Stairs after TKR (1 side, 72 yrs old)

Hello there! I am 68 and just had TKA 9/13/23. I was in the same situation as you. Here you go:
1. How painful/hard to climb the outside stairs when I leave the hospital? I was not able to do stairs for about a month. At first one step at a time - surgical knee first, then the other. I worked at the PT facility on stairs - they had rails on both sides. After about 2 months I could go down normally but VERY slowly and with some difficulty. Now at 3 months - I am not quite as slow but being very careful. At home I have a rail on the left side (going down) and I hang on!
2. Would it be better to extend hospital stay to 2-3 days? I was allowed to stay one night in the hospital and then was ready to go home. IF you start PT right away - the day of the surgery actually, you will be fine.
3. How long before I should be able to navigate the outside stairs for rehab/walks/outings as a passenger? Use a cane if there is not a rail. Take it easy and don't be in a hurry. I still can't go for a long walk - but it is VERY cold here so my knee gets stiff.
4. How long before I can sleep upstairs in a bedroom (there’s a second bathroom upstairs). I would wait until you are VERY comfortable. Do you have a partner that can watch out for you? I had to use my walker to get to the bathroom at night.

The other advice I can give you - TAKE YOUR MEDS AS SCHEDULED. Stay on top of the pain. After two weeks I was able to stop the oxycodone but took it faithfully. You won't get addicted, if you are careful. I still take one Advil and one Tylenol every afternoon to take the edge off the pain - but as I said it is very cold here (Northern Idaho). ALSO take the peri-colace and eat prunes.

I developed restless leg syndrome about 3 weeks after surgery. Taking ropinirole (.5 mg twice a day) and it is helping.

I completely lost my appetite. Have some comfort foods around - instant mashed potatoes, toast and cheese - that sort of thing. My husband made me steak twice and it tasted awful to me. Lemon popsicles were great.

I still ice every afternoon for a couple of hours - I have an ice machine so I can't get frostbite. It is so comforting. Elevate as much as you can. And sleep sleep sleep. Your body needs the rest to heal. Don't feel guilty!

All the best to you - the pain was a scary thing for me. I am scheduled for my second surgery and am not at all fearful this time. You will get through it and be so happy you did it. Wishing you a very Happy and Merry Christmas.

I had outpatient TKR at Mayo Florida on 11/15/23. I am 75 / female. I left the hospital the same day and was glad to be out. I live in a second floor flat. I could climb the 2 flights of stairs to my door using the hand rail and the " lead with good foot going up" "lead with the bad foot going down" mantra. Down is much harder. I keep a walker by my bed to use if I get up in the middle of the night. I have not been able to climb stairs with two feet in 18 months. This is my number one goal for my recovery. So far it is still too difficult at 4 weeks post opp. I have been told that establishing a normal gait is important. PT prefers that I not use a cane so I use it only when tired or going over uneven terrain. I believe more movement helps. I find sitting or lying down too long makes my pain worse. That said enough sleep is critical to recovery. I take Melatonin and I sleep comfortably for 8 hours per night. I am doing more than I thought I would be able to do. I am pushing myself a little bit but it makes me feel more confident with each step I accomplish. Everyone promises I will be happy I did this surgery 6 months from now. There is still a lot of pain and 6 months seems far away. Everyone is different. I hope you find some comfort in these posts and this community. I wish you a speedy recovery and a Happy Holiday.

Hi Cathy. It sounds like you're doing great. Just wanna clarify one thing. After a TKR and until healing is done, go upstairs by leading with the good knee, and downstairs by leading with the replaced knee (good up, bad down). In both cases, most of the stress is absorbed by the good, non-operated knee.

I had outpatient TKR at Mayo Florida on 11/15/23. I am 75 / female. I left the hospital the same day and was glad to be out. I live in a second floor flat. I could climb the 2 flights of stairs to my door using the hand rail and the " lead with good foot going up" "lead with the bad foot going down" mantra. Down is much harder. I keep a walker by my bed to use if I get up in the middle of the night. I have not been able to climb stairs with two feet in 18 months. This is my number one goal for my recovery. So far it is still too difficult at 4 weeks post opp. I have been told that establishing a normal gait is important. PT prefers that I not use a cane so I use it only when tired or going over uneven terrain. I believe more movement helps. I find sitting or lying down too long makes my pain worse. That said enough sleep is critical to recovery. I take Melatonin and I sleep comfortably for 8 hours per night. I am doing more than I thought I would be able to do. I am pushing myself a little bit but it makes me feel more confident with each step I accomplish. Everyone promises I will be happy I did this surgery 6 months from now. There is still a lot of pain and 6 months seems far away. Everyone is different. I hope you find some comfort in these posts and this community. I wish you a speedy recovery and a Happy Holiday.

Hello and I am there with you! I am now 3 months post op. Still a little pain in the late afternoon, but I am doing my exercises at home EVERY day - 16 of them, and that might be causing that. I thought I would die of the pain 5 days after my surgery and got very depressed.
Hang in there - the pain WILL go lessen. My surgeon reminded me to look forward at my progress and not focus on my daily issues. I am a worrier and had so many questions. Sleep is VERY important - and I napped daily several times for about 4 weeks. Merry Christmas to you.

Hello and I am there with you! I am now 3 months post op. Still a little pain in the late afternoon, but I am doing my exercises at home EVERY day - 16 of them, and that might be causing that. I thought I would die of the pain 5 days after my surgery and got very depressed.
Hang in there - the pain WILL go lessen. My surgeon reminded me to look forward at my progress and not focus on my daily issues. I am a worrier and had so many questions. Sleep is VERY important - and I napped daily several times for about 4 weeks. Merry Christmas to you.

Correct! However, after a few weeks my PT wanted me to start going DOWN with alternating - they stayed with me to observe and made me go very slowly. Now my home exercises include two sets of up and down, alternating. HOWEVER holding on to the rail. OH MY while I type two bald eagles are fighting while flying over the Spokane River. I love living in Idaho!

Exactly what I experienced, I am 2 weeks post surgery and some exercises were killing me, but I did them anyway because my PT told me, “yes it’s a very hard time but the first two weeks are so important for the degree of bending your knee later”. A lot of patients just stop some exercises because it hurts so much. But they will never reach their goal and complain later when they can’t straighten their leg. These 2 weeks were challenging, so much pain, taking Oxicode was the only medication that helped but all the side effects brrrr….
Now I am nearly off of it, just a bit for the night and if needed and I am so happy to see light again at the end of the tunnel.
Long story short:
Do all! Your exercises you are told to do, even if you have to shout out, it’s worse it for the future. My staples come out today and I already walk with a cane, steps are no problems.