I decided to start this Blog because I am a runner who just found out that I need micro fracture surgery for my knee and was dissappointed at how little information I was able to find on the web about my likelihood of recovering enough to run again. Here is my sad tale. I am a 44 year old female who has been running for 10 years. I was training for my 9th marathon and had completed 2 20 milers when I started to feel significant pain in my knee. Bottom line: one week before the marathon I was told by a knee specialist I needed microfracture surgery and that I could not run again for a year. Now to most normal people (i.e. people who do not obsessively run long distances) this is not a big deal. I on the other hand spent the next several days in tears. If you are a runner you understand that this is extremely depressing news. I have three things in my life that matter to me 1) my family; 2) my job and 3) running. I am not sure I would have 1 & 2 without having 3. Seriuosly, running got me thru every stressful period of time in my life without the need for a psychologist. I’ts free therapy! I am addicted to it and now I can’t have it. Withdrawal has taken the form of buying an elliptical, obsessively using a weight machine and soon a stationary bike. My surgery is set for Jan 6 after which I will not be able to bear weight on my knee for two months. I understand that this surgery is pretty common. So if you are reading this because you have had it or are about to please let me know how you are doing. It is my intent to chronicle my recovery so that if you find yourself in the same boat you will know what to expect. In the meantime I am going to do my level best not to stare longingly at people running down the street and to stop being annoyed when my husband goes for a run!
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Hi there…I’ve been perusing your posts but since I’m only 4 hours out of surgery, I see myself going back to re-read! As I am still feeling the effects of my anatheisia and pain meds. Perhaps I’ll need a blog to get thorough this too. Since I am dealing with the bad news I was hoping to avoid. I went under today at 1:30 hoping to wake up with a microfracture under my belt. BUT, that didn’t happen. So I’m getting referred to Boston for a consult and the ACI is definitely on the table. I’m really, really NOT liking that prospect. Like you I am active. I’m a police officer and obviously need to be in great physical shape. But I’ve not been able to run for long distances for some time now–without quite a bit of pain that is. The need for my microfracture arose after three days hiking in the white mountains (NH). I’d love to stay in touch about our mutual trials/tribulations surrounding our knees!
Regards,
Matt
Hello – I hope you are doing ok after your initial surgery. As I recall, the first one was not too bad. I can sympathize with your situation, as I thought I was having microfracture and then woke up and was told no – I was having ACI. I can’t tell you whether its good or bad. I am 11 months out and I have returned to a fairly high level of activity, but my knee is by no means normal. On the eliptical and on the bike, I can not really tell I have an issue, but going up and down stairs is definitely weird. I can’t tell if it’s the actual knee or the muscles around the knee. I had many weeks where I could not flex the thigh muscle at all and experienced significant atrophy. As a result – I am not sure of the cause of my weakness now. I have an MRI next week and then a follow up the week after that. I think that will tell me what I really need to know — did the hole get filled in with new cartilege material or is it still a hole. Then I will presumably find out if there is scar tissue causing me problems or just muscle issues. It’s a long road for sure. I am still missing running alot, but am fearful that I will not be able to do it again. I think all of this will be illuminated after the MRI. Good luck to you. My advice is keep in good shape prior to your surgery and find alternative exercise paths afterward so as to not loose your mind. Oh – and try to keep a sense of humger (easier said than done). From what I have read, ACI is the best shot at getting back to some degree of normalcy, followed by OATS and lastly microfracture…
Have you seen Dana Torres’ clip on YouTube? She makes it sound so easy! But it obviously isn’t, that’s especially clear to me after reading your blog. Are you in New England? If you are I’m guessing you had your surgery done at BWH. I hear they’re top notch there. Do you remember how big your lesion on the cartilage was? Yeah, it was weird to wake up and find out they didn’t to the microfracture OR take the biopsy. I guess I’m a little hopeful by that. Reading between the lines I’m thinking that may mean I am not a candidate for ACI. Maybe they’re hoping the bone spurs they shaved off in my patella groove were what was causing most of the problems. Won’t know till my one week follow up this wed. Crutches suck. Hope ur MRI goes well!
Can’t remember the size – but I think it was 2cm. Medial Femoral Condyle. No other knee issues other than that. I would not consider it a bad thing to be a candidate for ACI, it gives you more options. My procedure was in Texas – which a doctor who has done a whole bunch of these. When I went under he said he was doing microfrature, when I woke up and the nurse told me that they opted for ACI instead and had gone ahead and taken a fragment of cartilege out of my knee to ship to boston to grow some more. That started my year long journey. He told me chance of sucess for return to normal activity was %90. My chance of hard core running again 50%. We shall see… Crutches are not fun. I spent the better part of 3 months on them. I have really buff arms now 🙂 Everything takes 10x longer on crutches! Why are you on them if they did not end up doing the procedure?
Because they shaved off some bone spurs in my patella groove. So I am not supposed to do any weight bearing for a few days. Essentially they scoped my knee and did a minor clean out. I’ll be anxious to ask the doctor why he didn’t do the biopsy for an anticipated ACI as we had discussed.