knee was done, and 1.5 years ago my right knee was replaced. I walk 4-5 miles several days per week, often with a walking group, with no pain or trivial pain in my right( second) knee.
Immediate postop PT, consistent home exercise, a positive attitude, lots of walking plus going to the gym prior to and since my surgeries, a healthy weight and diet, a top notch surgeon and hospital, all have contributed to my recovery.
Have any of you been told that you might wear out your new joints? Do they last 20 or more years?? I doubt they will wear out, , and enjoy my ability to walk and enjoy my life.
Best wishes to others on this site.

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I did stairs slowly about a month but know I’m dealing with what I’m told is a floating patella see my doctor tomorrow I have to get this fixed what’s involved?

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@lauraf1963

I am 8 weeks. I live in a second story condo. My physical therapist is having me do all kinds of exercises to prepare me for the steps. I can do up but with pain. Forget down. Only time I have pain is after I have been sitting and need to stand up. After a walk a little bit it starts to subside. Any body else experiencing this? My PT told me its normal and can last a while.

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It has been over 4 yrs since my tkr and I can go downstairs, but still have pain going up. I’m in pt, but it’s a slow process.

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It is a slow process. I can do up with lots of pain. Down is a challenge. At least the pain I was having before surgery is gone

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"Normal" is such a relative term - there are a lot of individual variations, especially in how long it takes to regain "normal" function. Stairs for me presented the biggest challenge, and it took quite a bit of time until I felt totally comfortable doing stairs. Even at the one-year mark postop, I was still noticing some subtle changes/improvements - things I could not do before that I can now do, and doing certain things (like stairs) with much more ease. Hang in there and keep at it!

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It’s probably different for everyone. In my experience I came home 24 hours post op and had stairs up and down in my house. I had a lot of anxiety about stairs preop but was so lucky to have an awesome physical therapist teach me how to preop. I just learned up with the good leg down with the bad and didn’t have any trouble doing it every day, then I can’t remember but one day 3-4 months in I think I wasn’t thinking and went up and downstairs normally. I think having stairs at home help because you use them all the time. I had an awesome surgeon and awesome dr of physical therapy. After surgery it was my therapist who addressed all my issues and I felt after 4 months or so I was good but stayed with therapist till he released me. I did 6 weeks pt prior to get certain muscles strong which after a previous reverse total shoulder I didn’t and I believe that helped me tremendously. I was zero degrees extension and 64 degrees 2 days post op. Recovery is not a sprint but a marathon, hang in there put the work in. I was fortunate to have my same therapist at every visit. Still keep up with exercise regimen 3 years post op. During recovery used cryocuff ice machine, special bolster to elevate leg to decrease swelling, deep tissue massage, taping, cupping, muscle stimulator , stationary bike, etc was used during recovery. Used walker for 13 days then walked on my own wasn’t allowed on uneven surfaces like grass for a while. New knee is great to date and remember it takes time not a sprint but marathon

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My second knee was done January 2023, and I am still having to sort of pull myself up with the railing as I go up steps to our bedroom. It is an old farmhouse, so the steps are a bit steep. I cannot go up any steps without a railing. But this is much improved over six months ago, when I had to go up one step at a time. At least now I can alternate feet! 🙂 So hopefully, I will continue to improve over time.

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I’m at 14 months and I still have to hold on to the rails as it does hurt most times to walk up and down stairs. I have behind the knee pain and above the knee in my quad and I think this has something to do with going up and down stairs!

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