1. Posted by Shreela on Sat, Oct 13, 2007, 2:51 pm PDT

I had arthro knee surgery and recovered very slowly, and not as much as I was told I would. I still have pain (about 50% of the time, but it's not always real bad when it does hurt, but sometimes it is a little bad), and swelling from the knee down (minimal all the time, and intermittantly it swells more). The joint between my knee feels like a flattened, old pillow, especially when I walk a lot (and swell up the day afterwards). Would microfracture surgery be helpful for something like I've described, or does it sound more like I have widespread damage? THANKS

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2. Posted by jimbobo on Tue, Oct 16, 2007, 11:54 am PDT

I had micro fracture surgery done on my right knee in 1990. I was very patient with the recovery and it paid off. I was a serious cyclist and had bashed my kneecap into the femur a few time while mountain biking, well, crashing. I spent 8 weeks in a straight but removable brace/cast and did not bend my knee much. I started "riding", really only a few very painful revolutions initially, on a trainer and did nothing but spin for six months. I then spent a year riding on flat ground before I even tried climbing. It was hard to remain disiplined, but I spent the next 15 years riding and leading some of the most challenging loaded and unloaded mountain biking on this continent. Patience is the best word for what you have to do to fix this type of injury. I have had other major injuries - torn knee ligaments, broken humorous bone, broken ankle, and lots of soft tisue injuries - that pushing yourself helps to heal and recover performance. Microfracture surgery demands patience and perseverance or the joint will not heal. Oh, avoid doing anything that will cause tissue damage of this nature because it also is very, very painful. The last thing I will say is that I have had to keep up on the training because if I let my quads get the slightest bit out of shape it hurts. Good luck Greg Oden.

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3. Posted by puffmayslow on Tue, Nov 13, 2007, 6:45 am PST

i want to know how can i get a big but

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4. Posted by redswcupa on Sun, Nov 25, 2007, 5:15 pm PST

I just had ACL and Microfracture surgery 9 days ago and I was told I'm going to be in crutches for 6 weeks. I'm a runner and am looking forward to running in 4-6 months. Is that coming back too soon? I don't know much about the microfracture and everyone is very vague on how long I need to take it easy and what exactly that entails. I'm not going to be cutting or twisting but I would like to run as soon as possible but I don't want to hurt my chances of a fully healed knee. Anyone?

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5. Posted by pmallory77 on Sat, Dec 01, 2007, 6:04 am PST

I think that time-line is dependant on the how many "fractures" the doctor had to use. Every doctor has different guidelines, and I think only your specific surgeon and PT would know what is best for the injury you had. This is not a surgery that you want to weaken in any way..... I am 14 months past my microfracture surgery - my doctor used five fractures (Six is the most that my doctor will do). I had an amazing PT and he is still my sounding board if I get ideas about what I want to do. I was told by my doctor I could not go back to running and practicing field hockey with my kids until 18 months post surgery - so I am now actually counting days. I use my elliptical and stationary bike as well as daily exercising - but that doesn't replace running!! I am pain free for the most part - I just avoid squatting down to get anything on the bottom shelves!! On cold days is the only time I will feel the ache in my knee.

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6. Posted by anc1v on Tue, Dec 04, 2007, 8:55 pm PST

I am two weeks past my microfracture surgery, I am curious as to how large of defect is normal. I had two pieces tear, one was 7cm and the other was 5cm. I have been doing some internet reading while being laided up and I haven't come across any others this large. My only worry is that trying to fill such a large area, I have a greater chance of this procedure not working for me. Other than that, my knee is stiff, but the more I continue to work on my knee, the more movement I regain. Since I am still working and traveling, I am doing my own physical therapy three times daily. I was also told that I would be on cructhes for 6 weeks. My other inquiry was once the crutches are stopped, what are the stipulations regarding what you can and cannot do? I guess more specifically I am wanting to be able to go up a latter if needed for my job.

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7. Posted by redswcupa on Wed, Dec 05, 2007, 7:49 am PST

I know my dr. told me that there is a 75% chance that the cartalige will grow back. I don't how big of an area I have. I do go to PT 3 x a week and I have been on crutches for 3 weeks and have a total of 6 weeks on crutches. I've read a lot about not doing any type of running or jumping for 12-18 months in order to allow the cartalige to grow. I asked my PT and she said my dr. said I can run after 6 weeks but I'm a bit concered because I am a runner and I want my knee to heal as much as possible. I've also heard that when the cartalige grows back it's not a strong as the orig cartalige you had before so I'm thinking life will not be quite the same if you use your knee often (sports, running, etc). Good luck. If anyone knows what the recovery time is for Microfracture surgery please let me know...Dr. Nick???????

