Best & Worst Sleeping Position after Total Knee Replacement

We spend a third of the day sleeping. This is a long time for your knee to be in a bad position after your total knee replacement. You want it to be in the best position for it’s healing.
Watch this week's video to know what is the best and worst sleeping position after TKR.
This video will cover the following:
✅ If you like sleeping on your back
✅ If you like sleeping on your belly
✅ If you like sleeping on your side
…and so much more!
Enjoy this week's video!
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[@restorepluspt]

Hope you enjoyed this weeks' video! What position do you prefer to sleep in? Comment down below! PS: If you had a Total Knee Replacement and want to speed up your recovery in the comforts of your own home, check out the Total Knee Replacement Blueprint here: bit.ly/3iV7DdP

[@user-do5xw5zy6c]

I had my surgery on 2/04/2024 thanks for this video now i now the best position to sleep, I've been struggling along

[@geraldarcuri9307]

No one has physical therapy beds, so a lot of this is not practical. Sleeping is just plain difficult after TKR.

[@roberthoward3582]

Who sleeps for hours after the surgery ? I can’t.

[@restorepluspt]

I hear you @roberthoward3582. Most people can't sleep well right after surgery for various reasons. It gets better as the body heals.🙏

[@sue-annthandy5387]

@@restorepluspt I couldn’t sleep for 2 months yes two months I got sleeping tablets didn’t talk then awful dark time never again

[@restorepluspt]

@@sue-annthandy5387 I'm sorry to hear this. I have seen that in some of my patients. It usually range from 1-2 months. The 3rd month is significantly better. I hope you are way better now.🙏

[@ipebbles7816]

Rite, I can’t . I am 3 months post- op TKR. My surgery was 9/18/23 and I fell and sprained my Knee(surgical) on 11/11/23 so I’m going through a lot of pain in my knee and it’s very stressful and frustrating. I can’t sleep good at all I will fall asleep in pain n wake up in pain. When the weather changes I can tell even though I have an TKR very weird anyone experience this also?

[@sue-annthandy5387]

@@ipebbles7816 try a velcrow strap to put a ice pack in it keep changing all night get knee Xrayed checked please & a good Ostepath

[@shashiramdaursingh8866]

It s not easy at all to find sleep even if it is kept straight.

[@restorepluspt]

I know what you mean @shashiramdaursingh8866. In my experience, it is even more difficulty sleeping with the knee straight. Sometimes taking pain meds is acceptable in this situation. You need to rest to recover. I wish you the best.🙏

[@naomis.sharif]

Thank you. You are CORRECT. I APPRECIATE YOU.

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome @naomis.sharif! Happy to help!🙏

[@wtbrn4u]

Thank you.

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome @wtbrn4u! Hope it helps.

[@dixiebrantnerdereus3416]

Thank you, I haven't been sleeping on my tummy but look forward to trying it!

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome @dixiebrantnerdereus3416. I hope it helps.🙏

[@mariajerez410]

Very good recommendation!

[@restorepluspt]

Thank you Maria. Hope it helps.

[@alkakochhar7817]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome @alkakochhar7817! Happy to help.♥

[@cherylcalvin1341]

Im into my 4th week of TKR P.T. never explained how to sleep.

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear this @cherylcalvin1341. I hope this video helps.🙏

[@virginiaanderson9695]

These are good recommendations to get the best ROM from your knee replacement. However, I have found that there has to be compromise. Lying on your back with the knee totally straight is too uncomfortable to sleep. You have to be sleep to get the rest needed for recovery

[@restorepluspt]

I agree @virginiaanderson9695. I tell my patients that they have to get good sleep. This is where the medications can be helpful. Some people need them, some do not. If you cannot sleep with the knee straight like some of my patients, I suggest making that up during the day time when you are awake. Do exercises to straighten your knee as much as you can. This way you can sleep better without losing the range. I hope this helps.🙏

[@obscurelyvague]

@@restorepluspt The medication has been making me very very sick. I was told that of all the meds I was given the one I have to make sure I take regularly is the Aspirin to prevent blood clots. I have to tolerate the pain because the pain meds make me dizzy, extremely nauseated, and on the verge of passing out.

