Hello Rocksister, If at all possible, I would hold off for as long as you can on having a TKR. Before consenting to this major surgery with your ortho, I would get a second and third opinion. If you decide to go down that road, you need to know how excruciating the pain can be, especially without pain meds. Unfortunately, I could not take the prescribed pain meds because I broke out in a rash, along with vomiting, to a couple of the meds. I could only take Tylenol, and I have to be honest with you…….the pain was BAD! I had to use a walker in my house to get around and it was very painful. PT services came into my house for the first few weeks but I had a hard time doing their exercises because of the intense pain. It is important to begin moving the knee as soon as possible so that scar tissue will not build up, but it was very difficult for me. I felt depressed and I had no appetite, so I lost 18 pounds in those first few weeks at home. I was able to get to outside therapy about six weeks after surgery, and I got a wonderful PT! I continued to see her twice a week for six months and she really helped me to build up supporting muscles for my knee. However, the replaced knee isn’t all that great……still stiffness and weakness. On how soon that I was required to walk, it was the *next day* after the surgery!!! I truly was in agony and I had an older woman who was a PT at the hospital making me walk and do stairs. She had no sympathy for the pain that I had (she should have retired long before!) and had me in tears. Truly, this was NOT ME!!! As painful as my left knee is currently, I just cannot go through it again. I am trying another cortisone shot next week, and if it doesn’t help, I just rely on Advil, Voltaren cream and Extra Strength Tylenol. I am also making an effort to strengthen my glutes, my quads and my calves to support the left knee. I wish you all the best, but I would definitely get a second opinion. MaryAnn from Boston