TruFit OBI recovery...please help

[steve439]

TruFit was recommended by my OS.  I have not heard of ACI. 

[steve439]

Update 5/17/07...9 months post-op.  Frankly, I was struggling.  I was continually hitting the point of soreness and irritation by just riding the exercise bike.  I was concerned that the situation was becoming chronic.  Last Friday, we scoped the knee to get a real look at the status of the plug.  Surprisingly, everything looked pretty good.  The original 7mm plug was about half covered with new cartilage.  There is still a discernable 3.5mm area that needs to grow in.  My OS feels that it will take another 6 - 9 months.  There was a few edges around the plug that needed a trim too.  OS wants me to ride the bike for 15 min/day for 6 weeks with minimal resistance to help the restoration process without irritating it.     

[shade]

Steve,

Thanks for the update.....  Sounds like the scope went well and your knee is healing.  It's very hard to not overdo here and there, but just keep remembering the knee is in the driver's seat. 

I've only had x-rays to check the OBI area, but I'm not completely healed yet either and I'm almost 14 months post-op so it sure takes it's time to heal.  You're headed in the right direction though, so that's GOOD NEWS!!  Congratulations!!

Take care.  ~shade

[steve439]

Thanks Shade,

It is so hard to resist pushing yourself on the rehab....thinking that more is better.  Of course, like a dumb ass, I already pushed it too much once.  Had to let it settle for the last 5 days.  I will resist all temptation to push it hard for the next 4 weeks and stick to the 15 min on the bike with minimal resistance. 

Strength and honor,

Steve

[steve439]

11/13/07 Quick Update....  The knee is feeling better, but it is far from perfect....so far.  The knee is very tempermental and if I push just a hair too hard, it gets sore and the soreness takes 2 weeks to go away.  It is all about baby steps.  I am able to ride my mountain bike...mostly in the low gears and mostly on fire trails.  I have to limit the uphill to about 1 hour and the 2 times that I tried to climb up a decent single track (about 75 min ride), the knee got sore.  I take 1500 mg of DS Cosamin daily.  It seems to help.

My OS said that he just received current research that indicated that the maximum amount of cartilage regrowth occurs in months 13 - 24.  I had the original op in Aug 2006, so that puts me at 15 months currently. 

I am going to try hard to progressively build on the knee without blowing it up again.  I'll check back in in a few months.  Best to all.

Steve

[shade]

Steve,

Hear you about the baby steps.  Hard to take it easy when you're an active person.  Understand.....  I'm 20 months out from the OBI and lucky for me no knee pain.....  Wish I could say that for my left foot, but hey that's the way it goes.   Anyway, glad to hear you're able to use your MT bike again - good show!! 
Take care.  ~shade

[DJK]

Steve, I'm in the same boat as you...op was in Aug. 06 and I also tend to push it a bit too hard at times.  I am meeting with my OS on 12/27 and hope to get a hold on my current situation...I will report back my results and any insight he has to offer.

[steve439]

Update....19 months post-op.  It has been some time since I last posted here.  I am happy to say that things have taken a dramatic uptick.  I started to cross-train with an elliptical machine about 3 months ago (in addition to the bike).  I feel that the cross training has made a dramatic difference.  Now...here is the strange part.  Starting about 2.5 months ago, if I had "overdone it" a bit the knee joint would get a bit achy and sore.  Now get this....the knee joint would crack (like cracking a knuckle) and all of the pain and soreness would immediately go away.  Very strange indeed.  This went on for about 2 months...for the last couple of weeks, the knee has not become sore...even after a very hard 2 hour mountain bike ride.  Too early to declare victory, but certainly a massive step in the right direction.  I see my OS for a follow-up later this month.  I'll report back as to what he says and any comments regarding impact exercise. 

[jjay]

Hi guys

I just had an OBI plug put in on Feb 25 due to avascural necrosis of both condyles in the left knee. The lateral condyle was debrided and bone graft put in, the medial was drilled out and an OBI plug put in. I was told toe touch PWB for minimum 6 weeks, 3-6 months before fully healed, and I can't expect to ever run again which was very disappointing. As for PT, I get to start next week, but only once a week and ROM, strengthening only. I can ride a stationary bike with little to no resistance at least until I have my next post-op visit on the 8th. From what I understood, most of this was due to the OBI plug. I'm a little concerned after reading all the messages, if this fails, the next step is a knee replacement and at 31 I really don't want to have to do that. How many people have had it done and have had success with it?

Thank you

[Athlete Mom]

My son had the OBI plugs almost 2 years ago and it was a great success.  I understand age has alot to do with recovery -- but so far so good.  His doc went in and looked 6 months after the original surgery and said it looked like nothing ever happened.  It was great news.  His defect was on the lateral femoral condyle.  Good luck.

[jjay]

Well that helps . I'm a little stressed over this, because months of PT, then surgery with weeks of healing, lots more PT, I'm going to be really frustrated if I did all of this, and find out I need a knee replacement anyway. I'm pinning a lot of hope on this, because if it works for one knee, it may work for the other which would be fabulous. My PT guy was really impressed, he wasn't aware the research on OBI plugs had advanced far enough to work on bone as well as cartilage, so he's rooting for this to work as well since it may help other patients in the same boat.

Thanks for the info!

[rob8647932]

Steve,

Fantasic news. How large and where were your defects?

Thanks

[steve439]

Rob,

Please see my first post.  It contains the info that you are looking for.

Update 3/24...

The cracking of the knee joint seems to have stopped.  I am seeing my OS in 2 weeks to get his thoughts.  I am now pounding hard on the mountain bike for 2 hours on back-to-back days and there is no pain, stiffness, cracking or weakness.  After a 3 year layoff, I can honestly say that I am not half the rider I used to be...gained 10 pounds and I feel like I am going to roll over and die after steep climbs.  I have not tried running on the knee or any other impact activity......yet.  The closest that I have come is the elliptical machine (works great at building a bit of lateral strength).  That's all for now. 

[EROK]

Good news Steve!  Keep on keeping on!!!

[emilylauren]

Hi,
I am scheduled to have OBI plugs put in. Has anyone whose had this surgery, ever run again? I read one posting that said he wouldn't be able to run again.  As a former college runner, I'm very worried.  I biked competitively too but running is my first love.  And where did you all have your surgeries done - which hospitals if I can ask? And is there anyone out there like myself who this was their first knee surgery? or did you have many other surgeries before? 
Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!