If you’ve just had knee surgery, following your doctor’s guidance for recovery is vital to healing properly. An important way to help your body’s healing process is getting plenty of sleep. While you rest, your body has time to work on tissue growth and restore your energy, so you’re ready for physical therapy.
Here are a few tips on how to sleep after knee replacement surgery so you have a smooth recovery.
The best way to sleep after knee surgery is on your back. This position makes it easy to keep your leg straight while sleeping, allowing proper blood flow to the surgery site.
You can also prop your leg up using pillows while sleeping on your back. To ensure your knee is getting the appropriate support it needs, make sure the pillow is underneath the length of your knee and calf to avoid bending.
If one pillow is too low, add another pillow or two. You can also check with your doctor to see if using a foam wedge might work. Either way, elevating your knee as you sleep can further help keep your knee straight and relieve pain.
Can you sleep on your side after knee replacement surgery? You can, but it’s wise not to do so until at least a few weeks after surgery, when you can start bending your knee.
Make sure you lay on your non-operative side. Sleeping this way makes sure no pressure falls on the knee you had surgery on. Put a couple of pillows between your knees to provide support and comfort.
Along with sleeping on your back and non-operative side, keep these tips in mind as well so that you can get the best rest possible:
At OrthoBethesda, our special technologies and team of orthopedists allow us to treat various orthopedic conditions, including knee pain. Our physicians are here to help you relieve your knee pain. To learn how we can help, contact us or schedule an appointment today.
Dr. Sridhar Durbhakula becomes first surgeon in the state to use new “mixed reality” navigation…
Dr. Marc Gruner, a fellowship-trained sports medicine physiatrist discusses orthobiologics and specifically Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)…
Dr. Sridhar Durbhakula, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, shares his perspective on robotic-assisted surgery and how…
Dr. Christopher Cannova, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon, shares his experience using ROSA Knee, a robotic…
Caring for a child is at the front of every parent's mind. Finding the right…
If you struggle with chronic plantar fasciitis, treating your heel pain is probably a daily…