I had a knee replacement two years ago and it was best thing that ever happened. I had lived with horrible pain due to a freak knee injury when I was just 14. Back then they said they couldn't do anything through surgery. After three arthroscopic surgeries on that knee (while they waited for me to be old enough-grrrr) I finally had knee replacement surgery. Was there pain, yes, but nothing compared to what I had lived with for 40 yrs. Do your exercises. I was home after 4 days (they kept me longer because my blood count was too low). Got home and they sent out a pt for a few weeks. She said I was doing great BECAUSE I did my exercises multiple times a day.
As soon as my specialist tells me I need my other knee done, I will schedule it. My quality of life was so poor for all those years, now I rarely even think about that knee. My specialist and my dentist both still insist I take antibiotics hour before appt at dentist. This is after the new recommendations came out.
Good luck and don't be afraid, just do what they tell you and keep the doctor appraised of any concerns you have.
Kat