Stairs after TKR (1 side, 72 yrs old)

When I had my right knee done they wanted me to start rehab 2-3 days after surgery. They get u up walking about an hour after surgery. They can show you how to navigate stairs after surgery. I stayed overnight and that was long enough. Getting in and out of car was really rough after surgery, just make sure you have pain meds in effect when going home. Make sure you keep ahead of the pain. Set your alarm so you don't miss any doses of pain meds.

Thanks

Good evening Persia. You are really being challenged with the stairs in your home. I understand. Are you still in the hospital tonight? I see your post was created 13 hours ago which was early morning. Since you are already in the hospital, have you talked with your surgeon? Is there a physical therapy area where you are or close by?

I have had two TKRs. For the first one 10 years ago, I was fortunate to have an elevator in my home so the 16 steps up to the front door was not a problem. I was 71 then and lived in a small village at the top of the mountains. I remember that the increased altitude of 6,000 feet made a difference. My PT was also my trust attorney. (Many of the residents had multiple specialties.)
As I recall....it was more difficult to walk up a slope than climb up the stairs. I also remember that my surgeon told me that walking uphill was not as hard on your TKR knee as going downhill. There is greater pressure on your knee. He estimated my TKR would only last about 5 years if I chose to walk downhill excessively.

My second TKR was entirely different. I was 80 years old this time and yet it was much easier to get around post-surgery. There were 3 factors which made it different.
1. I was only in the surgery center for 3 hours. And, the surgery was a robotic procedure with much less damage to surrounding tissues.
2. I began PT within 24 hours in combination with MFR (myofascial release therapy) to alleviate any pain and discomfort. Have you talked with your surgeon about post-surgery treatments? I continued the PT for three weeks and met most if not all of the goals that had been established. Completing the sit-to-stand exercises was my greatest challenge.
3. The stairs were also a challenge. However, my PT taught me how to manage the range of motion issues. My insurance also funded a walker which I used just to walk around the house or outside.
4. I also purchased a cane which came in handy at times. Be careful that you don't offset your stance because you are favoring only one side.
5. You are wondering how long this will take. That is really up to you and your therapists. I am very pleased with the quality of my treatment and my knee's positive response.

What have I left out? If questions arise as your recovery begins please send them along to Connect. I will be waiting for you to check-in.

May you be safe, protected, and free of inner and outer harm.
Chris

I am 62 and to be honest steps took me probably a few months but keep in mind we are all different. The are still slow but I can do them. There are three things...a walker, a cane and a raised toilet seat are all extremely helpful. Also make sure to have some Miralax or something because the pain meds can cause constipation. I stopped all my pain meds and went to Tylenol at day 9. I did not have robotic surgery but the traditional knee replacement and did have a really good surgeon but I'm still healing at a year as far as muscles surrounding the knee, thigh etc.. but have a good ROM, do everything I did before surgery just get sore and stiff. Keep doing all the exercises the PT gives you at home as well as there. In patient PT was much better for me because they have things there that you would not have doing home PT. Also getting in and out of the car was hard, husband lifted my leg straight up in the air and while I turned to sit he would follow me with my leg with the seat all the way back. It was an uncomfortable ride but by 3 weeks I was getting in myself and I drove back and forth to PT (it was my right knee too). I'm determined and pushed myself. Don't hesitate to ask any questions because everyone is extremely helpful. You've got this!

I'm 71 and had my left knee replaced 6 years ago. I had been limping and actually living with a mechanical brace on my knee for a couple years prior. My knee replacement changed my life. I am golfing, walking, hiking, swimming and living a very active life. My advice is do the PT as directed. (Don't over do it.... slow, but steady) It's all about what you put into the PT and, of course, a good surgeon. You got this. Stay ahead of the pain with meds... don't wait till you're in pain. The pain part isn't forever. One day at a time... then, you're back to living a full, active life! I never even think about my knee now. It just works!

@lucy155 -- I live in a townhouse where stairs are required to get to the main floor to access kitchen, living room, and master bedroom. When I came home the night after my TKR surgery I had to climb these stairs. They made me practice going up and down in the hospital, one step at a time, and I was able to do it. So I did okay getting upstairs at home. My surgeon used a spinal block for the surgery and this helps with pain for about 24 hours. You will likely be able to do stairs slowly, one at a time, with minimal pain after a few days. However, going up the stairs will be easier than going down for several months. I created a make-shift bed on the couch in our living room--on the main floor--so I was able avoid stairs. I used a walker to navigate to the bathroom and kitchen. It took me a couple of months to transition to my regular bed. The at-home physical therapy they provide is very helpful in getting you up and moving quickly. When you complete that, I encourage you to also request outpatient therapy, as that will help you regain control and strength in your knee more quickly. The success of your recovery depends on how much effort you are willing to give it. Good luck!

@persia
I came home the day after surgery and had to walk up a full flight of stairs to our kitchen, living and bedroom area. It wasn't easy, but with the help of the handrail I managed to pull myself up one step at a time. The problem wasn't the surgery pain, which was only a dull ache for me, but your knee will be swollen stiff and won't be able to bend enough to reach the next step easily. I seem to remember that you can fold your walker and use that as a "cane" support on your off side too, although I probably used both hands on the rail to drag myself up! Maybe backing up the stairs so you don't have to bend the knee would be easier, you might want to try that ahead of time. But it will still hurt to put your full weight on the straight leg this early after surgery, that can't be avoided. We have guest bedrooms downstairs that I could have used, but since all our cooking and living is done upstairs, I thought it made more sense to struggle up once and be done with it.
As others have suggested many times, pre and post op exercises are really important to regain flexibility and strength. Though it was somewhat painful and tedious at first, I think having to use my stairs regularly as my swelling went down was very beneficial in helping stretch and bend the muscle components so that I could get back to a normal range of flex. It's free physical therapy right at home.

But we should remember that everyone has different pain experiences and tolerance levels for activity. It's hard to predict what someone else can deal with, so much depends on your age and general physical fitness too. Good luck with your surgery, and I hope your recovery goes as well as mine did, with both knees done a year apart.

Thanks for sharing this. How long did it take you be able to handle the stairs?

I had right knee replaced in 2009 and left done in January 2023. Right knee became painful a couple of years ago and has not gotten better, so it hurts to walk up and down stairs with it. Left knee is still somewhat stiff, so going up and down is always a challenge. Both knees hurt a bit when rising from a chair. I do a lot of outdoor activities, like walking, gardening, landscaping, so am kind of active. I have to go up and down steep stairs every am and pm to bedroom; I just put up with it, going up one step at a time, using rail to pull myself up or hang on to go down. Even stepping up and down from a street curb is a bit painful still. I am hoping that over time, things will improve. It is a slow process.

@persia
I started trying the stairs at least once a day after the first couple of resting days at home. It was a slow struggle, but I figured I needed the exercise, and there was cat litter box duty, as well as laundry and freezer food storage down there to get at. I also had three sessions a week of PT to travel to, so had to go up and down our stairs for that. It became easier as the swelling went down.
I remember going in for my ??14?? day removal of staples. I'd just missed the elevator going up to the Ortho office, so I climbed the long staircase which included a switchback landing half way up. The desk nurse was surprised to see me hobble up with my cane, because they had been watching the elevator for me. It wasn't painful, or I wouldn't have done it, just still awkward because of the stiffness. I went to PT faithfully and did my home exercises, and was pretty much back to full function and no pain by 3 months.