Re: Re: Hi I'm New/Debra

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new to the board also and am planning on having knee surgery in a couple of months. I have been reading a lot but havn't see anything about steps and I don't go back to the doctor for a few weeks. I have steps going into my house, no matter which way I go in. Once I am on the main floor I will be fine but I was wondering how I will get up the steps when I come home from the hospital. Has anyone else had to deal with steps coming home from the hospital? Thanks Kathy koolaide62040 <rayl2340@...> wrote: Actually I am doing great. I had the knee done last June 14th and wasable to start back working when school stated August 11th.Thanks for the warm welcome!Doris In SW

IllinoisHi Doris,>> Welcome! I just had my LTKR done on March 14, I'll be 6 weeks post-> op next Tuesday. The people here are awesome, they've been so> supportive of me...>> How are you doing with your hip and knee?>> Debra>>>> > >> >> > Good Morning Everyone,> >> > I'm new to this board. I have had a total hip and a total knee> > replacement done.> >> > The hip in 2003 and the new last June.> >> > Doris in SW Illinois> >>

New Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.

[Guest guest]

Hello Kathy, I am new, too, and will be having RTKR on June 27 so we are about on the same track. You asked a question that I haven't even thought of yet. I, too, have several steps going in to my house. The surgeon did say in passing that those would not be an issue as I could use the good leg. We'll see what others on this board have to say. Hope you will keep us updated on your progress. When is your surgery date? Marcia (Cape Cod, MA)k f <thickandthin2004@...> wrote: Hi, I'm new to the board also and am planning on having knee surgery in a couple of months. I have been reading a lot but havn't see anything about steps and I don't go back to the doctor for a few weeks. I have steps going into my house, no matter which way I go in. Once

I am on the main floor I will be fine but I was wondering how I will get up the steps when I come home from the hospital. Has anyone else had to deal with steps coming home from the hospital? Thanks Kathy koolaide62040 <rayl2340@...> wrote: Actually I am doing great. I had the knee done last June 14th and wasable to start back working when school stated August 11th.Thanks for the warm welcome!Doris In SW IllinoisHi Doris,>> Welcome! I just had my LTKR done on March 14, I'll be 6 weeks post-> op next Tuesday. The people here are awesome, they've been so> supportive of me...>> How are you doing with your hip and knee?>> Debra>>>> > >> >> > Good Morning Everyone,> >> > I'm new to this board. I have had a total hip and a total knee> > replacement done.> >> > The hip in 2003 and the new last June.> >> > Doris in SW Illinois> >> New Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.

Celebrate Earth Day everyday! Discover 10 things you can do to help slow climate change. Earth Day

[Guest guest]

I had a TKR last Nov. Our house doesn't have outside steps, I

just had to step up 1 step to get in, & don't remember any

problem. We have a tri-level, though, & I didn't think I should

attempt the 14 steps to the bedroom that night. So we slept on

a sofabed on the ground floor.

Next day the PT visited, & the first thing he said was " I'll

show you how to go upstairs. That sofabed is too low for you. "

So we practiced the stairs.

The way I remember it, I was supposed to go up putting my

operated leg first-- & of course, both feet on the same step, not

alternating. Then coming down I was to put my old leg first.

We only have one handrail, so I really had to work to do it.

The PT at the hospital had me do one of those 2-step

constructions with handrails on both sides, but our steps here

are higher so it was harder here.

Someone correct me if I've got it backward about which leg

leads. I have 2 bad knees, so Good Leg didn't mean much to me.

This would be a question for your surgeon & your PTs, certainly.

Barb in Michigan

Barbara Ward

Macomb County, Michigan

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I'm in a rehab facility now, 6 days post op RTH revision. A good way to remember which leg goes first is your good leg helps take you up to heaven and your bad leg takes you down to hell. We were all talking about it in PT this AM as it is a good way to remember which to use.

Sue

The way I remember it, I was supposed to go up putting myoperated leg first-- & of course, both feet on the same step, notalternating. Then coming down I was to put my old leg first. We only have one handrail, so I really had to work to do it.

