How To Sleep After Knee Replacement (with demonstrations)

90% of people struggle with sleep after a knee replacement. Try some of these positions to help you get comfortable.

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[gnohn]

Good tips. I didn’t realize sleeping after a TKR would be so difficult, but it is.

[johnfruner]

Very helpful, thanks! I didn’t realize sleeping after this surgery would be so important, but I quickly learned that a (more) comfortable sleeping position with the right amount of cushioning and elevation goes a long way toward getting the sleep I need to heal. Pain meds are good, but don’t help me as much as being in the right sleeping position, and I even found that some over-the-counter sleep aids didn’t mix well with the pain meds and left me nauseous in the morning.

[stacyA]

Being educated in knee replacements is one thing but actually having a knee replacement and feeling the pain is another.

[rodstoakes]

I love how tolerant your cat is of you lying on his bed.

[dandtintennessee]

I've been moving from the bed to the recliner. I have found though that I'm having hip issues now that my knee has been replaced. I wonder if the leg being bowed in ( I forgot the clinical term) for several years like it was has damaged my hip now. I love the tips though.

[maggiemay]

I haven't had replacement surgery yet. I'll be having my right knee done in January. I've already been sleeping on my side with pillows the way you show them for a couple of years. Unfortunately my knee is so bad now that even that doesn't really help much any more. I hope they'll help me post op.

[Teleman]

I had zero problems sleeping the first week. But what I found is when you're sitting/laying on the couch for seven days in the same positions, your back and butt just gets sore. So when I go to bed, I feel great. But after about three hours I wake up and everything just feels sore. So I turn on my side etc.. It doesn't help much. It's just coming from all of the working out that I have to do every single day to try to get my need to move. But I guess it could be worse))

[Transitlady]

It’s not comfortable if your a side sleeper

[Spuentecful]

Are these positions good throughout the whole journey or only during certain periods. Also do you think that using a pregnancy pillow will help?

[Skeet]

Do you have any tips for sleeping on your side after bilateral TKR. I am currently 5 weeks PO and really want to lay on my side as I've been sleeping flat on my back since surgery.

[kimsimpson]

Cute kitty. When you did the T position with the pillows, that was surgical knee on top?

[hunchen]

Pity, you don’t suggest anything for bilateral knee replacement

[isidralima]

Hello I’m two weeks post total knee replacement on my left knee and is super uncomfortable to get at least 1 hour of sleep at night, I tried all kinds of pillows and nothing works I stop taking pain medicine because I can tolerate the pain but the muscle cramps are killing me, if you don’t mind what kind of pillows you use in this video? Thanks for your help

[LP-ctxe]

and when did you finish your studies, doctor?

[pqweatheroak]

2 pillows under knee for sleeping - is against all recommendations on NHS in United Kingdom ?