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Cindy, I hope I am able to ease your mind a bit about this.  First let me say that your mother is very lucky to have someone who cares for her like you do.  Okay about the surgery.  What is most likely to happen is that your mother will be taken off many of her medications prior to the surgery.  You see, a lot of the medications that she is probably on right now do make it very hard for her to heal.  But her rheumatologist will probably be switching her medications or taking her off many of them in order for her to heal properly.  The medication your mother takes is excessive and you do have a good reason to worry.  On the other hand though, I myself have RA and know what its like to do anything to relieve the pain as it can sometimes make you feel as if you are going insane.  She will probably be on a stronger pain medication during and after the surgery which hopefully will give her some much needed relief.  Also the knee replacement should help your mother experience relief as well.  My heart goes out to you and your mother and wish her the best of luck on her surgery!  Good luck and best wishes!