MACI 6/17/26
Hi all -
I had MACI surgery on 6/17/26 and am using this to document my progress. I’ve seen a ton of varying reviews of recovery and effectiveness so I thought I’d post my own experience as it comes.
August 2024 - fell down stairs, sprained ankle, did not seek physician care.
May 2025 - Symptoms continued to increase even after ankle healed. I went to my GP who sent out for an MRI and a referral to an ortho specialist. They found I had a torn meniscus. We scheduled surgery for August 2025.
August 2025 - surgery came and went, they performed a meniscus repair, and the surgeon told me he took the liberty of performing a MACI biopsy to send off to the lab just in case because he found one, maybe two cartilage defects in my patella. He said 50/50 if I’ll really need it, but continue with PT and we will re-evaluate. During the actual surgery recovery, I had incredible swelling that limited most all of my movement for months and my ability to weight bearing was really difficult for almost a month post op.
August 2025 - April 2026 - super diligent with PT, returned to running, lifting and had zero pain relief from the initial symptoms that I was going through after the fall. Squatting past a certain point hurt, I couldn’t stop/pivot without pain, or go down stairs, and running/sprinting swelled my knee up like crazy.
April 2026 - sought out my surgeon who did my meniscus repair, he did a series of tests and immediately recommended MACI. We scheduled surgery for 6/17/26.
June 17 2026 - MACI surgery on right knee. He knew of one patella defect and maybe one other. He found 3 defects during the operation that he applied grafts to. Two patella defects and one MFC. I was sent home that day, on oxy for 4 days, and transitioned to NSAIDs for the next two. 6 days post surgery and I was off all pain meds. My recovery notes listed full weight bearing immediately. I was very gentle in weight bearing for three days, and realized the pain/discomfort had completely subsided. Today is day 10 post op and I am off crutches entirely when inside the house. Occasionally my knee will heat up at the end of the day but I elevate and ice with no issues. I also experience almost zero swelling after surgery except for the patella area which has increased fluid near the i vision. This surgical recovery, compared to last year for the meniscus arthroscopy, is wildly easier. Quicker to bear weight, quicker to ditch pain meds, and energy rebounded faster. No real idea why.
My post op appoints to get stitches out, and set up my first PT appt is on 6/29 so I’ll follow up then. Feel free to ask any questions if you have them.