Overall, I am disappointed in this surgery. I really don't feel any difference. I feel like I have been rehabbing the invasiveness of the surgery over the last year while my injury was never actually repaired. I still have lots of cracking and popping and pain when I try to stand on one leg and bend. Running without the alter G is still out of the question.
I emailed my surgeon to ask what the next step was. I haven't seen him since 5 months post op and I feel I've given this surgery a long enough chance that I want an MRI to see what's going on. My surgeon's response to my question was three-fold:
1. He said the first thing I need to do is make sure my quad strength is back. I feel like my quad strength is sufficient. I don't think it will ever be the same as my right leg but i've made a lot of progress in this. My PT said he didn't notice much difference between the strength in my right and left leg. Additionally I workout 4-5 times a week so I've been very dedicated to rehab.
2. The next thing he mentioned was getting an MRI to see if I am healing as expected. Yes, I agree. I want an MRI.
3. The third thing he mentioned was steroid or hyaluronic acid injections. There has been some success relieving knee pain with theses injections. I wasn't that excited about this option because it is not fixing my problem and just treating the symptoms. And it's also not a long term solution. But I'm willing to give it a try after I get the results from the MRI.
I ended up getting an MRI. This are my results below:
I sent the disk with he scans to my surgeon. I am very interested to see what he says. What's concerning is the report says I still have "Grade IV chondromalacia in the weight bearing part of the medial femoral condyle." This is exactly what my MRI said before I had the surgery. So I'm wondering what the hell happened? Is the graft even there? I hope after discussing with my surgeon I will get some answers.
I have no idea what the next step is going to be but I'm not excited to have any more surgeries. I would consider a diagnostic scope but that's about it. For the next couple of months I'll continue my workout routine but I have little doubt that I'll experience much improvement as this point.
Hi Megan! I am having ACI surgery on the 19th of this month and have just found your blog! Thank you so much for documenting this, I am stalking your posts as I prepare for surgery.
ReplyDeleteLaDona Teague
Hi LaDona! Good luck with your surgery. The first six weeks are the hardest but it will get better. I'd love to follow your progress and hear how you are doing.
DeleteIm about to go on this journey. With your latest results, are you still unhappy?
ReplyDeleteHello. I was hoping to get back into running after this surgery. But I am not sure that will happen. I don't feel much different after having the surgery. But luckily my pain isn't so bad that it affects my daily life. I'm waiting to hear from my surgeon about the results of my latest MRI. I am concerned there is an issue with the graft.
DeleteI hear knee surgeries can be like a rollercoaster. Try to stay positive. Have you tried taking glucosamine and chondroitin supplements? Have faith. You will run again.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mike. Yes, a roller coaster is the best way to describe this process. So many ups and downs! I actually started taking glucosamine and chondroitin a few weeks ago. I haven't noticed much yet but I read it can take awhile to make a difference. But I figure it can't hurt so i'I'll give it a try.
DeleteHey Megan, I'm so sorry you are not healing like you should be. I am 7 months out and so far, feeling really good. I am not allowed to start running yet but I'm hoping at my 9 month post op appointment, I will be released to run (very short distances). It sounds like maybe there is something wrong with your graft. My surgeon mentioned that sometimes the cartilage cells can grow too aggressively and grow through the graft. In that case, it would be a knee scope to trim the cartilage. Was your graft synthetic? I'm surprised that they did not put you in an unloader brace. They put me in that brace as soon as I was out of my immobilizer and I could not imagine life with out it. It opens up my knee so that there is not as much pressure on the graft site and offers a lot of support. I wear it when I'm up and about but when I'm at home I can take it off. I feel like with defects the size and location of your's and mine, it should be mandatory as part of the treatment. I'm really pulling for you as this blog has been so helpful in my Carticel journey. Keep on keepin' on Megan, I hope you find some relief soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy. Yes, was never given another brace after the one I took off at 8 weeks. From talking to different people it seems like there's quite a bit of variation with post op recovery procedures. I wondered about the cartilage growing through the graft. I really just feel like there is no graft there because my pain is the same as before the surgery so I can't imagine a scope would do anything. I hope to hear back from my surgeon soon about my latest MRI.
DeleteHi Megan,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog during research for my ACI surgery (surgery happened on 11/11/16). That's unfortunate about how things have gone so far - hopefully good things are still ahead for you. I'm super early in the process so my experience is limited but so far I've had nothing but a good experience. Minimal pain and minimal swelling so no complaints so far. Hope yours gets better soon.
Hi Lester, glad things are going well. I look forward to hearing about your progress.
DeleteSo I have been putting off surgery as long as I can, and previously I was doing rehab exercises every week, but since I have switched to every other week my knee feels a lot better. Crazy idea but maybe try taking a couple weeks off and then seeing how the knee feels? If it's at all better then maybe switch to rehabbing every other week?
ReplyDeleteI've slowed down a bit on the rehab. I've always worked out 4-5 times a week most of my life. So now I just focus on things that don't bother it. I think some of my rehab exercises actually make things worse.
