I didn't use any additional pain meds from the surgery. After the first day there was no pain, so there was no need to take anything...the only thing that seems to work on my knees IS the Ibuprofen...and yes, too much of that is hard on the tummy...and I am on tummy pills already...so it is a vicious cycle...pain...ibuprofen...tummy pills...pain...ibuprofen...pain...I don't have any meds that touch my knee pain...even those pain products I am already on...they seem to work fine on my back and my neck, and I have Lyrica also for my Fibro...so it may have to be upped until I can once again walk without a lot of pain...I do know the pain gets worse with the different cold fronts and warm fronts come close to coming through our region...I can tell two days before they change because of how my knees are...but I am tired of just making it...