[Guest guest]

Hi Marcia, Its nice to know someone in the same boat. I hope to have it done in July, I have only seen the Dr. once, he gave me a shot, but it didn't help at all. I go back in about 3 weeks. My friend and I actually sat down and wrote all the questions we could think of and that helps me get the information I think I will need. I am 61 and this started when I was 35, but I am now bone against bone and in a lot more discomfort than I have been in the past. I have been to a couple of sites that have discribed the surgery with pictures. I always like to know what is instore in the future. KathyMarcia Morse <morsekittyl@...> wrote: Hello Kathy, I am new, too, and will be having RTKR on June 27 so we are about on the

same track. You asked a question that I haven't even thought of yet. I, too, have several steps going in to my house. The surgeon did say in passing that those would not be an issue as I could use the good leg. We'll see what others on this board have to say. Hope you will keep us updated on your progress. When is your surgery date? Marcia (Cape Cod, MA)k f <thickandthin2004@...> wrote: Hi, I'm new to the board also and am planning on having knee surgery in a couple of months. I have been reading a lot but havn't see anything about steps and I don't go back to the doctor for a few weeks. I have steps going into my house, no matter which way I go in. Once I am on the main floor I will be fine but I was wondering how I will get up the steps when I come

home from the hospital. Has anyone else had to deal with steps coming home from the hospital? Thanks Kathy

Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Barb, That is basically how I have been going up and down stairs for the past few years or more (who remembers lol) It seems as if I have always done it that way, of course I know I didn't start out that way. KathyBarbara Ward <oaks_ward@...> wrote: I had a TKR last Nov. Our house doesn't have outside steps, Ijust had to step up 1 step to get in, & don't remember anyproblem. We have a tri-level, though, & I didn't think I shouldattempt the 14 steps to the bedroom that night. So we slept ona sofabed on the ground floor.Next day the PT visited, & the first thing he said was "I'llshow you how to go upstairs. That sofabed is too low for you." So we practiced the stairs.The way I remember it,

I was supposed to go up putting myoperated leg first-- & of course, both feet on the same step, notalternating. Then coming down I was to put my old leg first. We only have one handrail, so I really had to work to do it.The PT at the hospital had me do one of those 2-stepconstructions with handrails on both sides, but our steps hereare higher so it was harder here.Someone correct me if I've got it backward about which legleads. I have 2 bad knees, so Good Leg didn't mean much to me.This would be a question for your surgeon & your PTs, certainly.Barb in MichiganBarbara WardMacomb County, Michigan__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, Thank you for the information and the wisdom. It will help in the future. Anymore questions and I will certainly post. Thanks Kathy on <mdavison@...> wrote: Barbara & Kathy... I had two THRs a year apart-- in each case, the bed on either side of me had TKR patients. All of us were required to go up and down a flight of steps by the hospital PT before we could be

discharged. We had to be able to do it with either 2 crutches or with 1 crutch and a handrail (the idea being that steps in public buildings are often too wide to be able to use a handrail. Any hospital that discharges you before you dump the walker couldn't function here (Israel). Steps can be frustrating, and you have to take them one at a time... going up, lead with your good leg, bring the bad one up after it, move the crutches up one step and do it all over again. Whether you put the crutches on the step above the one you're on, or bring them up after you step up is a matter of personal preference... try both ways, and do what you feel is more comfortable. Setting the crutches at the right height for you is critical. I found that "Forearm Crutches", rather than "Underarm Crutches" were more comfortable... again, that's a matter of personal choice. Your bed should be higher than your knee joint (true for THR & TKR). If it isn't, get some risers, or even a few blocks of wood with a hole in each for a bed leg (for stability). A high bed is a MUST, at least for the first couple of weeks-- luckily, mine was high, anyway. The correct sequence for stairs is: "Good leg towards Heaven, bad leg towards Hell". (PT's words of wisdom.) Going up, your "good" leg is the lead, going down, it's the "bad" one. (That's all relative, of course.) I live in a duplex apartment with 17 steps to the upper level, but my bedroom is on the lower. It was a week or two before I could manage the stairs reasonably easily, for "repairs and maintenance" in my kids' rooms. The cardinal rule is: if you have any questions at all, ask someone. Your PT should be able to tell you about steps-- in fact, probably more than you want to know. Don't ever be ashamed or embarassed to ask a question. Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004 mdavison@... From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Barbara WardSent: 24 April, 2006 4:23 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Hi I'm New/Debra I had a TKR last Nov. Our house doesn't have outside steps, Ijust had to step up 1 step to get in, & don't remember anyproblem. We have a tri-level, though, & I didn't think I shouldattempt the 14 steps to the bedroom that night. So we slept ona sofabed on the ground floor.Next day the PT visited, & the first thing he said was "I'llshow you how to go upstairs. That sofabed is too low for you." So we practiced the stairs.The way I remember it, I was supposed to go up putting myoperated leg first-- & of course, both feet on the same step,

