Experiencing pain after hip or knee joint replacement surgery is normal. One way to minimize your pain is to develop a plan to manage it before surgery. Plans may include icing and elevating the area operated on, physical therapy, practicing mindfulness, and medication like acetaminophen, NSAIDS, and opioids.

If you are prescribed opioids, it is important to remember that using them for more than three days increases the likelihood of dependence. There are also procedures for storing and disposing of opioids to keep others safe such as returning any leftover pills to a pharmacy or police station and locking them away while they are in your home.

Read this PDF for more information about managing pain after a hip or knee joint replacement surgery.