Heat or ice at night

Being someone that had both knees replaced at one time . I say go with both heat to help with stiffness (I got a heating pad ) best thing I ever did, just for a few minutes in the morning and then use ice foe swelling. Also adk your doctor if you can take an over the counter pain med free sleep aid. I did once i started sleeping through the noght my recovery zoomed . I am 8 months post op and have been back to work waiting tables since 4 months after surgey, full time .SLEEP is the key.

Hi Cathy

I am 12 weeks post op this week. It is confusing. I usually ice my knee in the evening to try and calm it down then go to bed. I wake every 2-3 hours and take pain killers during the night. I have started sleeping with a cushion under my knee to try and ease it which helps although I know we are not supposed to do this but its the only way I get some relief. I also got some stronger pain meds from the GP. I have resigned myself to this lasting up to a year before I can say I am normal again as this seems a more realistic time frame than the 6-8 weeks i was told by the consultant. everyone I have met or spoken to since are taking much longer. So don't worry, keep going!

I would try heat and see if it helps, if it does great, if not you have lost nothing. I am waiting now for appointment at hydrotherapy, the physio thinks it will help with getting some improvement with the range of movement and bend in the knee. I am willing to try anything that may help.

Although the hospital and doc will tell you it's verboten, I bought a full-body pillow and used it at night to elevate my leg.  I put one end of the pillow under the hip and extended the rest down under the leg.  The elevation really helped.  I did have to learn to sleep on my back, but that was no problem because I started to sleep well.  Stil needed pain meds every four hours, but at least I slept four hours.

They recommend it because it keeps your knee bent during the night, which makes it more difficult to straighten, but I traded off with more intense leg-strengthening exerices to make up for it.

Hi Cathy,

Good question. I had both knees replaced a few weeks ago. Ice helps me in the night. Hope it will help you too. It gets better. Take care and don't quit or give up. Keep staying positive.

Hi there - it is a difficult journey isn't it. 

I am in my 7th week post op TKR.

I have slept on my side with a the new knee on a pillow since I came home from hospital. I was getting pressure sores from sleeping on my back !!

This position has not affected my bend in my opinion - I am at 110 with 10 straight still to work on.

Anything that relieves the pain often due to pressure is a good thing in my opinion.

Ice is for swelling reduction and pain associated with that.

Now my swelling has almost gone my PT has recommended using a heat pad to help with the bend issue but said don't use heat when it is swollen.

PT has also assured me the bend will keep improving slowly over time if I can play by the rules.

I am now able to use a stationary bike which is great for movement in the joint.

MY hardest thing now is if I sit or lie with the leg straight. I get really strong pain behind the knee and on the outside of it which is apparently the muscles screaming at me that they like being bent and dont wish to straighten - little rat bags !!

I am feeling so much better every week and know you will get through this.