It has now been exactly two months since my partial knee replacement, and this stage of recovery feels like a mixture of real progress and continuing limitations.

The biggest improvement is that I can now walk (almost) normally without a cane. That feels like an important milestone and has given me much more independence. At the same time, I can’t be on my feet indefinitely. I still need to stop and rest regularly, and I’m learning that walking normally doesn’t necessarily mean having my normal stamina back.

Stairs are still a work in progress. I go up and down one step at a time rather than using a normal alternating stride. Standing up from a low chair or sofa is also difficult, which reminds me that my strength and mobility are still rebuilding.

I went to the Foo Fighters concert at Nationals Park earlier this week and getting up and down the steep steps to our seats was exhausting! Sitting in the stadium seat for many hours was also uncomfortable. My knee does not like being in the same position for more than 30 minutes at a time.

Physical therapy has played a huge part in the progress I’ve made. I go to PT twice a week and also do exercises at home every day. During the earlier part of my recovery, much of the work focused on restoring my range of motion and improving my balance. Those exercises may have seemed basic, but they helped me rebuild the foundation I needed to move safely and confidently.

Now my therapy is beginning to shift toward strengthening. I’ve progressed to using the stationary bicycle and the leg press, and adding weights to my exercises. It feels good to move into this next phase because I can see how the early work on movement and balance prepared me for it.

PT has also helped me understand that recovery isn’t just about waiting for the knee to heal. It takes consistent work to regain strength, mobility, balance, and endurance. Going twice a week gives me professional guidance and a way to measure my progress, while doing my daily exercises keeps that progress going between appointments.

At two months, I feel much further along, but I definitely don’t feel “finished.” Recovery is happenning in layers: first getting through surgery, then moving safely, then walking more naturally, and now rebuilding greater strength, endurance, and confidence. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, even as I continue working on stairs, low seats, and being able to stay active for longer periods.

Kudos to anyone who has gone through a joint replacement. It’s not easy!

This is simply my personal recovery experience. Every recovery timeline is different, so exercises and activity levels should be guided by your own surgeon and physical therapist.

Read my previous story that was two weeks out from surgery.