The recovery time is never easy and none of us look forward to that. I'm trying to focus on how this will help me take my life back, instead of stressing over the recovery. Although this recovery is unlike any other I've had, it's still not easy. I have little to no pain, and because I'm not taking any narcotics for pain, I'm clear-headed and wide awake. That leaves me super bored as I still have to allow my knee to recover before I can do anything and so I am still following the "Activity Progression for TKRs" from this site.
Generally when we're in pain, we're medicated which, in my case, causes me to mostly sleep, so I'm not alert enough to be bored. But spending my days icing and elevating and the rest of the progression needed, is difficult when the rest of me is rarin' to go. Granted, I'd much rather be bored than in a lot of pain, but either way, the recovery is a long road. And I still have to watch how much I do as my knee will swell and ache if I do very much, and since I can't take any meds for the pain, and only have my ice machine to help, I have to be very careful not to overdo lest I set off pain I can't control.
Just remember to ice and elevate as often and as long as possible, take your meds on a regular schedule so as to not get behind on the pain, and think about all you'll be able to do when your recovery is complete! Good luck!