notalternating. Then coming down I was to put my old leg first. We only have one handrail, so I really had to work to do it.The PT at the hospital had me do one of those 2-stepconstructions with handrails on both sides, but our steps hereare higher so it was harder here.Someone correct me if I've got it backward about which legleads. I have 2 bad knees, so Good Leg didn't mean much to me.This would be a question for your surgeon & your PTs, certainly.Barb in MichiganBarbara WardMacomb County, Michigan__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Barbara & Kathy...

I had two THRs a year apart-- in each case, the bed on either side of me had TKR patients. All of us were required to go up and down a flight of steps by the hospital PT before we could be discharged. We had to be able to do it with either 2 crutches or with 1 crutch and a handrail (the idea being that steps in public buildings are often too wide to be able to use a handrail. Any hospital that discharges you before you dump the walker couldn't function here (Israel).

Steps can be frustrating, and you have to take them one at a time... going up, lead with your good leg, bring the bad one up after it, move the crutches up one step and do it all over again. Whether you put the crutches on the step above the one you're on, or bring them up after you step up is a matter of personal preference... try both ways, and do what you feel is more comfortable.

Setting the crutches at the right height for you is critical. I found that "Forearm Crutches", rather than "Underarm Crutches" were more comfortable... again, that's a matter of personal choice.

Your bed should be higher than your knee joint (true for THR & TKR). If it isn't, get some risers, or even a few blocks of wood with a hole in each for a bed leg (for stability). A high bed is a MUST, at least for the first couple of weeks-- luckily, mine was high, anyway.

The correct sequence for stairs is: "Good leg towards Heaven, bad leg towards Hell". (PT's words of wisdom.)

Going up, your "good" leg is the lead, going down, it's the "bad" one. (That's all relative, of course.)

I live in a duplex apartment with 17 steps to the upper level, but my bedroom is on the lower. It was a week or two before I could manage the stairs reasonably easily, for "repairs and maintenance" in my kids' rooms.

The cardinal rule is: if you have any questions at all, ask someone. Your PT should be able to tell you about steps-- in fact, probably more than you want to know. Don't ever be ashamed or embarassed to ask a question.

Greywolf - RTHR-2003; LTHR-2004

mdavison@...

From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ] On Behalf Of Barbara WardSent: 24 April, 2006 4:23 PMJoint Replacement Subject: Re: Re: Hi I'm New/Debra

I had a TKR last Nov. Our house doesn't have outside steps, Ijust had to step up 1 step to get in, & don't remember anyproblem. We have a tri-level, though, & I didn't think I shouldattempt the 14 steps to the bedroom that night. So we slept ona sofabed on the ground floor.Next day the PT visited, & the first thing he said was "I'llshow you how to go upstairs. That sofabed is too low for you." So we practiced the stairs.The way I remember it, I was supposed to go up putting myoperated leg first-- & of course, both feet on the same step, notalternating. Then coming down I was to put my old leg first. We only have one handrail, so I really had to work to do it.The PT at the hospital had me do one of those 2-stepconstructions with handrails on both sides, but our steps hereare higher so it was harder here.Someone correct me if I've got it backward about which legleads. I have 2 bad knees, so Good Leg didn't mean much to me.This would be a question for your surgeon & your PTs, certainly.Barb in MichiganBarbara WardMacomb County, Michigan__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/24/2006 8:45:47 A.M. Central Standard Time, thickandthin2004@... writes:

Hi,

I'm new to the board also and am planning on having knee surgery in a couple of months. I have been reading a lot but havn't see anything about steps and I don't go back to the doctor for a few weeks. I have steps going into my house, no matter which way I go in. Once I am on the main floor I will be fine but I was wondering how I will get up the steps when I come home from the hospital. Has anyone else had to deal with steps coming home from the hospital?

Thanks Kathy

They should show you how to do steps with the walker at the hospital. Pay very close attention. On my first knee replacement I didn't and thought I was gonna die getting in the house.