Microfracture Knee Surgery

Well, I dont think any two cases are the same. What takes 8 months for someone, might take 14 for someone else. I dont run, or at least I have not for a while, because my knee always hurt. Maybe, eventually, I will return to some lite jogging. But I really dont care about that. I lift weights and am considering an eliptical machine or a good stationary bike to add to my gym. I golf, a lot, and come April I want to be care free with my swing. My doc says I will be for sure, certainly, and seemed to have no concerns for my expectations.

My ROM doesnt seem to be an issue. Strenght is returning via PT and exercises, swelling is almost all gone. No more clicking. And I am taking glucosamine daily. I do more exercises than the PT suggests, but I dont have any pain or soreness, so I dont think it is hurting anything. BTW, I have a degree in PT, but have not practiced since the late 90s. So I remember some things about the knee, rehab and pain management.

I know April will get here PDQ. But if my current pace of improvement continues, I have a hard time believing I wont be at least 90% functionaly.

I got my problem while I was running. I went through operation with microfracture and "cutting clean" a meniscus tear the 9th of November. I had a small but very deep hole to the bone in a non weightbearing area (for walking). I did not have to walk on crutches, though avoid exercise (physical therapy )with the knee in the position of more than 70 degrees. As long as I keep the position for 7 weeks exercise is OK. The doctor told me that I should avoid running for ever after microfracturing. Exercise including running and jumping was not a good idea he said. Biking should be OK.

thinking of microfracture wrote:

How about bking after microfracture? is this much better for you than running or is it still problematic?

Dude, you know what they say about limited knowledge being dangerous? You are a perfect example.

1.Multiple RCT's have shown glucosamine to have no significant affect on cartilage, so stop donating your money.

3." bosses will appreciate you being there and you keep your job."

-Short term Disability protects you from being fired. Take as much time off from work as you'd like.

I realize this thread is quite old, but had to respond in case some new post surgical patients are out there surfing, like I was. I feel like people tend to write the bad stories and not enough of the good.

I had a huge trochlear groove microfracture done in early june. "One of the largest seen" I was told. I am an elite level ultra runner running and winning 100 mile races. I was sure my running career was over. I am happy to say that now at 5 months I have been released to run almost unlimited mileage. I do 25 miles a day every other day with shorter 8-15 milers in between. I have absolutely no pain or swelling. I still use care on any down hill sections but am told that at about 8 months I can run those full out.

I think the key is the rehab. Do what you are told. No cheating! It sucks. It seems like forever. But do it. The payoff is huge. I also believe you get what you pay for. Go to the best for this surgery. I went to the Steadman Hawkins clinic in Vail. There is no better place than directly to the source.

"I do 25 miles a day every other day with shorter 8-15 milers in between."/quote

Ok ! Thanks for sharing !

Glad you found the time to type.

I am in my 5th week following microfracture procedure on both the femur and tibia, and expect to go full weight bearing following my next checkup on the 8th September. Both my surgeon and physio's are confident I shall be able to return to long distance running. I have a stretched ACL but due to degeneration of the knee was told a reconstruction would only accelerate the degeneration. So I have decided in having a custom knee brace built, to give me more stability in the leg, and hopefully reduce continued damage on my knee due to movement. I am planning perhaps more in hope than anticipation to run the BUPA Great South Run on the 30th October.

I my first two weeks following surgery as touchdown only for stability, but mostly I went around non weight bearing, now I am partial 10-15%, and I try to be religous in not stomping the leg.

I did return to work, manage to find a way to get the leg up, and do the exercises. But you do need to, I didn't on a customer visit and the the foot, ankle came up like a balloon.

Good luck with your recovery, and a prompt return to sport. 80% is a good chance, I am now 54 so the odds are reduced but I remain confident.

Yes it should still heal. I went back to work on crutches for 4 weeks, I was doing lots of knee extensions and hyperextensions also. Did ball on the wall squats and the side to side sock slide for side stability. My ortho told me to quit running altogether. However, after 35 years of running it's a little difficult to stop. I have waited 8 months after my surgery though while taking a couple of cortisone shots along the way. I rode my bike for the 7 months following the procedure and four months ago I started doing squats on the leg sled at my gym. It actually hurts more on the back of the knee and side ligament area than the knee itself. I currently prepping for the entrance PT test fot Texas State Trooper, so today was my very first attempt at running. I did first lap walking after I rode my bike to track for warm-up, I jogged the second lap, walked the third, jogged the forth, walked the fifth and jogged the sixth. Maintained a good heel to toe stride not too long, did not feel any knee pain! Will start some glucosomine and Chondriton just for extra effect.

hey everyone, I know this thread is pretty ancient, but not a lot of knee surgery forums out there....

FYI: I am an american living in germany, and it seems the protocols are a bit different here

Like others, I also went in for meniscus tear, and woke up with MF surgery as well. That was 5 weeks ago yesterday. I was on crutches for 4 weeks and was told not to put more than 10kg of weight on my leg until off crutches. I have been having manual lymph drainage (massage) at least twice a week, since the surgery. The four weeks on crutches I pretty much stayed home with my leg up and compression bandages on.

Post op, I was surprised no one ever mentioned anything to me about icing my knee. I had ACL reconstruction before, as well as torn meniscus and ice seemed to be an integral part of recovery. My physiotherapist said ice is only effective the first 2 days, and after that it can restrict the blood vessels causing swelling to stay or increase. She said keep it cool, but not use ice. (I actually found some recent research that supports that, so I guess it's not such a big deal)

So far my ROM is very good, but I have had a complication with excessive swelling...

