Bumping this, in case non-night-owl Dopers with first-hand (first-leg?) experience care to weigh in. Also to add that, I spoke to my aunt today. She was a total crybaby about actually doing the physical therapy after her replacement surgery, and regrets that. She echoes my husband’s advice of “Just take a pain pill an hour ahead and push through the PT. It’s worth it.” Aunt Rose had to spend 6 weeks in a nursing home post-surgery, instead of going home 4-5 days later, because she was such a wimp. Two years later, though, she’s glad she had the replacement. It has been the difference between literally sitting on the sidelines vs. hiking, riding horses, dancing, and enjoying her granddaughters.