Have had both mine done. In my case I went in in the morning, afternoon surgery, went home next morning. First was the left knee when I got home I felt great, still had the hospital pain meds floating around in my system. Didn't need any ice, didn't need no elevation, didn't need no stupid walker, walking around the house like it was paid for. Next morning thought I was going to die, a miracle I didn't OD on pain pills, not that they actually helped, knee swollen 50% larger than the day before, my hair hurt, thought that this was the stupidest thing I have ever done. For 6 weeks I thought I was an idiot for having the surgery, 7th week I thought this aint too bad, at 8 weeks I thought I should have done this sooner.
Second was the right knee, as soon as I got home I started icing it and elevating it, used a walker if I moved anywhere no matter the distance, only used pain pills for 2 days. Icing and elevating to limit the swelling is much better than pain pills. I mostly used a circulating ice water system which is much better than ice packs. So my second knee started out at week 6.5 of the first knee.
So my advise is ice and elevate a lot especially when you first get home. Limiting the swelling is key to pain control. Do the therapy, everyone I know that has had the replacement surgery and endured the pain of the therapy has been pain free after the therapy. Everyone that didn't do the therapy because it hurt is still hurting.
