microfracture and blood thinners...?

[sandiegosteve]

I had my microfracture almost three weeks ago.  5 days after the surgery, I went to physical therapy where the PT said some of my calf pain was similar to a blood clot.

In short, I followed up and had multiple blood clots below my knee.  I instantly went on blood thinners to prevent anything major from happening.  Now I will be on the thinners for at least 3 months.  I am currently on Coumadin.

Has anyone had any experience with microfracture and taking blood thinners?  The next time I talk to my Dr., I am going to ask.  I'm just curious about what other's experiences have been.


Thanks,
Steve

[John1]

I would think it would be bad for the healing of the microfracture spot because you want a clot to form there. Maybe in 5 days it already formed there so it wouldn't be a problem. I guess all you can do is ask you doctor. I'm not sure if anyone can tell you for sure how the blood thinners will effect the microfracture healing. If you don't have a lot of fluid in your knee that would be good (indicating that the microfracture spot maybe clotted the way it's supposed to). Good luck.

[sandiegosteve]

At my post-op (which was post clot/blood thinners), I did not have a lot of swelling.  My Dr. said that was a good sign.

 

[rainerng]

Hey steve, did you have microfrac done on your femur and patella?

[sandiegosteve]

Hey steve, did you have microfrac done on your femur and patella?

Both are on the femur, the patella part is under the patella, but still on the femur.

[jathib]

I haven't been on Coumadin but had to give myself shots of Lovenox after my PKR to prevent clots. This is my doctor's standard protocol after a joint replacement. The injections don't thin the blood, they just keep it from clotting some other way. The advantage is that it works right away and you don't have to keep having blood tests to check how thin your blood is, so there's no need to keep adjusting the dosage.

[sandiegosteve]

The Lovenox was easy from the give it and go perspective, but I didn't like having to remember taking it twice a day.

Coumadin is a once a day thing, but you are right, I have to get my blood checked fairly often.

[jathib]

From my perspective, it's not that hard to remember twice a day if you can remember once. After having a PKR there was no way I wanted to get into the car and drive to the doctor's office 2-3 times a week for a blood test. Especially since I have to go down stairs to get out of my house.

[OldExTriGuy]

SandiegoSteve,

I might be a candidate for microfracture- however, I will likely be on coumadin for the rest of my life as I developed a clot after ACL surgery and another 5 weeks after coming off coumadin after 6 mos. of taking it.  I guess I'm a "clotter".

Did your OS give you any feedback on the effect of blood thinners on the microfracture process?

Thanks

[sandiegosteve]

My OS said the concern was if the blood from the microfracture didn't clot (is that the right term here?).  He said he would be able to tell that by the swelling in my knee (which was fine/normal for me).

[investor54]

Hi,

4 months after my "Posterior Horn Medial Menicectomy" & "Microfracture Chondroplasty Femoral Condyle", they found a blood clot behind the knee.

I did one week of self Lovenox injections and doing 5.5mg daily Coumadin through May 2011.

The Surgeon said the Coumadin will elongate the Microfracture healing process.

My only PT is walking and biking on a stationary bike.

May 2, 2011 will be six months after the MFX and my pain & swelling is decreasing, but very slowly.   

[kittent1211]

I had a DVT after my microfracture surgery in 2005.  The DVT treatment did not effect the healing of my knee at all....6 years later the surgery is still holding strong.  Hope this helps ease your mind.

[npw171264]

Hi just had microfracture femoral condyle. I have heart probs and been on blood thinners for many years. This was my second microfracture, i only stopped taking my aspirin (to thin blood) on day of op, next day retake aspirin every day. I have been given good painkilers, tramadol 400mg,  ibrophen 400mg, gabbapentin, paracetamol. I had large lesion of damage on my knee as well as ruptured acl which cant be repaired. I have very little pain.

I took of the bandages this morning, my knee is not to badly swollen, only slight bleeding from op. So i was not told to stop taking aspirin. I am happy at moment, so i dont see a problem with taking bloodthinners. The first mfx i was on clopidogrel blood thinner, only stopped for the day
of operation. The operation failed because previous surgeon at different hospital had me weightbearing from the start with no crutches.

Good luck and hopefully taking your blood thinners will not effect rehab.

Nicky