My physio at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, advises that they put patients straight in the hydrotherapy pool following a TKR, certainly I would have benefited from this in my case. They simply apply a waterproof dressing. They advised me that there is little chance of infection as the water is highly chlorinated. After my arthroscopic arthrolysis and debridment of the knee I was in the pool within 36 hours of the surgery.

Like you I did not like icing my knee as it caused a burning type of pain, and still does 7 months following my TKR. I prefer a gel heat pad, it provides pain relief for me.