I have had to get my knee drained twice so far (in 5 weeks). I have a pocket/band of swelling above my knee that seems to be problematic. The first drainage was 150ml of blood, and the one two days ago was 130ml of blood. Anyone also experienced this??? It's super frustrating.

They prescribed me Serrapeptase this week, and now I have Heilerde (medicinal healing clay) on my knee wrapped in cling wrap, with an ace bandage around it. These are supposed to be really effective at reducing swelling. I just wonder why they waited to suggest these things. Ugh.

Also, my doctor told me that the whole glucosamine thing was bs because the supplements can not actually reach the cartilage so it is totally ineffective. It's all marketing hype.

hey everyone, I know this thread is pretty ancient, but not a lot of knee surgery forums out there....

FYI: I am an american living in germany, and it seems the protocols are a bit different here

Like others, I also went in for meniscus tear, and woke up with MF surgery as well. That was 5 weeks ago yesterday. I was on crutches for 4 weeks and was told not to put more than 10kg of weight on my leg until off crutches. I have been having manual lymph drainage (massage) at least twice a week, since the surgery. The four weeks on crutches I pretty much stayed home with my leg up and compression bandages on.

Post op, I was surprised no one ever mentioned anything to me about icing my knee. I had ACL reconstruction before, as well as torn meniscus and ice seemed to be an integral part of recovery. My physiotherapist said ice is only effective the first 2 days, and after that it can restrict the blood vessels causing swelling to stay or increase. She said keep it cool, but not use ice. (I actually found some recent research that supports that, so I guess it's not such a big deal)

So far my ROM is very good, but I have had a complication with excessive swelling...

I have had to get my knee drained twice so far (in 5 weeks). I have a pocket/band of swelling above my knee that seems to be problematic. The first drainage was 150ml of blood, and the one two days ago was 130ml of blood. Anyone also experienced this??? It's super frustrating.

Also, my doctor told me that the whole glucosamine thing was bs because the supplements can not actually reach the cartilage so it is totally ineffective. It's all marketing hype.

I had a MF in Jan 2013 when I went in for a meniscus repair. I was non-weight bearing for six weeks (what a pain!). I had a couple of slips where I accidentally put partial weight on my surgery leg, but otherwise I followed the rules completely. I did all of my PT, but as soon as I was allowed to start exercising more - stationary bike, swimming, walking, etc., I started having a lot of pain on the inside of my knee. It's completely different pain than I had before surgery - in a completely different place. The doc said I could try running, and I did at about 4-5 months,(really painful, so waited 2 more months) and again just recently. I only did a little bit - ran for about 2 minutes, 3 times in the course of a 2 mile walk - and it almost disabled me completely. Later that day and the next day the pain was so bad, that I could barely put any weight on my leg at all. I have a doctor's appointment next week, and I'm planning to tell the doc how completely disappointed I am with my results. I hope it's just a matter of time, but at this point I am so much worse than I was before the surgery. Was anyone in this condition 7 months out, but felt better after more time? I keep gaining weight from not exercising, and losing more muscle tone, but my leg really doesn't want to do anything. Still doing some PT exercises at home a few times a week, but it doesn't seem to be helping.

Blowing Rock is making me so homesick. I did a semester at ASU. Married, moved around, find myself in Oklahoma right now. Had mircofracture June 8 in conjunction with a medial meniscetomy and chondroplasty. I have been off crutches a week and daydream about running again. But small amounts of walking make me feel like I was clubbed in the cap with a hammer. Is this standard and does it get better, I hope? I'm propped and iced and on the vitamin M.

I am recent scope/ micro abrasion surgery and had 3 days off. I was informed I could if tolerated I could return work same day. (No way possible) I did take 3 days off and then returned to work in ER doing 12 hour shifts 4 -5 days a week. Pain and swelling was intense but tolerable, I was on light duty but the ambulation and active ROM was beneficial i feel. I am on week 6 now and swelling has improved to almost neal, I started riding on week five for active ROM which may be a little early for some but sitting is not in my vocabulary. You have to listen to your body and do as tolerated, I have used the exercises by PT to do at home as well as after work and on my days off. I have not began any impact type exercises such as box jump ups. I have only done half squats and lunges with the norm leg lifts (supine and prone), but thrusts/ lifts and stretches. I anticipate hopefully by week 9 to be able to do box jumps and a slight jog by then. The surgery was definitely a challenge for my active life style and has been a adjustment. Stay positive and do your home work on your recovery. Rest is best and don't over do it. Hope this helps.

Adam

Knee Surgery wrote:

Anyone ever had microfracture knee surgery? If so what was the recovery time. I had a meniscus tear taken out and the microfracture surgery done 2 weeks ago. I had no idea going into the surgery that the Dr. was going to do the micro surgery. I did not plan to be on crutches for 4 weeks as I'm being told by doctor that is the heel time. So I have been on crutches for 2 weeks now missed work and going crazy sitting at home. My question is if I go back to work on Monday will my knee still heel up? I can not afford to miss work and disablity checks may not come for 6 to 8 weeks.

It would be malpractice for him to make that decision without your consent. He should have informed you that he might, after starting a meniscus procedure, determine micro fracture was necessary. If had he had explained that possibility you might have decided to try something else such as a plasma injection.

It's only one example, but Dustin Pedroia had the surgery last November and is likely to miss the entire 2018 season.