After TKR, can I come home to two flights of stairs?

@comeoutdancing: if your user name is any indication here, it does appear you are active! You do have a valid concern and it while it may very well be achievable to attain, you'd best address this with the surgeon and PT. They're familar with your overall health and medical history; your caregiver is familiar with the layout of the apartment and their own ability to provide any necessary assistance.

Some things you'll need to advise them of: how steep are the steps you'll need to navigate and how many stairs are there in these two flights? Is there platform between the flights on which a chair can be placed so you could rest? Are there sturdy handrails on the side(s) of the stairs? Will you be having a physical therapy assessment post-operatively to show you the best techniques for activities, including how to ascend stairs? Would it be wise to consider a step-down level of care before returning home - perhaps a night or two in a rehab facility so your safety can be ensured?

Post-op activities will be discussed in greater detail by your medical professionals. Two months for many of those activities may be on the optimistic side as you'll want to refrain from twisting the knee or getting off balance. Again, your surgeon and physical therapist will be the best ones to guide you in this regard.

Many facilities that offer these types of outpatient procedures provide pre-op teaching sessions online for upcoming patients that can be very informative in explaining what to expect. I had one shortly before my total hip replacement two weeks ago. Do you know if this is something available to you?

Thanks so much. I will ask the same questions of the medical team but wanted to hear from those who have lived this. I love the idea of the chair on the landing for resting. we are also considering a hotel or AIRBNB for the first few nights, since the steps are pretty formidable.
I will look for a video to prepare for the post op time.
I really appreciate this thoughtful response.

@comeoutdancing: That sounds like an ideal back-up plan! You're quite welcome for any info we can provide here; I'm certain members who have had it done will weigh it, too.

Let me know how it goes....best of luck to you and you'll be back dancing in 2027!

Yes, but you have to move slowly using the undoctored knee first and bringing the surgery knee up after all the way up. You might be able to go to stay in rehab for a few days or a week. But, if not, be sure to hang onto the rail.
I hope your surgery goes well, you have a rapid recovery and send up a dancing photo.

@comeoutdancing We have a friend in rehab right now who posed the same question to his care team. Their answer "It is not just the issue of getting up the stairs. There is a safety issue if you cannot also go down the stairs in case of an emergency. "
They refuse to release him until he can do both. Also, we never know how we will do after surgery- if all goes perfectly, going home might be possible, but if you have any complications, or a lot of pain, it might be wise to have help at hand. I have had 5 hip replacements/ revisions and every one was different. Finally help at hand for the first several days can make sure you are getting food, ice, hydration and pain meds on schedule, which can speed your recovery.

Perhaps a week or two in a rehab facility is the best bet?

I would be surprised if you couldn't do it. But it will likely be slow and may be painful.

There is an old golf joke. Guy comes home after eight hours at the golf course. His wife says why did it take so long. he replices that his partner, Jimmy, had died on the third hole from heart attack. That must have been awful she said; where did you go for the hospital. I didn't he replied. It was hit the ball, drag Jimmy, hit the ball, drag Jimmy for the rest of the fifteen holes.

Most likely your stair work will be like that of the golfer. step up with your good leg; drag your other leg up.
Repeat as many times as you have stairs. @sueinmo raised some excellent questions for you.

Do you have a caregiver? It is one thing if you have to climb the steps once and not thereafter for a week or two and different if you have to go up and down to get ice, food, etc. On the other hand, a caregiver can give you a hand going up and bring you the supplies initially.

The weird thing is that eventually the stairs will be a good thing for you as it will give you exercise. The mantra in orthpedics is motion is lotion. But you have to get there.

I had zero post surgery pain but I didn't try stairs until the fifth week. But I had no need to as I have no need to go upstairs in my house (kids are gone). MY PT facility was on the second floor and my first try at stairs was going up the stairs to the PT facility instead of using the elevator.

