Thanks for the replies, Angie and V. I've asked Dr. L these questions, but he's very vague. Not that he 's avoiding my questions at all. Just that he tells me circumstances vary greatly from patient to patient and we all respond differently, etc. I guess I want a fortune teller more than a wait and see approach. I have a life I need to get back to. My feet kill me just walking down the hall to the bathroom, so I'm packing on weight from inactivity and my German shepherd is getting depressed. My husband is understanding and helpful, but clearly ready for me to go back to normal. I'm ready to go back to normal, too. I have good days and I have bad days, but there is always some pain. The pain is chasing my blood pressure higher and BP meds my PCP added are making my ankles swell. Great! I really need more inflammation! I just need to know what to expect so that I can make appropriate adjustments. I don't seem to be adjusting particularly well. Where do I go to sign the appropriate treaty? I'll sign. I just want to know the terms of my surrender! Sigh. Thanks for listening to me bitch.