I am so grateful that I found this website.
We’re glad you found us, too!
Can I sleep at night with my leg elevated in the way this website describes? I took a nap today with my leg elevated, and it was the most comfortable I’ve been so far.
Yes, you can sleep this way for as long as you want. I elevated like this any time I was in bed, though I did short sessions the first couple of weeks because my leg was just too upset to like my foam wedge, but it got better as I healed. And, you can elevate your leg a s much as you want, the main thing is to find a comfortable position.
I was told by the discharge nurses to keep my leg extended straight, with no bend, or my knee would heal permanently in a bent position. I tried to do this, but I couldn’t sleep in this position. My leg won’t straighten out fully, and it was painful to try to achieve this. I finally gave up.
I’m so sorry that your nurse has this opinion, because it is absolutely not true! I’m sorry it caused you so much pain and I’m glad you gave up on it. A gentle bend is fine and much more comfortable. The Lounge Doctor that you have coming will give you an appropriate slight bend.
As far as PT goes, just do what is comfortable. No exercise should cause pain. At this very early stage of recovery you don't even need any specific exercises, you only need movements that give your knee mobility, which you will get with short walks around the house.
Regaining our ROM is more about Time than repetitions of a list of exercises.
Time to recover.
Time for pain and swelling to settle.
Time to heal.
Our range of motion is right there all
along just waiting for that to happen so it can show itself.
In the general run of things, it doesn't need to be fought for, worked hard for or worried about. It will happen.
Normal activity is the key to success.