Microfracture Surgery an Update

[Airborne]

Has anyone had microfracture surgery on thier knee?

This is where small holes are drilled into the bone to stimulate cartlidge growth.

 

 

Any realistic idea's on recovery times. do's and dont's etc.....

 

I had the surgery about a week and a half ago and was told that I should be able to walk within a few days and should be able to start light cycling by the end of August.

 

After doing a little bit of research on post op recovery, I should be on crutches for 2 - 6 weeks, no driving and recovery is between 6 and 12 months.

 

Please say it isn't so

[TNT1]

Dunno, but if it helps, or further depresses, I had a cracked patella, surgery, no cast, but not allowed to bend knee for a month, another month in physio learning how to walk, 23 months down the line, I guess I am at about 80-90 percent in that leg again. Yay. And then doing some renovations, I came off a ladder, and a month off the bike, I feel like quitting now.

 

Knees are dodgy. Maybe God was having an off day when he designed them?

[Airborne]

Hey that's hectic, but you perservered and that shows charcter.

 

Good luck and Don't even think of quitting....Ever...

[flymango]

Sympathy, Airborne! Three weeks ago to the day I had a knee arthroscopy for a lateral meniscal (cartilage) repair and patella chondroplasty. Not sure how that differs from your procedure, as its all quite French to me.

 

Basically my knee hurt like hell during and after exercise (MTB and even golf) or got stiff after sitting for long periods, ever since a minor skiing incident in January.

 

I'm already off crutches, and am allowed to swim (no breaststroke) and cycle (no resistance)on a stationary bike for the next three months. I've been driving for a week already, taking care getting in and out of the car.

 

Knee still quite stiff and swollen, but each day I can feel the improved range of motion from bending and straightening the knee. Keep that knee elavated at night if you can - I find it really helps the next day with movement. And make sure you see a physio and do the exercises.

 

Good luck!

[Airborne]

Hey flymango,

 

Thanks for the advice, I am probably not patient enough.

Good luck with the recovery.

[wannabearacer]

Just a question...are you sure you didnt get it confused with another knee procedure. as far as i know a menisectomy needs 10 days of crutches but can then be weight bearing thereafter and running according to pain while doing rehab.

[flymango]

Wannabearacer - not sure if u question is for me or Airborne? I'm not allowed to do anything weight bearing for at least 8 weeks, even within pain threshholds. I suspect these are different procedures, and hence different rehab programmes. I rate my doc as one of the best knee orthopods - from the Sports Science Institute practising out of Blaauwberg Hospital.

[wannabearacer]

Wannabearacer - not sure if u question is for me or Airborne? I'm not allowed to do anything weight bearing for at least 8 weeks, even within pain threshholds. I suspect these are different procedures, and hence different rehab programmes. I rate my doc as one of the best knee orthopods - from the Sports Science Institute practising out of Blaauwberg Hospital.

 

Definitely not questioning your orthopod. Was just curious to see the differences in the rehab protocol. Hows the training and rehab coming along??

[flymango]

Definitely not questioning your orthopod. Was just curious to see the differences in the rehab protocol. Hows the training and rehab coming along??

Very well, thanks. Got good range of motion and flexibility already. Clearly there's muscle atrophy, not to mention lack of cardio. Think I'm going to start swimming this weekend to get a cardio workout and some muscle training.

[wannabearacer]

oh cool sounds great. im sure you are going to enjoy the fact you will be active again

[Airborne]

So four looong weeks have passed.

Still on crutches, and will be be for another two weeks.

Managed to dammage the other knee, due to compensating and over use.

Been for second opinion on surgery, jury still out if surgery was best decision.

Started physio today Einaaa!!!!, (at least 3 weeks)

Started driving again ( I look like a learner driver with no clutch control)

 

Lessons learnt

 

1. Do your homework thoroughly, (Google is your friend)

2. Try Physio first, make sure they are experienced in sports injuries

3. Go to a Doctor/Specialist who specializes in sports injuries and is an athlete.

4. Support from family and friends will be crucial, even if you don't like you are going to have to lean on them from time to time.

5. There will be good days and bad days, keep looking at the prize.

6. Disabled parking rules (No just joking, never used it)

7. Ask questions all the time, even if they seem dumb.

8. Go for a second opinion, its your right..

[riaanb]

Airborne - I had microfracture just over a year ago (also had ACL reconstruction on the other knee on the same day, but that's another story.)

 

It might already be too late to be telling you this, but do your rehab exercises - the boring ones like lifting your toes etc. - properly and regularly from the start. No weight baring for 6 weeks takes major strain on all your muscle groups, but the bigger ones recover quickly, like quads etc. It's the small stabilisers that take forever to build up strength again.

 

A year down the line and I'm strong, but my balance and stability (one leg squats etc) sucks!

 

Also, go and see a good bio ASAP. Physio is good and necessary, but in my experience they don't train you well enough to get back to full fitness for cycling.

 

Less than 4 months from both surgeries and I did 94.7 in a reasonable time and within 9 months I did Sani2c and Joberg2c.

 

Good luck

[wannabearacer]

riaanb that is great to hear that you have recovered so well. what is your knee doing during the squat?? that will tell you what muscles you need to focus on. if the knee is falling inwards then you have to concentrate on your external rotators of the hips. ie piriformis and glute medius.

[Airborne]

Airborne - I had microfracture just over a year ago (also had ACL reconstruction on the other knee on the same day, but that's another story.)

 

It might already be too late to be telling you this, but do your rehab exercises - the boring ones like lifting your toes etc. - properly and regularly from the start. No weight baring for 6 weeks takes major strain on all your muscle groups, but the bigger ones recover quickly, like quads etc. It's the small stabilisers that take forever to build up strength again.

 

A year down the line and I'm strong, but my balance and stability (one leg squats etc) sucks!

 

Also, go and see a good bio ASAP. Physio is good and necessary, but in my experience they don't train you well enough to get back to full fitness for cycling.

 

Less than 4 months from both surgeries and I did 94.7 in a reasonable time and within 9 months I did Sani2c and Joberg2c.

 

Good luck

 

Thanks Riaanb,

 

You are a ray of hope, you are only the second person who has given me some glimmer of hope.

Nice to kneow that someone has made it through to the other side and can still ride competitevly.

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

 

It's good to know that you have recovered so well.

 

One question though, I am a multisporter, Have you been able to run again?

[HeartCoppi]

Are micro fractures detected on normal x-rays?

(Sorry if its a simple Q.)

[Airborne]

Are micro fractures detected on normal x-rays?

(Sorry if its a simple Q.)

Hi HeartCoppi,

 

For mine they had to do an arthroscopy, not so sure about the Xray.