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8. Posted by mcdirt1 on Tue, Dec 18, 2007, 1:14 pm PST

I'm just over 8-weeks post-MF surgery. ANC1V, my defect was the "size of a nickel" according to my surgeon, which I understand is the outside boundary of what MF surgery can be done on. (How many centimeters in a nickel?) I feel great so far. Six weeks on crutches, and I've been able to do limited squats and ride the stationary bike and elliptical hard. Went to an exercise class today with lots of step aerobics and squatting. It aches, but ice will take care of that. My understanding is that a return to running and sports is highly variable, and not necessarily dependent on the size of the defect or number of fractures. What's hard is to realize that you can damage the "new cartilage" by returning to weight-bearing or impact activities too soon -- and it may not even hurt. It's not like a pulled muscle or something, where discomfort is the limiting factor in an aggressive rehab, My goal is light tennis by the middle of summer, which would put me nine months post-surgery,

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9. Posted by Ms. Jane on Fri, Jan 04, 2008, 11:06 pm PST

I have had an auto accident wich caused me to have a titanium rod from my hip to my knee and they went under my kneecap to put the rod completely through the center of my fimer bone and now I have alot of trouble with my knee, so I can relate to this article very much so.

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10. Posted by cowsrule2004 on Sat, Feb 09, 2008, 4:43 pm PST

I had a Grade 4 debridement chondroplasty with a micro fracture in my left knee the day after christmas. I get to start putting minimal weight on it starting mon. I have approximately 2 more weeks before i lose the crutches all together. This is my fourth surgery on the knee, the first being ACL reconstruction. I have done a month of water pt and will start using the machines for pt monday (2/11/08). I have to wear an off-loading brace anytime I put weight on my leg for the rest of my life. Dont ever rush a knee surgery because thats what I did with my ACL surgery and you see where its gotten me. My next step is a total knee replacement and I am only 22. The doctor told me I will undergo at least four more months of pt and it will probably be a year before I even feel close to a 100%. good luck to all those who have suffered

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11. Posted by redswcupa on Mon, Feb 11, 2008, 12:44 pm PST

cowsrule2004, what do you mean by "rush a knee surgery"? I'm 3 months post opp for Microfracture and ACL and my knee still hurts walking up and down stairs. I'm trying not to do anything too fast in terms of excerising... what do you recommend?

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12. Posted by Patrick S on Mon, Feb 18, 2008, 3:57 pm PST

I am a Fire Fighter and injured my knee about a month ago. I was diagnosed with Lat. and Med Meniscus tears. When they went in to repair the tears, they discovered a full tear of the articular cartilage and 1 tear of the miniscus. They then performed Microfracture Surgery. You can imagine my surprise, going in thinking I would be on crutches for a few days, and back to work in a month - to now being on crutches for 2 months, and a minimal of 4 months to return to duty. Its been 10 days since my surgery and I have been on a CPM machine for about 6 hours a day. The swelling, for the exception near the incisions, is now minimal. I have been advised to be "non-load bearing" for 6 to 8 weeks. The Questions I have is can I walk on the leg - just around the house with out crutches if the leg will tolerate it?

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13. Posted by redswcupa on Tue, Feb 19, 2008, 12:05 pm PST

Patrick S. - I am NOT a Dr. so I'm only telling you what my doc told me. Do NOT walk on the leg for at least 6 weeks. Toe touch down weight only. Make sure you go to physical therapy. Make sure you listen to your doctor and make sure you do the CPM for the total time your told to do so. The CPM will help you when your trying to bend you leg in a couple of weeks. BELIEVE ME. You'll save yourself a lot of pain and you will speed up recovery. Take it slow... I'm 3 months post opp and I'm doing steps with min pain... I'm not going to run for a few more months as I am a runner and I don't want my cartilage to grow as much as possible. The recovery can take as long as 18 months to fully heal and grow... good luck

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14. Posted by redswcupa on Tue, Feb 19, 2008, 12:08 pm PST

correction... I DO want my cartilage to grow as much as possible...

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15. Posted by VITO C on Wed, Feb 20, 2008, 3:49 pm PST

I had microfracture surgery on jan 15. The doc says i haveto b on crutches for 6 weeks sot hat will the upcoming tuesday. I am a colelge basketball player and do recover from injury fast. I have been doing pt with the trainers n such and they r suprised and how my knee looks good. Theres a big party sat so that will b three days bfroe i see the doc. Is it a big deal if i dont use the crtuches. I know i can walk on at this moment if i tried. I have absolutely no inflammation and my doc said i would b abck to ball 3-4 motnhs post op. Can it just bent that im good at recovering or is impossible. ALso my doctor did surgery on many bsoton celtic players from 2000-2004. HEs top notch and expensive but hoepfully worth it

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