u/Feeling-Peanut-5415

Hi all,

First off, I didn't get MACI, but rather Cartiheal surgery on my trochlea which has similar goals as MACI. The surgery allows for earlier weightbearing, and I improved rapidly over the first 2-3 months before I seemed to hit a roadblock and have been experiencing pain in the defect area since we started trying to progress PT exercises and load that area. I did get an MRI at 4.5 months which showed the cartilage is growing in at the rate expected and bone marrow edema is decreasing. But I still have this persistent pain which is kind of always there but feels maybe more superficial than the deep bone aches I used to feel. I can press on the area, top corner of kneecap and it hurts. Also sometimes crunches or clicks as my knee goes from bent to straighten, though the sensation itself is painless when leg is unloaded. My range of motion is ok, though not quite what the other leg has. I have an upcoming dr appt, and wondering if I should ask about scar tissue? Can this be missed on MRI? Have any of you experienced something similar?

Now 5 months out from Agili-C surgery for a giant 2 x 4cm defect in my lateral trochlea. Recovery has been up and down. I got back to basic functionality very quickly, but have yet to see much improvement in pain from pre-op. Recently got an MRI (due to continued pain and swelling) which showed cartilage starting to fill in and improvement in bone edema, doctor was pleased with the results. I think biking does feel a little better than pre-op, but other activities (yoga, certain strengthening exercises) feel worse. Tend to get swelling towards the end of the day regardless of activity, but especially if I overdo the squats and lunges. Running is my main exercise of choice, so we will see how it goes if I start to re-introduce that next month.