KNEE ARTHRITIS - Autologous chondrocyte implantation (A.C.I.) :

Life after ACI - - Posted by downhillrunner (downhillrunner), 15 December 2002

ACI looming - and it scares the **** out of me.
Have not yet come across a positive report of post ACI surgery...   ok maybee the happy people dont bother with this website...?

Specifically I want to know the dangers of delaying the surgery.  I know there are limits to how much damage ACI is good for.

Just had MRI scan & I am hoping I & the surgeon will be able to make decision as to when to cut from that...
Posted by violin1 (mj/usa), 15 December 2002

Hi!

There are a couple of people with positive (so far) outcomes from ACI--have you tried searching for it in Kneeguru? I personally did not have ACI since my defect was small enough that an OATS operation could take care of it.  Have you discussed this option with your surgeon?  There are defect size limits here too, can't be too big or in the wrong place, etc.  I don't know how  big your defect is, maybe your surgeon already discarded this option.
As far a delaying the surgery, I asked my os the same thing and was told that chondral defects may/can (as opposed to will) grow and that that would make surgery more difficult later on.  Not to mention the imbalance in your body from favoring the one leg over the other that could cause something else to flare up.
It is not an easy decision to make, that's for sure, but as far as my operation went, I am certainly glad it did it.  My knee is well on its way to being its old self again (albeit some setbacks here and there) and I hope to go skiing in the spring.
Good luck with whatever decision you take
MJ
Posted by downhillrunner (downhillrunner), 23 February 2003

Thanks MJ

do not visit this site as much as I "should" so forgive me for tardy reply or even duplicating...?

Have refused surgery at the moment - which means I am back on the bottom of the waiting list - which effectivley means ~ 1year delay i.e. I get aNOTHER SEASON  of running to wear my knee further / or get my quads / finaces as strong as I can before the year off+ following surgery.  I can not go for surgery whilst I can manage the pain because even a good prognosis my mean I cannot run as I need to for at least a year maybe never..

Need a new job!

So nuff about me - how r u doing?

mike
Posted by violin1 (mj/usa), 24 February 2003

The knee's doing great.  There are still a few episodes of pain, stiffness here and there, but by and large it is fine. Oddly enough the part of the knee that really hurts is where the graft was taken, not where it was implanted. That has never hurt!!!
I have played some golf, gone for longish walks (still not as long as I would like, about 3 miles) and hope that in a couple more months I'll be able to go hiking again,
So you're going to wait a while?  Probably a good decision: I didn't really have that option, I could see and feel that the knee was getting weaker and weaker and I was sure that thelonger I waited the worse it would be.  So in a sense I had my operation donewhile the knee was still relatively strong.
Take care
MJ
Posted by Allan (Allan), 4 July 2003

So far I've had no real problems havent had the pain i was warned about, will keep you updated as to the real progress during physio.
Must be a lucky one from seeing GP to arthroscopy was three weeks then had full op month later not NHS of course
now 7 days post op and fingers crossed

Allan

Posted by downhillrunner (downhillrunner), 4 July 2003

thanks allan - hope it is going well and continues to do so.

Where did you have the op?

Can you describe ( what they told you!?) what you had done?

cheers

mikw
Posted by Allan (Allan), 5 July 2003

I had my surgery and consultation all done at New Hall Hospital, Salisbury under Mr Gurd Shergill
I had an inch square graft done on the C cartilage
awoke to find i had a back slab plaster so still have some movement of leg front to back but no sideways
Start physio monday when they remove cast and stitches so i'll let you know how it feels and looks

Allan
Posted by Allan (Allan), 7 July 2003

Well i finally got to see my knee, nice scar but heeled up well.  Felt odd with no plaster support no strength in leg at present which felt very odd so crutches for 6 weeks back to physio again on friday to try and get it bending and lifting but so far im well impressed
Allan
Posted by Allan (Allan), 10 July 2003

Mike
probably am young for ACI but my consultant sent me straight in no messing so only had arthroscopy then ACI fairly lucky there
Symptoms were dry joint, clicking and giving way under load
Physio again tomorrow and can now get some bend from straight to approx 10 degrees
if you have any more questions i'll try and answer
Allan
Posted by becks23 (becks23), 17 November 2003

To all guess i am one of the lucky ones . I had ACI Oct 2003 approx 6 weeks ago and i am doing fine. Previous to this op i have had 4 years of hell including an ACL. I have now 90% flex in knee am on one crutch fully weight baring and no pain . Most of my re-had was in a hydro pool which really helped and now only doing land physio re-had. Hope all you people are as lucky as me i guess. Good luck to you all

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