u/Smashlaylay

Definitely not the update I was hoping to give at this point but I figured I would share my journey.

Had 1st surgery July 24 2025 for harvest. They also trimmed my meniscus on the medial side. Recovery was pretty straightforward. Found 2 defects - medial femoral condyle & trochlear groove)

Had 2nd surgery September 25 2025. My staples were removed just shy of two weeks, then went to steri strips for about another week. I started PT about 3 weeks post op. After being locked in my brace for 2, then unlocked to 30 degrees by the time I started PT. My dad passed away exactly 1 month after my surgery and I had to fly while I was non weight bearing (DO NOT RECOMMEND at this stage of post op). During the early morning hours of his passing I was headed back to the hotel from the hospital in the rain and slipped at the hotel entrance & put my surgery leg down. It was painful but as soon as I got back home my surgeon had x rays done and everything seemed to be ok. PT was brutal, I did good getting my flexion back, but really struggled with full extension, and I’m still not quite back to 0 but close.

I was non weight bearing for a total of 7 weeks, and then on crutches and in my brace for a total of 10. Did PT for 4 months then my doc wanted me to focus on strengthening my quad back up (there’s a huge discrepancy between the 2.)

In February (6 months post op) I was on a walk and my knee caught and was incredibly painful. (It happened a couple different times but I had to finish my walk to get back home when the catching started). Fast forward I had an MRI done that found scar tissue on the Hoffa fat pad and my MFC graft. My surgeon recommended a steroid injection to get the swelling down and more PT.

During PT we tried a lot of needling for the scar tissue & pain in my VMO, and continued exercises, and KT Taping. Unfortunately nothing has helped.

Now my surgeon is recommending a scope to remove the scar tissue & check my grafts. Which I knew was coming with the continued pain & catching. Hopefully I’ll have much better news soon!

For anyone in the thick of it, I feel you!! I was hoping to be feeling better at this stage, but it may just take a little longer! ❤️‍🩹