@genie15 This is such excellent advice! Like you, I had a TKR six years ago and had a terrible recovery! I could not tolerate the pain meds and they had me only using Tylenol, which did not help at all. I swore that I would never have the left knee done! Well…….I have to eat my words because I am having the left knee done on Oct 1st……….different surgeon and different Boston hospital! This surgeon, who is one of the top drs at this hospital, has done many knee and hip surgeries. Through a friend, I know that most of the nurses go to him. He will do “minimally invasive surgery” on my knee, which hopefully will make my recovery a little easier. Also, he told me to start preparing my quads and glutes with exercises that will strengthen them before the surgery. I was never told that with my first TKR. Betweeen now and then, I am exercising every day to build up strength! I had a wonderful PT for the first surgery but she is no longer at the PT practice, so I will have to find someone new. Here in the Boston area, there is a “wait” to get to see a PT because so many “baby boomers” are having knees and hips replaced. I do think that initially, PT will come into my home but I will have to make sure that I get on a “list” for outside PT as soon as I can. I do dread the recovery process (and the length of it!), but I know that arthritis is not going to go away, and possibly continue to progress. I am 76 and generally in good health (although I also have this same arthritis in my left hip!) but for now, the knee is more painful, so I will get that done first. My poor husband was my “caregiver” with the first knee, and it was hard on him, although he did everything that he could possibly do for me!!! I was just a patient in terrible pain for quite a while!!! Hoping that this other knee will be a different and more positive experience for me! Thanks so much for your extremely helpful post!!!