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

MACI: 1 Year On - - Posted by JulianUK (JulianUK), 12 August 2004

Hi Everybody,

First of all a big thanks to all those who gave me advice and support over the last year.

Has it been worth it? Definitely.

Before my op I was using a crutch to get around and doping myself up on pain killers just to get through the day and night. There was no comfort or relaxation.
Now I sit writing to you with no pain at all, except mild soreness post exercise. They say it doesn't get better until 18mnths, but I'd take what I have now. A few months ago I would have disagreed but this is the nature of the MACI recovery. It takes time and although my OS said so I found it hard to believe him.

I will know how well it's done on 20/09/04, as that's when my follow-up arthroscopy is due. Hopefully I'll get a picture to go with my pre-op one and can get my website built to offer advice & guidance to others. I'm facing having the other done but will only go ahead if my OS is happy the first leg can take the extra stress.

Anyway thanks again to all and just ask if you need more specific advice.

kind regards,

Jules.

Posted by rg (rg), 14 August 2004

Julian

I will be having the MACI implant in a couple of weeks. I am a little concerned about how long it will take to return to work. I have a 9 scm defect of the medial femoral condyle.

My main concern is the time that it would take to push and hold a weight/ pressure of 110lbs with my leg. This will dictate how long it will take to return to work as I need to be able to do this to perform my job properly.

I know it would vary from case to case but if you, or anyone else, could give me your thoughts I would be glad to hear from you.

rg
Posted by JulianUK (JulianUK), 15 August 2004

rg,

I had my patella grafted as well as my medial femoral condyle. With the patella graft you have to be more carfeul with shearing forces, so leg press and squatting has been done very carefully over the last year.
One thing I have noticed is that leg press weight increases have caused the greatest reaction in my knee and it always takes a few days for the knee to calm down again.
I suspect that you may well struggle for nearly 6-9mnths to get the loading your looking for. Again though my muscles has wasted badly so if you have good quads and VMO you may find it easier.
Just remember that this is a long slow rehab and having had ACL repairs and microfracture on both knees this has taken double the time to get walking normally again.

I would suggest speaking to your OS and get a good physio. I was the first to be done from Nottingham and I got the senior physio who happens to specialise on knees. He has been superb.

kind regards and hope this helps,

Jules.

Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 27 August 2004

Hi People,

I have just got the date for my ACI, I'm having it done in December.  I hope I'm able to walk by xmas!!
Good luck you with the re-hab, it sounds like your doing really well.

Stan
Posted by pomo2000 (pomo2000), 27 October 2004

I am looking into the same precedure. One problem is that I am moving from Europe to the US. I can have the procedure done here (better insurance-wise) , but my understanding is that it requires long term follow up -- MRIs or scopes. How often are these check ups normally? Like once every 6 mo.?
Posted by Stan_Greenwood (Stan Greenwood), 27 October 2004

I think you have to go back at least every 6mths for the first 2yrs and then once a year for checks and Mri's.

Could be very expensive if your paying for it yourself!!

Stan.
Posted by pomo2000 (pomo2000), 28 October 2004

Like how expensive?

From what I understand, insurance should pay for it after 1 year (after their "pre-existing condition" wait time) .

How much is an MRI these days?

Is any scoping necessary or is MRI sufficient?

Scope would defintely be expensive, I hear it is something like $5000. Yikes!
Posted by blue_ezzie (blue_ezzie), 29 October 2004

Hi,

I guess everyone is different depending on their surgeon and their lesion, but my surgeon said that he is not going to do a scope or an MRI.

I've been back three times since the operation (in May) for check-ups and I need to go back again in six months. The first check-up was to remove stitches but the other two my surgeon just took one look and said "ok"!!

ezzie

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