What you are experiencing '"..My thigh is achy and sore in the morning until..." is absolutely normal at this stage. My friend and daily walking partner just passed 3 months, and she has the same.

And here is the most common complaint we get here, "I was expecting a faster return to normal. I have returned to the gym, but my muscle strength is greatly reduced as is my cardiac endurance."

I always remind people that joint replacement or any major ortho surgery "ain't for sissies" - let me describe what happens. You have been cut open, had everything - muscles, tendons and nerves, moved around or cut into. Then they brought in the reconstruction tools - essentially saws, drills and hammers to put in new parts made of foreign materials. Oh, yeah, and you lost a fair amount of blood. Finally, they sewed or stapled you back together, sent you home and told you to get moving.

Now tell me, if the doctor explained all that before surgery, in those terms, would you have run away? No surprise that your body wants some time to recover!

It sounds like you are doing great - keep walking and be kind to yourself when you are tired and achy. And remember, you can still use ice when you overdo it.
Sue