r/MACIknee

Hi all. I never post on here but wanted to vent a little about my experience. Today is 4 weeks since I had single defect MACI surgery along with MPFL reconstruction. I have been doing in person PT twice a week as well as at home exercises on the days I don’t have in person PT. Most days are pain free now, or very little pain but I do have days where the pain and swelling come back hard. My biggest struggle right now is my lack of quad muscle. While I feel slight improvement in my quad strength, I am still unable to perform a straight leg lift. My brace has to stay locked at 0° until I am able to do my leg lift which is not ideal. I know everyone recovers differently/the timeline for recovery is different but I can’t help but feel a bit discouraged, like I am behind on where I should be. It has been such a frustrating recovery and very up and down. I also know that this recovery is a marathon and not a sprint, and that this was going to be difficult but phew it has been harder than I thought. I am just looking for some reassurance that this is normal/hear about others experiences/suggestions on things I can do to help my quad.

I’m 28(F) and am pretty active in my normal life. I love going for long walks, hikes, paddle boarding, tennis. I can’t wait to get back to doing the things I love, with (hopefully) no pain. 💪🙂‍↕️

I am getting MACI with TTO this summer. I also will be beginning pharmacy school in the fall. I am wondering if it is worth it to apply for a temporary handicap parking placard, both for immediately after surgery and for parking at school?

Hi everyone, I’ve been reading your posts for a while trying to wrap my head around this procedure.
As I have a very specific case, I’d like to hear if anyone went through something similar and the outcomes. I’d like to know if I can still dream about having a pseudo-normal life again or if I just have to wait for the inevitable to happen: knee replacement. I’m only in my mid-30s.

Thanks to all that will take time to read the post, it’s not a short story.

What happened is that I had an immune reaction to the Covid vaccines, it started an inflammatory cascade that made me feel horrible for almost 2 years (constantly fatigued, brain fog, old inflammations flaring for example in the elbow, insomnia, etc.). I’ve always been very active, lifted weights for 15+ years and used to play basketball / I was in the athletics team. One day I went jogging, which I’ve always done and with proper shoes and on a treadmill, and I didn’t feel pain, but at some point I felt one of my knees swelling. By the time I arrived home it was 3x the size and very very painful. In the beginning nobody thought anything of it as the MRI didn’t show anything in particular, cartilages ok, maybe a ligament that was a bit stretched but that’s it. Problem is the pain went on for a few more months, along with other symptoms, to the point that I couldn’t even stand up from a chair. The doctors kept telling me that probably I wasn’t recovering very quickly due to stress. It then affected the other knee in the same way, without me even running or lifting weights.
Well, fast forward to 4-5 months later I found out that I have an identical bilateral damage in the cartilage behind the patella. I should emphasize that the knees were the only part of the body affected by this, in other parts I had occasional inflammations but that’s it. I then got diagnosed with reactive arthritis and started TNFalpha-inhibitors (biologics). Unfortunately I am allergic to all NSAIDs so this was a no-go from the start. This improved a bit the symptoms and stopped damage progression, even though it reached full thickness (4x4mm) by the time I got diagnosed. I’m currently still on immune-suppressants because it seems that Covid triggered chronic viral reactivation that keeps my immune system active (this condition is normally not chronic), but I am working on putting a stop to this. I don’t have anything autoimmune and “self-sustaining”, so no autoantibodies in the blood for instance. The last MRI showed that there is no active inflammation and no damage progression as well.
Despite PT, there are still many things that I cannot do comfortably and I am always in pain. Since the damage is very localized, I thought about regenerative medicine.
For now I’ve only heard from one doctor, and they suggested PRP to stay “on the safe side”. I’ll of course hear other opinions, but I also wanted to know if anyone had this surgery (also MACI + TTO) in a similar condition. I know some autoimmune conditions are a no-go, but this is technically not the case. The only thing that I know is that even without the inflammatory component of my condition, it’s going to degenerate and this is going to lead to knee replacement. I’d like for that to happen as far as possible from now, obviously, as it only lasts 10 years.

Thank you if you made it this far! I’d love to hear your experiences.

