I slept in my recliner for several months after my surgery. I tried sleeping in bed but even with pillows I couldn't get comfy. I was fortunate to not have significant swelling and did not use a wedge to elevate. I did have a special ice machine which also did compression, and I used that a lot (like whenever I was sitting in the recliner with the leg part up). My recliner goes fairly flat, but the leg part is not above heart level. Some Bonesmarties have had problems with swelling and bruising- I did not have either.
I would recommend going to the hair salon right before surgery. I would not have been able to sit with my legs down for that long for at least six weeks. I was able to handle 10-15 minutes at the table to eat, then it was back to recliner.
Riding in the car was painful at first. The trip home from the hospital was really bad- bring pillows and put the seat back as far as possible to extend your legs, and ask for pain meds before you discharge (riding in the wheelchair was also painful). I had in-home PT for a month, which was nice because I wouldn't have wanted to ride in a car for the first few weeks at least.
I realize this post sounds negative, but the reality is that recovery from BTKR is a long process, and painful at first. Take your pain meds on schedule and let your doctor know if your pain is not controlled. I tried to cut back and tough it out after a few weeks and it was a big mistake. I am almost 4 months out and still going to PT, still have stiffness when changing position, and I still think about my knee movements all day every day. It is, however, so much better now than it was before surgery, and I know it will continue to improve as long as I work at it. I had a hip replacement in May and I seldom think about it; I know I will get to that point with my knee. Be patient and blessings will come your way!
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