Going upstairs is more difficult on conditioning but easier on walking; going down is the reverse. Easier for conditioning but harder to step properly.

No matter what you decide to do, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO STAIRS UNLESS YOU CAN HANG ON TIGHTLY TO THE BANISTER.

Dear dancing,
Two flights of stairs when you first come home? Are you serious?!
Try to take it easy the first few days. Don't undo the hours of very technical work the surgeon just completed by engaging in unnecessarily risky behavior. You are supposed to heal first. A surgery that's messed up by a lack of caution and care is much more difficult for the docs to fix and for the patient to recover from, and believe me, the first surgery is plenty to deal with. One recovery at a time, please.

First I'm 80 and had TKR three years ago, not to different than your situation. I live alone on a small 55 acre farm, family & friends are close by for support. The land is dedicated to Wild Life Habitat Management requirements, so my list of tasks include mowing, plowing and seeding, clearing & trimming brush & trees, welding, light to medium construction, gardening, well you get the point.
Since my replacement surgery I've come to understand that there are many different processes out there to accomplish the same task, so here's what I went thru. My doctor was very sensitive to any bug bites or scratches close to the incision site, no recent injections, no dental work within a month prior to surgery and no fever at surgery time. All making sure that there wasn't any chance of infection that could spread to the surgery site. I actually showed up at the hospital the day of surgery with a very tiny undetected bug bit on the back of my knee, he smiled and rescheduled for the next month. My surgery was also a one day procedure but that included an overnight stay for observation before discharged. Hours after surgery I was up and out of bed walking with a walker as far as I could, which was all of 20' out and back. The next morning I added another 20' to the walk, also with a walker, that's when my doctor asked if I lived on the ground floor, my answer was I had a ramp giving me both access and escape of the house on my own if needed. It was a couple of weeks before I tried the stairs but only a few steps and that was with a cane. Took me months before I could barely get up and down those stairs without a cane but holding onto the handrail with a firm grip. Today I'm up and down without any problems.
Someone on this blog suggested that a rehab facility might be a good place if you had an issue with the stairs, I have a few words to say about that. Last year doing some construction on my house I had an accident, fell backwards off the porch, landed on my neck and shoulders. I ended up in a neck brace for 2 months. The neurologist having some concerns about balance had me check into a nearby rehab facility. On the surface the facility was really a senior care facility with mostly 2 patients per room with a percentage of rooms dedicated for short term rehab patients, like myself. You share everything with the permanent patients, some can barely move in a wheelchair or go to the bathroom by themselves. Eating rooms, exercise room and odd smells roaming the halls are all being shared with all residents. The attendants are not nurses, they're contract hires, that come and go on a very regular basis. There are nurses handling your medications, but if you want an aspirin or antacid that's not on your list you'll need to see a PA or doctor in a day or two on they're staff for a prescription. Bottom line I'd have a different plan ready, maybe a family member or friend who could put you up for a few weeks.
Don't get me wrong, my TKR was the best thing ever. I can now walk and sleep without pain, after a year I was able to go up and down stairs. There is still one issue I have, because there's no feeling in the kneecap I use knee pads when getting down on my knees. One thing to remember, knee replacement is the roughest recovery of all the joints, you'll need to give it time to heal and you don't want to go back to make repairs.

@steveinarizona I like the golf story. It ‘hits’ close to home.
I only have to get up once; my caregiver/partner will be there to help.
Going up stairs is what made me choose TKR. I pull up now. But can walk forever.
I’m happy to hear you had no pain post surgery. Isn’t that remarkably rare?

@steve161
Very helpful information. A full year. but also full recovery.
I have observed the same situation with others at those ‘rehab’ centers. I will avoid them, especially since I cannot afford the best care facility.
Your farm life sounds tough and beautiful. I teach partner dance and hope to get back to it. I know it will take effort and intention and some passion to get back on the dance floor.
These reports are preparing
My spirit for a comeback.