Hi Stan, just visiting to see how you are doing. I read through your thread from the beginning the other day and have to say I take my hat off to you that you pushed to get the right surgeon and the right treatment for you. The system here is pretty daunting isn't it? We are lucky here because we have a very good orthopoedic hospital locally, so I didn't need to question the choice, but a while back I need some other treatment and was told by my GP there wasn't any point asking for a second opinion or to go to another hospital because the PCT would just say they couldn't afford it. So although you have a theoretical right to choose, it doesn't work in practice. But it did for you, because you were persistent. So well done!
Yes, you've heard it from everyone - ice, elevation and pain meds. I used frozen peas but was advised by others that gel packs might be better - I found the peas kept slipping around all over the place and didn't stay cold long enough.
Funny about the anti-inflamms and blood thinners. I was prescribed anti-inflamms when I left hospital but I won't take them because they upset my stomach. No-one ever mentioned that you're not supposed to take them with blood thinners.