Neither the surgeon nor hospital personnel told me not to use a pillow under my knee post TKR surgery. My PT mentioned it, but I couldn't begin to sleep without it so basically ignored the advice. I use a small pillow in almost every sleep position and it helps a lot. I do have full extension and flexion at 120 degrees. I am 8 weeks post op today. Sleep has been difficult but getting better, although it is not a straight progression. The pain med situation is hard to understand. Take pain med before exercise or PT, OK to take at night, or so they say. But there were lectures about "weaning" and refills very limited. I discovered that Advil works just as well at this point. Tylenol was what the doctor recommended but it never seemed to do anything.

I feel I am progressing daily but I have to say that I thought at this point I would be farther along, i.e. no pain. The motions that are still difficult for me are:
1. going down stairs—non operative leg first, operative leg behind
2. kick backs with operative leg, trying to kick my foot to butt
3. lying flat with operative ankle on rolled towel, relaxing leg, holding for a minute or longer.

I do these several times a day, along with the other prescribed exercises. I also started keeping a sleep/pain journal.

Good luck everyone! I guess each person's recovery is individual.