Hello.
I thought I'd jump into the conversation with my experiences. I've had a TKR for both my knees and each were entirely different experiences even with the same surgeon. My right was first in 2021 and was a wonderful experience with no complications. Even my pain level was tolerable to the point that the only time I would take a pain med other than Tylenol was at night so I could get better sleep. I did everything doctors & PT staff recommended and especially friends who'd gone through the same surgery. I was back to work in 3 days (I was able to work from home) with my knee elevated and iced every 90 minutes and walked throughout the day multiple times and did PT 1 week post-surgery and went for 6 weeks. I stopped taking pain meds at night at 3 weeks & was back into the office full-time at 4 weeks with no issues whatsoever.
Two years later 2023 I had the left knee replaced and instantly upon coming out of anesthesia was in severe pain. The pain blocker they gave in the side of my knee did not take. It was awful! Two hours after being awake I needed to use the bathroom only to find I had no use of my left foot. This was very alarming and the anesthesiologist was called in to check to make sure something wasn't done incorrectly by them. I told him the about the knee pain but he didn't respond to that at all. The physical therapist at the hospital came in and talked with me & watched me attempt to walk. He ultimately gave me a long handles device with a triangular shape at the bottom for me to put my foot in the middle of the help move my leg and foot. The surgeon came in later in the day and determined that what most likely happened was the peroneal nerve became compressed by a muscle during surgery which resulted in drop foot. Ten days later I was back in surgery for them to go in at the side of my knee where the peroneal nerve is & move it out from under the muscle. Three months later I ended up having to get an orthotic brace because my foot would not lift & I kept tripping. The pain of that foot constantly dropped down was awful and my ankle constantly swollen and hurt in the joint. Why it took them so long to decide on the brace was ridiculous. It took about 20 months for me to get to the point where my limp wasn't as noticeable. (I still have a slight one when I try to walk quickly.) Due to not being able to move "normally" my knee recovery wasn't as good as it should have been nor did I get as full range of motion as I did with the right knee and that knee has moments of tightness. Also, because of the lack of mobility and my foot hanging, my calves and ankles didn't get the exercise they should have, and I developed plantar fasciitis which was horrible! I am still struggling with that. With having said all that, I would still have gotten the TKR's because the pain in my knees was unbearable and the activity and quality of life I had was greatly diminished to the point, I needed to have it done. I don't have pain in my knees anymore, but the two things I didn't realize nor was told was that I would not be able to kneel again and that there is a risk for drop foot. Would that have made me not have the surgery? I'm not sure it would have. Now that my left foot is 90% back to normal, I'm leading as normal a life as I can which is pretty good. Not to diminish what anyone else is dealing with, but I know things can always be worse so I'm grateful to have come through the pain and issues I dealt with over the past two years. My brother was born with a debilitating disease similar to a combination of muscular dystrophy/cerebral palsy (long name I don't know how to spell) and he never walked normally and by early teens used crutches constantly and then had to start using a wheelchair more often and by his early 40's was totally wheelchair bound. He died at 62 from complications of his condition but I never once heard him complain. He was a good soul and when I would get into those moments of self-pity and pain after the left knee issue, I would think of my brother...that put everything back into perspective for me.
Again...not saying I don't sympathize with what others are going through or have been through. Always advocate for your care and seek the best care possible.