I had BTKR on October 21st, making tomorrow the 4 week mark. I was in the hospital for 6 days, after which I went directly home, with PT and nursing care. I was on two canes by the 4th day, and after another week or so, moved to one cane. I still use one because I walk better with it(don't want to develop a limp), although I wander around in the house with no aides at times, touching counters and furniture. I drive fairly regularly now, but mostly short distances. It's getting a lot easier to maneuver in and out of the car. A couple of days ago, I shopped very briefly in a market, and today, for the first time since surgery, cooked a real dinner! My energy must be returning.
I've never had to use a lot of pain killers, for some reason. No morphine, Vicodin or Percacet. When the nerve blocker ran out after a couple of days, I started taking mostly Tylenol extra strength, and more recently, Advil. I'm stiff and twingy, of course, but not in serious pain. I've just started outpatient PT, and plan to return to water aerobics next Monday, since the incisions are healed. I'm also hoping, like you,(?) to return to tennis, which is really my passion. I'm not going to rush it, though. One thing at a time.