I had a knee replaced last fall. When I woke up, I could tell a difference. There was the pain from the disruption of muscles and tendons, but the dull arthritic pain was gone.
I had the surgery Friday morning and walked out of the hospital Sunday afternoon and started therapy Tues afternoon.

Therapy was unpleasant for about a month, and by the sixth week I could tell a huge change and it got better and better from then on.

It will be easier than you think.

Good luck,