OATS - MACI Recovery diary

valencastillo

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Hello Guys,
I figured I would give an update for anyone interested.
I am one-week post op today. The surgery went smoothly, and I was discharged the same day and sent home. The first couple of days were honestly a blur; I was asleep 99% of the time. My doctor decided not to use a nerve blocker, so I was a little scared by day 3 I was going to start feeling intense pain; but no. I was fine, I mean it was painful but nothing that would stop me from having a good day.
I have the CPM machine which I sleep with and increase 5 degrees every day, currently at 45 today YAY. I thought I was going to not sleep but it honestly does not bother mem at all to sleep on it all night.
I am slowly but surely becoming more efficient with my crutches, but avoiding unnecessary movement that puts me in danger of hitting my leg or falling. I saw my doctor yesterday, and although there is some swelling it looks pretty good! I have attached a picture.
Everything has been great until today, today was my first physical therapy session and it was HORRIBLE. I am so so so incredibly tender after it. I genuinely feel worse today than after surgery. My lovely PT told me it was normal to be in this much pain today and to be patient. Today has been the first time I had a breakdown. I am sad and honestly, in so much pain, I took half of my pain medicine and hope it gets better throughout the day.
I guess I just wanted to hop on here and give an update and use this as a venting mechanism for a moment of difficulty. Thank you for being here
 

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Wow Valencastillo That`s some procedure it seems you are doing well. I hope the newly grown cartilage takes in your knee. Which compartment was the MACI procedure for?
 
Patellofemoral, I believe.
I am hopeful it will work! I will do everything in my power and follow all instructions
 
Hi Vallencastillo!

Don't be too down on the pain. You are just a week out! It does get better, everyone here can attest to that.

You are very young and I really hope the new cartilage growth works for you. I wish they could have done that for me but I was not a candidate since I didn't have any left! That recovery process is a long one but they have had a lot of success with it.

Depression kind of hits us all to varying degrees. I am 16 weeks post BKTR and I still have my moments. Unfortunately the pain killers can enhance that effect as well.

Keep your chin up and remember your goals for having it done in the first place!

Merlin
 
Everything has been great until today, today was my first physical therapy session and it was HORRIBLE. I am so so so incredibly tender after it. I genuinely feel worse today than after surgery. My lovely PT told me it was normal to be in this much pain today and to be patient.
Painful PT is not required to have a good outcome, and can actually hinder it. As you said, everything was great until that PT session. Yes, pain from the surgery is normal, and yes, we have to be patient, but increased pain, especially a lot of increased pain, from PT is not necessary. Take charge of your PT session and don’t let your PT push you, literally or figuratively.
Saying no to therapy - am I allowed to?

Only do what you are comfortable with. If you feel it’s not in your best interest, decline to do that particular activity. Some PTs have a one size fits all protocol, and not the individual program just for you, so you the patient need to be on your guard and protect your recovery. One week out of surgery is too soon for painful PT. (not that it is ever appropriate.)

I will leave you our Recovery Guidelines. Each article is short but very informative. Following these guidelines will help you have a less painful recovery.

Just keep in mind all people are different, as are the approaches to this recovery and rehab. The key is, “Find what works for you.“ Your doctors, PTs and BoneSmart are available to help, but you are the final judge as to the recovery approach you choose.

Knee Recovery: The Guidelines
1. Don’t worry: Your body will heal all by itself. Relax, let it, don't try and hurry it, don’t worry about any symptoms now, they are almost certainly temporary
2. Control discomfort:
rest
ice
take your pain meds by prescription schedule (not when pain starts!)​

3. Do what you want to do BUT
a. If it hurts, don't do it and don't allow anyone - especially a physical therapist - to do it to you​
b. If your leg swells more or gets stiffer in the 24 hours after doing it, don't do it again.​


4. PT or exercise can be useful BUT take note of these

5. At week 4 and after you should follow this

6. Access to these pages on the website

The Recovery articles:
The importance of managing pain after a TKR and the pain chart
Swollen and stiff knee: what causes it?
Energy drain for TKRs
Elevation is the key
Ice to control pain and swelling
Heel slides and how to do them properly
Chart representation of TKR recovery
Healing: how long does it take?

Post op blues is a reality - be prepared for it
Sleep deprivation is pretty much inevitable - but what causes it?

There are also some cautionary articles here
Myth busting: no pain, no gain
Myth busting: the "window of opportunity" in TKR
Myth busting: on getting addicted to pain meds

We try to keep the forum a positive and safe place for our members to talk about their questions or concerns and to report successes with their joint replacement surgery.

While members may create as many threads as they like in the majority of BoneSmart’s forums, we ask that each member have only One Recovery Thread. This policy makes it easier to go back and review the member’s history before providing advice, so please post any updates or questions you have right here in this thread.
 
Therapy was actually very gentle and not bad. But, unfortunately, it has been through the day it has been increasingly hurting. I spoke to my doctor, and he shared that sadly, with the MACI," where the cartilage generates an inflammatory reaction to the procedure performed." is "normal" and to take some of my medication and ice.
I'm not gonna lie. Today has been incredibly discouraging. I feel like it had been a breeze this whole time, and now I feel the pain everyone was speaking about.
@MerlinWizard Thank you so much for your message and your encouraging words. I appreciate it so much. I feel like I took a million steps back and cried terribly just from the thought that I had ruined the surgery.
 
Hi valencastillo, how are you doing so far?
 
Hey valencastillo, I am a young man seriously contemplating ACI surgery for a single defect that has plagued my life for the last 2 years. Like you, my defect is in the patellofemoral compartment. After many failed attempts at conservative (PT) and minimally invasive procedures (PRP injections), I have all but decided on ACI surgery. Unfortunately, I struggle to find a lot of people's experiences to read about. I was wondering if you could give me and update on your recovery process now it has been approx. 12 months post surgery. I hope you are healing well!

Bku125
 
@Bku125 Welcome to BoneSmart! Unfortunately valencastillo has not been back on the forum for quite awhile. Why don't you start your own thread in the pre-op area so that other members will see your post and comment? Here's a link about Starting a new thread and posting.
 

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