Thanks for your response Brandon, I appreciate it! I have tricompartmental joint space narrowing, but evidently it's not so bad on my patella, which most of my pain comes from. Thanks for linking me to Suspectdevice, it really helped me better understand my condition.

Oh and I figured someone else browsing the web might find some things I've tried useful. I know it's all anecdotal evidence, which isn't worth much, but anyways...  I wasted over a grand on peptides from Tailor made compounding. TB-500 and BCP-157 did nothing but mildly reduce inflammation. I've tried MSM, glucosamine, strontium ranelate, tumeric extract, garlic, Pentosan polysulfate sodium, Celebrex and diclofenac cream. The only medication which seemed to do anything at all was the pentosan, Celebrex and diclofenac cream. It seems like the more I read the more I realized how screwed am I.  There are no good disease-modifying drugs, and it doesn't look like everything coming down the pipeline is going to get past phase 3. 

Start icing the knee every evening, 15 minutes, ice pack in teatowel. An expert physio also recommended massage with an ice cube, rub it over the knee having oiled the skin with some bio oil or similar to stop it sticking and potentially burning the skin.
If you start on anti inflammatories, discuss with GP and get a PPI like omeprazole prescribed to protect your stomach.

Maybe use a compression sleeve too while on your feet, running around etc

I'd get an MRI if it's still painful (is it? Also at rest?), arthritis and bakers cysts can also pre exist with a meniscus tear for example. It may not show anything but it may do
How old are you?
Are you taking any medication, using ice to reduce swelling?

It'll give a much more detailed picture of the bones and soft tissues than ultrasound (although if you're paying privately an MRI can be £500 give or take, assuming you're in the UK)

What diagnosis and treatment plan did the specialist give?

Whereabouts are you based?

Hi Samiul27,

I had the OATS procedure around the same date as you - I had a 10mm lesion on the medial femoral condyle of my right knee. I had a micro fracture arthroscopy a year before that which did not work - the knee was causing pain when going up stairs or walking anything over 30 mins.

So far so good after the OATS op - I’ve been doing rehab exercises literally 4 times a day, everyday. I came off crutches after 6 weeks and now am trying to get the strength and flexibility back in the knee/quad. Swelling still an issue but I use a cryo-cuff like you.

No pain to speak of which I’m pleased about. However I don’t expect to return to sports for 6-9 months. Hope all goes well with your recovery.

Who was your surgeon?

I was off the crutches alot quicker, but was weight bearing. I chose Professor Vladmir due to his experience of the OATS procedure and with him being one of the nicest guys ive met.

Im back at work now walking almost normally, what really helps is the anti gravity treadmill, loosens up the joint and speeds up the walking process.