@flacie1 I so wanted to check in on you to see how it is going. Sounds like we are just about at the same spot, really. Interestingly, I read an article today, which I will try to relocate. The info was actually partially cited from Oregon's Providence Hospital's TKR Recovery Booklet, etc. Information went into depth about pain control and how confusing, difficult it can be.
So, utilizing MY method and MY experience with pain, the "best" my knee pain has been since surgery would be around a 4/5 at REST. According to whatever creation my hospital's pain management protocol followed, these levels apparently place me in superior pain control, Tylenol worthy. While writhing I tears on my second post-op night, I was asked "how would you rate your pain...is it manageable?" Needless to say, I lost it (another story for another day).
According to the scale, or model used by Providence Hospital, a 4-5 is "painful, annoying, irritating, barely manageable...starting to hurt a lot....at a minimum MODERATE pain."
See what I mean.
I struggle with these scales 'cause they've become an easy way for personnel to "document" that a patient was asked about pain, blah, blah, blah. But what do the scales really tell us?
Not sure I've mentioned this but I am a highly skilled, highly trained Neurological & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Hated orthopaedics...it was never my thing. But I know one thing...pain is personal, subjective, descriptive and beyond a number on a scale.
Seems like compassion and common sense are gone sometimes.
I hope you are feeling better.
BTW...I was discharged home on Oxycodone 5 mg every 3-4 hours as needed, along with Enteric Coated Aspirin, 325 mg daily and a stool softener.