Hope the good people of the Afterword can help with this.
On the 28th November I am having a full knee replacement operation. I’m so pleased as it’s been getting steadily worse over the last few years, plus the resulting couple of months or so off work will be more than welcome. What I’d like to know is a couple of things:
1, Has anyone here had this done, and if so how was it for you?
2, In between physio there is likely to be a fair bit of sitting around. so any recommendations of any long multi series TV, or music docs on Netflix or Prime etc? Not so keen on sci-fi or fantasy type stuff.
Thanks all!
Ah. One year ago almost exactly, full knee replacement. Despite the best efforts of the amazingly brilliant French NHS my body revolted . See that perfect new knee made out of high grade titanium? Not having that, no, sirree. Apparently I was one of the 1.8% of patients whose nervous system cried “No, no and no.”
Cue endless nights in hospital picking up the bedside phone and demanding “Ice, ice, can you hear me? Ice. NOW!!”
A whole year later and all is fine. My pasadoble is the talk of the village and the ease in which I vaulted over three pigs and half a dozen maidens is forever frozen on Facebook.
I wish you luck – 98.2% of such operations go well.
During those long, long nights of unrelenting pain, my go-to music was Beth Orton. Hope that helps?
@henpetsgi Even though you never specifically said so at the time, I think we all had a sense that your body was revolting. Glad to hear you’re nimble again.
@nick-l Is Dopesick on Netflix? That’s a superb binge watch. About the Sackler family who developed and sold the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. There’s another series called Painkiller about the same family, same story, but I think Dopesick is the better of the two. Either will keep you entertained whilst perhaps encouraging you to tolerate the pain rather than getting hooked on pharmaceuticals. Best of luck with the op.
@Gary Dopesick sounds excellent, will definitely investigate, many thanks.
As G says, Dopesick is much better than Painkiller.
Do you like foreign series @Nick-L? If you do there are some terrific ones out there –
Undercover and its prequel Ferry on NF are both excellent
While not quite as good as Gomorrah on Sky, Subarra (not sure of spelling) is also good. As are Dark (German) and El Marginal (Spanish). There are loads more if you look around
Cheers Lodes, I’ve heard about those complications so its a case of fingers crossed I think!
Beth Orton is a great shout…loved her first album but I’ve a lot of catching up to do.
As I said, I was unlucky. I’m surrounded here by people who have had full knee replacements and virtually every one said “Best thing I’ve ever done, I’m running a marathon next week” etc.
Beth’s last album is very laid-back and trippy – twas perfect for those pain-filled nights!
I can’t help with issue 1, but regarding 2, I can heartily recommend Bosch on Prime. Based on books by Michael Connelly (of Lincoln Lawyer fame), it’s a great crime drama following Harry Bosch, played by Titus Welliver in storming form – Harry is NOT to be messed with. The supporting characters are all good fun, and the plots have lots of twists and turns. There are also two series of the follow-up show, Bosch: Legacy, on Freevee.
I’ve seen the first series of Bosch, so continuing with it is a great idea. Not sure why I hadn’t already actually. Thanks!
I know two people that have had knee replacements and doing the physio is key to recovery and regaining full movement. Good luck.
The Secret Genius of Modern Life with Hannah Fry is on iPlayer and worth your time. Another vote for Bosch and The Lincoln Lawyer. The Jack Ryan series on Prime was ok too.
My mum had a knee replaced years ago and the recovery was remarkable and surprisingly quick. We were on holiday when she had the op, she was up and about (with the aid of a stick for support) by the time we came home.
I’ve been sat on the sofa feeling sweaty/snotty for much of the last week and going through recordings on my Freeview PVR. I’ve been enjoying Deutschland 86 and Deutschland 89, the sequels to Deutschland 83. All three are Walter Presents selections on Channel4.com or on Prime video.
If you like grit but don’t fancy German subtitles, how about Shane Meadows’ This Is England (and the three follow-on TV series; This Is England ’86, ’88 & ’90)
Not a full knee replacement, but I had partial replacement of both knees back in January 2023. Known as ‘bilateral partial knee resurfacings on the medial aspects’! Involved inserting artifical cartiledge as I had none. People said I was very brave (reckless) in having both knees done at the same time, but it got it done – and equally some said that after having one done, it was so bad they never went back for the second!
I had two nights in hospital and several weeks of limited mobility, but all went well and I’m pretty much back to normal, though I’m not very dignified if I have to get up off the floor, and I don’t like sitting for too long if I haven’t got much leg toom to stretch out.
The key to recovery is the physio and doing the exercises, but only at the proscribed rate – don’t do too much too soon!
Oo-er, my knees have been rickety for some time, swelling and grinding and grating. I always blamed having a R meniscectomy (torn knee cartilage removal) 45 years ago, but it is the other side that is worse now. Having been the go-to man for steroid injections locally for a number of years, my concern was who to trust to do mine. I eventually let someone at my registered practice do it, with a great, if limited response, so I know the writing is on the wall. The op doesn’t bother me, it is the recovery…..
My knee was orignally injured playing football on an old astroturf pitch in about 1992. I was told the ACL had snapped and there was also tearing of the cartilage. I had two arthroscopies, one year apart, in 93 and 94. Lots of physio made some difference but I was just getting going in my career back then and couldn’t really justify the months off work that a full op would have entailed.
In 2012 I had a full ligament recostruction, but the knee has basically gone arthritic now, so about a year ago I decided to get re-referred. I haven’t had to wait too long, only about 6 months, so I think I’ve been quite lucky in that regard.
When I had my knee done I watched six hours of Lonesome Dove. On VHS. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesome_Dove_(miniseries)
Had a TKR in May to sort out football wear and tear. I don’t recommend lots of sitting around (or as little as possible). Having said that the codeine made me sleep a LOT. They had me walking on crutches the afternoon of the op and it was a condition of discharge that I was able to.
As as others have said, do your physio.
What no-one has said is: do NOT stint on the pain relief. It’s there so you can walk normally. Walking with a bad gait to avoid hurting yourself is the wrong thing to do. Don’t be a brave soldier 😊
I’m walking around fine now (not quite ready for running), the only thing that is slightly annoying is the two “clunks” as a I bend and straighten the knee. The doc said this is normal and will go away eventually. He better be right!
Good luck with the op.
Try the three seasons of My Brilliant Friend, an Italian series that uses The Four Seasons as a soundtrack. A fourth season is in the pipeline. Better get up to speed.
Oh what a night Nick is in for when he starts MBF
White Lotus is also worth a binge.