Last summer I had elbow fixed......bad case of tennis elbow with the structures ripping away from the bone. That first day after surgery I wanted to saw my arm off, it hurt so bad. I lived on Vicodin for about a week.
Last week my MIL had the same kind of repair done on her rotator cuff, along with the removal of a spur. She took two doses of Vicodin and that was only because the PACU nurse told me to medicate her around the clock for the first 24 to make sure the pain stayed under control. When it was time for the third dose (same day of surgery, mind you!) her pain was at a 0/10. The PACU called the next day to check on her and couldn't believe she was already pain free!