DeleteHey Megan, any updates on your knee? Is it getting any better?
ReplyDeleteIt's about the same. I haven't noticed much difference over the last couple months. I think this might be as good as it gets. I'm still waiting to hear back from my surgeon about my MRI results.
DeletePlease keep us posted! I'm currently receiving ozone injections and will have MRI in april/May next year.. but it looks promising
DeleteMegan, you still haven't heard back from your surgeon about the MRI results?
ReplyDeleteI had ACI trochlea repair 15 years ago on my left knee. While my knee never got back to 100% of what it was - in terms of flexibility, no longer having that knee pain was worth it! Jogging - which I hated even before the surgery - became out of the question. My knee can't take the constant pounding. Full-court basketball outdoors, fuhgeddaboutit! Indoors, with a knee brace? Do-able...
Hi Glen. Thanks for the comment. I finally heard back from my surgeon. It's been a nightmare trying to get a response from him when I live in a different state. Anyway, he said the graft on the MRI looks good. Unfortunately he said it's sometimes hard to tell what is causing the pain. It was a rather frustrating answer.
DeleteGood afternoon Megan,
ReplyDeleteI've followed your story for months now. I'm 36 and had my ACI on my right knee patella and trochlea on 12/23/15. Two prior town ACLs, meniscus, and microfracture before. It is a rollercoaster. I haven't started running yet - maybe I won't ever. I hit a wall about 8 months in - it just wasn't feel the greatest - didn't feel like it was improving, so I backed off on rehab and just concentrated on the little things. Knees, especially at our age, take a long time to get back. I've seen reports on ACI taking years. I know you want to get back to it but this is a marathon, not a 100m dash. I know you have worked hard based on your blog - but take it easy - you had a major surgery that takes a long time to recover from. Hope you continue to heal - good luck.
Hi Rich, thank you for the comment and for reading my blog. Yes I feel like I've plateaued. I'm 18 months out of surgery and haven't noticed any difference over the last couple of months. I just keep working out to stay in shape and because I enjoy it but I try to stay away from things that bother my knee.
DeleteHi Megan-
ReplyDeleteYour blog is pretty interesting. I have a similar story - I've had 2 surgeries:
-Microfracture for a lateral defect (4 years ago)
-Subsequent scope and plica resection (2.5 years ago)
I've never been able to truly get back to running and a recent MRI reveals some medial cartilage damage. My doctor thinks my options are do nothing and modify activity, or ACI. He gives it about a 70% chance of success, given my history.
I'm sorry to hear that you don't think you'll be able to run again. Having been down that path myself I also know how frustrating it can be to invest so much time and effort into something that ends up not working in the end. I hope you find peace; I empathize with your struggle.
Hi Sam, thanks for the words. I'm still trying to make peace with not running. Luckily I can still do other things like biking, elliptical, and swimming to stay in shape. I
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ReplyDeleteYour committment and dedication to rehab procedures has been exceptional. However my humble thought is that you put too much pressure on your knee during workouts in a gym. Less might mean more sometimes...this is a message for all those following your blog. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteHi Zbynek, thanks for the comment. That may be true. There can be a lot of benefit from just resting. My surgeon has always told me strengthening the quad is the most important part to rehabbing this surgery. I'm not sure that it will ever be as strong as my other leg though.
DeleteHopefully, you have seen some improvements in the last month or so? What did your surgeon say? I am crossing my fingers that it was all good news and a lighter regiment and ample rest will do you good.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike. I haven't noticed much difference in the last couple of months. But things aren't getting worse at least...lol. My operated leg is still weaker than my other leg. But I have noticed it continues to get stronger but I'm not sure it will ever be the same as my other leg.
DeleteJust keep at it. if it is getting stronger then I have hope that you can get it there.
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ReplyDeleteHey megan . Just wondering whats the latest with your knee/aci , im coming to the one year stage post aci of my Femoral condyle , i have really good days , but then i kinda do something that maybe flair it up and get quite abit of pain again but then it goes . Still not able to run , can carry out most daily activities but tend to have some minor discomort , maybe thats more in my head , get alot of clicking . I go bk to my doctor next month hopefully he will scan and we can see an improvment . Hope to here from you .
ReplyDeleteDarren . ��
Hi Darren, I feel like I'm in a similar boat. I'm fine during daily activities with only minor discomfort. I still have a lot of clicking and popping even after 18 months.
Deletehi i just came across your blog. any update? I'm 9 weeks out from ACI. I feel a bit of popping when i bend my knee. I can get to 120 degrees on the CPM, but it takes a while to warm up. Did you have that issue? I need to start at about 60 degrees and then add 10 degrees every minute up to 120.
ReplyDeleteHi Jam. Yes, I had the same issue. Getting range of motion back was a challenge. It takes awhile but it will come back. Just don't rush it. I have no issues with range of motion now. I can still do all the crazy bending in yoga that I used to do before the surgery. The popping and cracking is also normal. I still have that even after 18 months. Good luck! I look forward to hearing about your progress.
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