I just had my 6 week post op review today, and rehab/recovery is ahead of schedule. Happy to report that I’ve been cleared for full weight bearing (within comfort zone) as I continue PT. ROM is up to 110 degrees, I’m on a path to success after having two grade 4 lesion grafts (patella and trochlea)

However, still being told to keep the ROM brace on for additional support and protection while out and about, as well as while sleeping.

This brace has been great up until recently, and I can’t stand it anymore. It won’t stay in place regardless of how tight the straps are. The frame adjuster locks are useless. As it falls, the strap above my patella puts additional pressure on my quad tendon and causes decent discomfort. All in all, I feel like this original brace has served its purpose, and I need to find something better.

Wondering if anyone migrated to a different brace once becoming cleared for weight bearing PT, that offered the support you felt you needed while continuing your recovery.

My current brace seems to be a standard hospital issue Breg T-Scope.

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! ❤️‍🩹

This injury has changed a lot in me & I have a lot of hopes for things I want to do when i'm all healed up (I am 9 weeks post implant & still NWB) and started PT last week.

When did you walk? run? squat? play sports?

Anything!! I need some encouragement 😇

I’m doing really well at 9.5 months post op MACI/TTO. I was in PT today and told her I’m annoyed by the swelling to the left of my kneecap (which has come back in the last few weeks). She said to me it looks better than it has in the past, which is always encouraging. Then I told her it bothers me because I have this fantasy in my head that without it I can flex better/farther. So, of course she did a quick test on me. After the test she said, “well, your other knee is actually flexing less, so.” 😭🤣🤣 I had a good laugh and thanked her for giving me a reality check and great news. I said, well we KNOW my head is full of fantasies, so this is no surprise. And she reassured me that it’s common to have mental blocks around longstanding injuries and not always know what we are actually capable of. I appreciated that reassurance. It’s such a happy moment, though, to know that despite challenges and ups and downs and noticeable swelling my knee is still doing really well.

She also did another running form analysis and we’re learning that my MACI leg looks even better than my other leg! My overall form is pretty solid, which is also reassuring. I’m working on slowly building up my mileage. My current longest run is 4 miles. I’ve come so far and also feel I have so far yet to go to be where I want to be. But overall I am really, really grateful.

This return to running season has been by far the most challenging out of my many injury and surgery rehabs. Mentally, it’s felt incredibly difficult at times, but I’m starting to feel glimmers and have hope that I’m breaking through.

Hi! Feeling like I was deciding if I wanted to do this for so long I can’t believe it’s already done. Now the only way out is through.

My doctor doesn’t want me to start CPM or PT until after the 1 week post-op. Also I’m supposed to keep the brace on at all times and no weight bearing. Was this the same for yall?

I’m very anxious to start PT and start making progress. Things have been going well so far. Pain is manageable and I can sleep easily.

One thing I’ve gotten mixed messages on is exactly what non weight bearing means. Am I able to rest my foot on the floor while sitting in the car or bathroom? Also how was showering for yall in the beginning. Was thinking I might get a chair.

Hi all,

Looking for some advice, experiences, and hopefully a bit of perspective from anyone who has been through something similar.

I’m a 41-year-old male in the UK with isolated Grade 4 cartilage damage behind both patellae. It's bilateral, in both knees. There are some additional findings on MRI, but nothing considered clinically significant.

I underwent auto-cart cartilage repair surgery on my left knee 13 months ago, followed by a second procedure 7 months ago to shave down overgrowth. Unfortunately, I’m still really struggling with stiffness, inflammation, and reactivity in that knee. It constantly feels tight and irritated.

My original surgeon keeps telling me to focus on rehab, but I recently saw a second surgeon who feels that, due to the location of the defect (at the apex of the kneecap), the area is unlikely to heal successfully and that a partial patellofemoral replacement may ultimately be the better option.

These last 3 years have honestly been brutal. Between the pain, surgeries, setbacks, and endless rehab, life has changed massively. My hips have also started clicking, although I suspect that may just be snapping hip syndrome from altered mechanics rather than cartilage issues.

Given that:

• My right kneecap is confirmed Grade 4 bone-on-bone
• My left knee is still problematic despite cartilage repair
• I’m struggling with stiffness and inflammation daily

…what would you do in my situation?

Has anyone here had similar patellofemoral damage and gone on to have a successful outcome — either with rehab, cartilage procedures, or partial replacement?

