Microfracture bone marrow stimulating knee surgery

Welcome to Healing Well! I understand your need for some help/advice regarding your upcoming post-op trip. I would encourage you to consult your ortho doc's office regarding your trip because these boards are notoriously slow over holiday [US] weekends. I hope some of our members will be able to offer advice but I can't guarantee it.

I am surprised you aren't enrolled in a physical therapy plan post-op. My husband had 3 laproscopically knee surgeries. He was in PT after every one a couple days post-op. Given it has been a month since your surgery - it seems you aren't recovering as some do. Are you using a walker or cane to ambulate? I think you at least need to consider having a walking device on your trip.

Regardless -- have a good time!

And there in lies the problem. I was told nothing, as this isn't what I went in to have done. I am very frustrated by the whole series of events and lack of information. I have cancelled my trip. That seems the safest thing to do and will talk to my doctor next week and hopefully get the whole picture.

I am really trying to sort this all out and it is really confusing. When I went in for surgery. It was to repair a minor tear of the meniscus and a removal of a cyst that was in the back of the knee. When I woke I was told when the doctor got in there he found what they call a "Pothole" and felt that was the cause of my problems and did a bone marrow stimulating procedure to fill the hole. That was all that was done because he felt this was the problem. I was given a leg immobilizer and told to wear it when I walked but when sitting around I didn't need it. The brace was huge and didn't fit me at all. No matter how much I tightened it, it slid down my leg. I complained and they referred my to a brace place who said if I got another brace I would have to pay for it and tried to adjust this one. It took me two weeks of calls to insurance, the doctor and brace place and I finally got one that fits. This has just been so insane. I had asked the doctor if I would be good to travel to Seattle 4 weeks post op and up for a lot of walking. The office advised I should be fine but may find the knee might swell. As I said, they said they were more concerned out the flight than the walking. So, here I am, surgery I didn't consent to , know about, told about. Three weeks in finally have a brace I can actually walk in. And still in a lot of pain if I walk more than a half hour. I saw the doctor a week after surgery and he said I was doing great and didn't think I needed physical therapy. All this and I haven't even mentioned the fever I had for 3 weeks. The first two weeks it was 102. Because my knee wasn't swollen or red, they said it wasn't the knee. I went to my regular doctor, who ran all kinds of tests and could find no cause. This really has been a nightmare. I am now learning about "microfracture bone marrow stimulating knee surgery". There does seem to be a lot of different opinions as to recovery, but it does seem at bare minimum one shouldn't expect to be bouncing back to their feet anytime before six weeks. Most information I have read is the bone marrow really needs a good 8 weeks to set.

Thanks all for your input. None of this is making much sense but hopefully between sites like this and others I can get an idea of what has/is happening and can discuss with my doctor on Tuesday. Kind of feeling like Alice in Wonderland.

Hi,

I had my microfracture on 4/20/2012. My surgery actually went very well. At my six weeks checkup, after having been 100% NWB, my doctor told me to ditch the crutches and walk. I did, and have been walking since. That was a week and a half ago. My knee feels pretty good most of the time, but it's been aching the past couple of days. I still can't really step up onto a stair with that leg. I did yesterday, and that's why my knee is aching. It's swollen very slightly today. I guess that's normal. As long as it's not very painful and really swollen I think that it's still good. I have been taking enzymes for a while now, but started taking serrapeptidase right after the surgery. I think that's one reason I am doing so well. It eats scar tissue while promoting healing.

I am so glad you posted something because I had posted on several forums about the swelling and aching after beginning to walk again. No one responded to me, and I was concerned about it.

Thank you!

Anyway, I have been going to PT once a week for the past six weeks, and now am suppose to be going 2 times a week for the next six weeks. I have a personal trainer that does the same things as the PT. He is the owner of the gym I go go, and is certified and has degrees in all this type of stuff. I am thinking of just having him rehab me instead of paying for the rehab. Good idea or not?

Keep us up to date on your progress.