Total knee replacement

I have two TKR and one hip replacement, not yet mentioned is doing the PT as the key to success. I would ask the Therapist and or the surgeon if stair climbing,ie, your fiver steps canbe classified as PT. That is kind of a joke as I already know that most respond with "just be careful and have a ggood grasp on a hand rail.

I was asked the evening after the surgery if I had any pain and how severe. I told my surgeon that my only pain was from laying in bed and that I had not been allowed up. His response was wait until tomorrow morning and the you can resume normal activities, such as you can in a hospital.

So it all depends on your attitude, skill of your orthopedic surgeon and how badly you want to get out and about. I was only about 65 when I had the last knee done.

Wife had her knee replaced in late April, and she is in and out of our 5er regularly now.

No fifth wheel. I was doing steps a few days after surgery. Very slowly of course.
I was operating my snow blower 4 weeks after surgery.

If you go into the procedure with a positive attitude and do the exercises/therapy, you'll be fine.

I think the biggest fear is, you think the new knee will break loose or come out.

Tiger4x4RV wrote:
Not a fifth wheel owner, but I have two replaced knees and so will chime in anyway.

Expect to be asked, if you have not been already, how many stairs you have in your normal living area. The physical therapists at the hospital will probably make you go up/down that many stairs before you go home.

Hopefully, your stairs have a sturdy rail or assist handle. Expect to need that for a while.

This.

I am having a TKR TOMORROW! I was told I would have to negotiate stairs with a walker before leaving the hospital.

Your big problem is that your stairs probably aren't wide enough for a walker. My suggestion is to sit on like the second step, and scoot up on your behind, one step at a time. Make sure there are good handholds available at the top to help you get up. Maybe put a small but sturdy stepstool to get you up off the floor and then the next step up to the bed will be smaller.

You should also plan on sleeping "downstairs" for a while. You aren't going to have the energy to do the steps for about a week or so.

That's what I've done in the past after previous knee surgeries. Not dignified, but it works.

My Wife recently had her knee replaced and the therapist had her practicing on stairs the next week. Since it was her left knee she was allowed to drive in two weeks.
All this being said it might be three months before you really feel like camping! She had hers in March and we haven't even made camping plans before August; and she was in pretty good shape prior since we bike (bicycle not Harley) 2000 miles each year.

Not a fifth wheel owner, but I have two replaced knees and so will chime in anyway.

Expect to be asked, if you have not been already, how many stairs you have in your normal living area. The physical therapists at the hospital will probably make you go up/down that many stairs before you go home.

Hopefully, your stairs have a sturdy rail or assist handle. Expect to need that for a while.

Not in a 5th wheel, but 5 steps up into our motorhome. Had to take 5 steps up in therapy before leaving hospital.