[@sadielaurentiwhitley3762]

Thank you so much for this video mom Two days post op and I thought I should sleep with leg raised.

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome @sadielaurentiwhitley3762!♥

[@slundgr]

What about using the wedge pillow? Sleeping is the big challenge after my knee replacement surgery. Sometimes I end up on my side by accident.

[@restorepluspt]

Good question @slundgr. It depends on how you position the wedge. If you use it under your legs to elevate your legs with the knee straight, this will be good. If you place the wedge under your knees in such a way that your hips and knees are bent, this will not be a good position after TKR. Hope this helps.🙏

[@lindahughes5781]

Well it's 7 weeks to late for this information. All the things you said can go wrong have gone wrong for me. I even had a manipulation and my knee still won't straighten and PT bootcamp is no kidding matter. I asked my therapist how to sleep and they said whatever I tell you you are going to move while you are asleep so it doesn't matter. Now I'm crying thru every session with my knee being preesed down and bent. I don't know what to do. I'm so depressed.

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear this @lindahughes5781. I understand what your PT is saying. Yes you will move when you sleep but my thought is when you start in a good position, at least you will spend a part of the time in that position. This is better than nothing. We have different opinions on matters. Have you tried taking pain meds an hour before PT? That can help with the pain. Using heat on the quads and hamstrings before stretching can help as well as doing soft tissue work on those muscles if the are in spasm. Just some possible options. I wish you the best.🙏

[@kylady124]

Thank you again. My knee replacement was on April 12th 2023. I still have been sleeping with my leg on pillows no one told me any different. I will be removing them immediately. 💖

[@restorepluspt]

You're welcome. I hope you find a comfortable position to sleep in. Your body needs that to recover faster.

[@sue-annthandy5387]

May 15/ one month 25!days good luck future Good Health

[@janetmacdonald9209]

Sleeping on my back...can I raise up my head and shoulders with pillows?

[@janetmacdonald9209]

I can sleep well in a recliner. Is that okay as long as I keep my hips down to my feet on a firm pad, so that my legs are straight?

[@juliekelderman4041]

I wish I would have been told this after my tkr. I have always slept in fetal position. I'm 16 months out and still in pain.

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear that you are still in pain this far out. Check out my other videos on knee replacement and see if they can help you feel better.🙏

[@nothannsmum]

I can only sleep on my side due to a very bad back. Can I side sleep with my tkr straight and other leg bent? Having my leg locked at straight for 14 months prior to my surgery this week.

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear this @Cath75. If you can only sleep on your side because of your back, you can do what you mentioned. Monitor the knee. You want to make sure you are not getting any contractures flexion or extension. That is the important part. The position is not as important. Hope this helps.🙏

[@lebognkono5380]

Thank you Sir for advice, good thing is that I never use pillows to balance my knees, instead I used pillows to support my back,,,am I wrong

[@restorepluspt]

Hi @lebognkono5380. Using pillows under your knees when you have back pain helps a lot. I don't recommend it if you have knee replacement though.

[@LydiaJames-ub8kj]

I had surgery on my right femur and left tibia and fibula. Please what's the best sleeping position?

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear this @LydiaJames-ub8kj. It depends on what the surgery is on the femur and tibia/fibula. If it is ORIF, I will still recommend sleeping with the legs straight. Your surgeon will be able to guide you with this as well.🙏

[@obscurelyvague]

Almost 2 weeks after my knee replacement. When I sleep on my side I cannot bend my surgery leg. There isn't much of a problem with me "Curling' both legs and in fact I wish I could bend the surgery leg.

[@restorepluspt]

I suggest checking out my other videos on how to bend your knee after a knee replacement. I hope it can help you. 🙏

[@dariannyrodriguez8838]

You can’t sleep on your side forever after surgery or just for the healing process?

[@restorepluspt]

Good question @dariannyrodriguez8838. I recommend this just for the healing process. This is because when we sleep on our side, we tend to bend our knees and this can cause extension lag. Hope this helps.

[@americantangsoodokarate]

Unless your child you're not sleeping on your belly everybody almost everybody sleeps on their side what is the best side position?