Part of me feels a partial replacement could be the right long-term solution. My main hesitation is whether the stiffness/inflammation I’m experiencing on the left side could actually be related to fat pad irritation and scar tissue from having two surgeries within a year. I worry that a third major surgery could potentially make that even worse.

At the same time, if the inflammation would eventually settle and lead to a better long-term quality of life, I’d probably accept another difficult recovery.

Would really appreciate hearing any honest experiences or thoughts from people who’ve been through similar situations.

Thanks in advance.

I (F, 32) had MACI on my right knee in 11/24. Rehab was going slow but i had kept persistent and finally I felt like I was getting places and putting some muscle back on. My Physiotherapist was even being hopeful that i might be able to get back into running short distances this summer. However I had an acute cartilage damage this april on the other knee. I got up from sitting on a chair heard a cracking noise and then had an effusion, pain and crepitation every time I bend my knee. I was able to get an MRI quite quickly and it showed that I had a 1,5x1,5cm Cartilage damage IV° and the broken off cartilage was floating around my joint. The left knee had never given me a single problem so I do not understand what happend exactly. I had a arthroscopy to take out the floater and gain some cells in April and will be getting the MACI procedure this friday.

Mentally however I am struggling even more than I did the first time around. My life has revolved heavily around sports (outdoors mostly in the mountains) for the last 12 years and its always been an important factor for my mental wellbeing as well. Not being able to do any sports (since the MACI on my right leg Ive been able to roadbike and swim at least) breaks my heart and mind. I feel like I am unable to get myself to do anything useful and I've been spending too much time on social media(finally deleted my instagram a week ago) and binge watching TV but I feel like this is just making me more depressed. I have tried reading and crafting more but its just not working the same for me as moving does. I get random meltdowns, sometimes even in public and pretty much out of the blue. It's been 4 weeeks since my left leg got injured and I have allowed myself to grief however I feel like i need to pick myself up now but am really struggling. My partner is really supportive and sweet and my friends are also very caring. I also thought I could use this unexpected time off to learn sth new or write more but actually I have been mostly bed rotting with my cats. I also thought about finding a therapist but I also feel like what could they possibly say to make me feel better.

Did anyone experience something similar and has advice how to get out of this?

Not sure what to do hoping this Reddit forum might give me some ideas. I'm currently 7 months post op MACI on my medial femoral condyle. I also had an ACL reconstruction done 1 year ago on the same knee: everything went pretty well with the ACL but ever since I've had my MACI surgery I've been in so much pain. when I walk and bend my knee a certain way it catches, and certain PT exercises are painful. Sometimes I even have a sharp pain when just walking around. I can't run, squat or do any of that because of the sharp pain that comes from these activities. I feel hopeless. I haven't requested another mri from my doctor but that's my plan: I am a firefighter and feel like I won't be able to get back to doing my job if I have this pain. ive spoken to my doctor about the pain and catching and he is not helpful at all. Not sure what to do. Any suggestions?

It’s been about over a year and a half since I got Maci (I got both done 4 months apart) and I was just wondering if kneeling ever feels ok and normal again. Doesn’t bring me a lot of pain but it’s so uncomfortable!

So happy I found this group! I am one week post op, and honestly recovery has been great thus far. That’s not to say it hasn’t had its moments with tears involved haha.

Has anyone dealt with any weird nerve recovery symptoms? My op-leg and foot literally feels like it’s in an ice bath, but when physically touching it it’s normal temp. My ice machine also makes my incision hurt (it feels like when you touch a metal form to a filling in your tooth). Anyone else had these or similar?

So I’m currently rehabbing from MACI (matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation) surgery and I want to know if the GLOW blend, consisting of GHK-Cu, BPC-157, and TB-500, would help with the healing process? (Or possibly hurt it?)

I’m currently two weeks in. This is my second attempt at the surgery. I had my other one previously five years ago and little background on myself I’m a former football player, decently strong guy having squatted 400+ or so even after the surgery. And was even able to come back and play football after the first surgery, I’m also currently a physical therapist, so I know I was decently rough on the graft and that’s something I could improve upon. I know the mechanism behind the blend seem theoretically like they would help. What are your thoughts on this?