Tobias

I have had both of my hips replaced. In my experience, the immediate post-op pain was treated aggressively with a patient-controlled-anesthesia device [PCA] (the kind where you push a button when you need more). This works quite well. The most painful time is when you are being turned in bed or getting into and out of bed or during early exercise sessions. I made it a rule to "push the button" right before exercising or walking. The pain post-op is from the incision itself. This pain during these times was sharp, but intermitent and short-lived. I don't remember having any pain while at rest. After a couple of days, the PCA was removed and I was given oral pain meds. In any case, you will find the arthritis pain miraculously gone immediately after surgery, to be replaced with the pain that one would expect from a healing incision. It is a different kind of pain and is the kind that goes away gradually as the incision heals, unlike the relentless grinding pain of arthritis.

As to your question asking for a comparison with tonsilectomy or tooth extraction, I have had both (the tonsilectomy occurred when I was 6 years old! but I do remember it). The pain I remember was a terribly sore throat for a few days but they gave me lots of ice cream which I loved. I have had several tooth extractions including three non-impacted wisdom teeth. I don't recall having pain during the extractions of course, because local anesthetics were used. I don't recall having pain after the anesthetic wore off either. In my view, the worst part of any of these procedures is not the pain, but the anticipation of the procedure and fears that rise in your mind. In all three cases, the actual event was not as bad as I imagined it would be.