[@Clarkson350]

How do you lay flat on your back for hours and days? Please give it a try and see! How would you sleep face down with your legs off the bed?

[@kathyclark3168]

I cannot do that. Never have been able to sleep that way; maybe as a baby but that's it

[@kmsy200]

You kneed to elevate your knee , not straight . I couldn’t sleep without it . People side sleeper can’t sleep , in the begging after 4 or 5 weeks yes . Any ways after six weeks still can’t sleep during night so much of movement ,my knee get hard and painful

[@bamatractor]

Hell nah to the nah nah nah! On number 2! Go 4 or 5 days without sleep and do this video over!

[@sarahriley2332]

What if I wear a brace that keeps my leg straight?

[@restorepluspt]

Good question @sarahriley2332. That can help keep your leg straight if you really need it although I recommend trying without using a brace. As soon as you gain full extension, I suggest discontinuing that. You want to make sure that you get good flexion as well. I hope this helps.🙏

[@nancyo241]

I slept with my knees up on pillows so they were elevated, but they were the long way (I was told this by my PT) so my knees were either straight at an angle up on the pillows or they were bent at 90 degrees. I've got good extension and flexion, but at 9 months now, I still have a fair amount of swelling and have to ice after being on my feet for even just a 1/2 hour (going for a walk or doing my exercises). I've been told the swelling can last a year or even two years. Do you have any ideas for helping the swelling to stop?

[@restorepluspt]

Swelling after TKR can last up to a year or so Nancy. I suggest keeping up with the elevation and icing although I prefer to have the knee straight so the fluid in the knee can freely flow back to the system and not get stuck at the knee which happens when it is bent. 1 thing you can try is compression. If it is a lot of swelling, use compression stockings. If it is just a little and you don't want to use compression stockings, you can use regular stockings which has some compression but are more comfortable. Also doing centripetal massage on that leg can help mobilize the fluid more. Hope these help.

[@linadimech7866]

​.a@@restorepluspt

[@kokilaramakrishnan1988]

What when both the knees are operated ?

[@restorepluspt]

Great question @kokilaramakrishnan1988. The same principle applies. My recommendation is the same for 1 or 2 TKR. IN both cases, you want to promote full extension and avoid flexion contracture.

[@cynthialambe4239]

Can you ever sleep again in the fetal position after TKR?

[@sue-annthandy5387]

@@cynthialambe4239 u can after 5 months or longer 🤢🤮🤞😱😂🤣⁉️

[@shahmudinkarim4910]

i sleep only 4 hrs daily

[@marystokes4436]

I am 8 weeks post op. Maybe 1 hour sleep at a time. Who sleeps 8 hours Postoperative?

[@restorepluspt]

I understand how you are feeling @marystokes4436. I see this in a lot of patients. In this situation, I suggest taking the meds that your surgeon prescribed. They may help a little. I wish you the best in your recovery🙏

[@angelabolton4478]

Semi-reclined sleeping worked for me. Lots of pillows. It was much better after I could take a hot bath before bed. I did use pillows under my knee, but I was diligent with my exercises and the amount of assistance I needed decreased steadily. I was at full extension by 5 months out, but 95% of that happened by three months post-op.

[@restorepluspt]

Thank you for sharing this @angelabolton4478. The height of the back rest is not as important compared to the position of the knee. As long as the knee is straight, you have a better chance of getting full extension. You may have used a pillow under your knee a little but I am sure you did your stretches a lot and that helped you get to full extension. Great job!👍

[@phillipware9681]

I CAN'T sleep on either of these positions. I choke?

[@restorepluspt]

I'm sorry to hear this @phillipware9681. Sidelying will be better in your situation. Try to keep your knee as straight as you can so you don't develop flexion contracture. I hope this helps.🙏

[@lebognkono5380]

Thank you Sir for advice, good thing is that I never use pillows to balance my knees, instead I used pillows to support my back,,,am I wrong

[@restorepluspt]

Hi @lebognkono5380. Using pillows under your knees when you have back pain helps a lot. I don't recommend it if you have knee replacement though.