KNEE ARTHRITIS - Bone marrow stimulation :

Unhappy with microfracture - - Posted by gailg3 (gailg3), 18 December 2004

 I had a microfracture procedure on my Right knee Oct. 8th of this year.  5th knee surgery.  1st one on my right knee.  I swear if I'd been awake during the surgery I would have told my surgeon to leave the defect alone and NOT do a microfracture procedure.  I am having more pain now than I had before.  I know it will take some time for the defect to mature and heal, but I don't think it has worked at all.  My OS is upset with me that I'm down to 1 crutch already and sometimes using none, and said I'm tearing up the scar tissue repair.  I'm so tired of having to use crutches.  I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks although I did not stick to it completely I'll admit.  I've been through this before with my left knee and it didn't work and I needed Carticel, which worked.  I just don't have any faith in the microfracture.  I'm so upset with the fact that my knee is worse now.  I want to hear from other people who have had microfracture.  I know the deal.  I'm not doing PT b/c my OS keeps saying I know what to do on my own.  So... I'm feeling let down and like he just isn't doing what I need right now.  He said most people complain of pain for about 6 months before they feel their microfracture worked but I feel like I'm going to have to be in pain and limping around for 6 months before he'll consider doing another procedure to fix the damage from the microfracture.   And I'm mad b/c I wasted 6 weeks being non weight bearing (which is a chore; if you've never done it try it, although I hope you never have to) AND I haven't been able to ride my horses.  I was just getting back to being able to ride with my post op Carticel knee.  I'm just frustrated and venting I guess.  By the way, I hurt my right knee getting off a horse.  Thanks, Gail
Posted by stgiles16 (stgiles16), 18 December 2004

Gail,  I have had 2 microfractures. The first one didnt work (MAINLY BECAUSE I WAS NOT NON WEIGHT BEARING FOR LONG ENOUGH)  Get the hint Think about it,,,,, it is like there is a scab inside your knee and walking on it rubs the scab off, not allowing it to heal properly. YOu dont say where your microfracture was. Mine was on the MFC (a very weight bearing spot). In my humble opinion, microfracture DOES hurt for at least 6 months even if it works. My second one has healed just fine but I was nwb for 6 wks and partial for a few more. YOur OS has his reasons for wanting this (location of the defect, size of the defect etc..)

I understand completely  how you feel but  you need to follow your OS''s instructions and give it a chance. It is very frustrating and painful to recover from this surgery but you have already had the surgery done so make the best of it and hope you dont need anything else done.

Question,,,,, if  you have no faith in microfracture , why did you have it done? If you are unhapppy with your OS , get another opinion. I have had three.

good luck
missy
Posted by gailg3 (gailg3), 19 December 2004

Missy, thanks for the reply,  I went in to the scope thinking that I possibly had another cartilage defect or a torn meniscus (MRI was inconclusive).  Like I said, if i had the chance I would have told my OS not to do the microfracture procedure.  I went through it before with my Left knee and it failed even though I did everything right.  So when I found out that I had another Medial condylar defect I was quite upset and that I had to be nwb for 6 weeks....  Anyway, its not that I don't have confidence in my OS, we go back a few years now.  But I wish I'd had a chance to say I didn't want the procedure again.  I understand the concept with the scar tissue scab.  Last time it didn't work.  I don't know.  Gail
Posted by stgiles16 (stgiles16), 19 December 2004

I do understand your doubts. My first one didnt work either. Thankfully the second one did. Even though it worked, it is still just a temporary fix. That thought is not great LOL.  For my second surgery, we didnt know going in that my microfracture had failed (I suspected it but wasnt sure) and I also woke up with  another one. I was terrified that it too would fail but it has done well. OS looked at it during my last open surgery and said that it looked really good (7 mnths post microfracture). Unfortunately, my next surgery will be an allograft (3 mnths nwb YIKES)  so I am trying to put that one off for as long as possible.

I wish you luck with this one. I feel for you, that surgery is just NO FUN. lol
missy

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