I'm betting that 6 weeks after the surgery, you will have come along far enough to say it was all worth while. However, my Doc prescribed an appropriate level of medication.. I was uncomfortable but not miserable. I got real well acquainted with an ice pump and that helped immensely with the swelling.
I got out of the hospital in 2 days and was in therapy 2 days later.
The therapist was my age and had a knee replaced too. He was firm but not a dictator. Did therapy for 8 weeks. Went back to the Doc to see how things were going and he said you can quit therapy when you feel like it. He said it will take a year to be fully over it.

I've got until the day after Thanksgiving to make that determination.
I ain't never gonna run a marathon or even a 100 yards, but I haven't used a cane since the surgery and I'm durn sure better off than I was before the surgery.

I will probably have to have the other knee replaced one day, but I'm a long ways from being ready yet.

You hang in there and you will do fine.