Microfracture Surgery Recovery: 6 Months

Last Friday marked two things for me; it was my 5th anniversary and 6 months post-op from my microfracture surgery. I suppose both can be considered feats themselves. I am happy to say that I am doing well on both accounts.

6 months ago, I didn’t think this day would come. No, let me back up a couple more months. About 8 months ago I was crying wondering why my body had failed me. At 32, I was too young to be looking at major knee surgery. But, my knee hurt so much I could barely walk. 3 years after a basic knee surgery to clean out my knee, I was waiting on the results of an MRI. Dr. Behr reviewed the results of the MRI and the options I had. All of the options involved surgery with a long, length recovery. As this is medicine and not auto mechanics, there were no guarantees. The voices in my head couldn’t stop with the negative and depressing thoughts. I was going to have surgery. I was going to be on crutches for 6+ weeks. I was going to be in rehab for a long time. I was going to miss out playing with my children. I was going to miss out on their development. I was going to take away from my wife’s life. And selfishly, I was going to loose out on what I liked to do. That was a hard pill to swallow.

Now, it has been 6 months since my surgery.

It has been a long and hard 6 months.

I am much better than I was 6 months ago. I am much better than I was 9 months ago. I am much better than I was a year ago.

I have not missed out on my children’s growth. I have not missed out on everything in my life. Sure, times were tough and sometimes scary. But I’ve grown through them a learned a lot.

Physically I am better now. Mentally and emotionally, I am a stronger person too.

It is interesting how 6 months is such a big milestone with microfracture surgery. It is by no means a magic number.  It is a goal you put in your head before the surgery, and it has turned out to be a great milestone for me.

Over the past month or so, I can really see the muscle development. My body just feels like doing more. I’ve been running after the kids and the dog. I’ve been carrying more weight (the kids). I’ve been exercising harder.

I’ve been happier.

I am not done. I still have a lot of strength to recover. I still have pain, but it isn’t so scary anymore. I see and feel the progress. My recovery has become much more symbiotic with my life. I don’t feel like my knee is holding me back. Rather, I am working with it to get stronger and improve my life more and more.

I will still hit bumps in the road, but I am happy with my decision to have the surgery. I am better now than I was before.

  4 comments for “Microfracture Surgery Recovery: 6 Months

  1. Hy i am waqas olympian of 2008 n 2012 .i am pakistan hockey player n played 12 years .suddenly i got meniscus tear n cartilage damage .i had sugery now after 6 months i start running jogging i am doing stregnthning exercises regularly but i still feel some pain medial side but it is gradually going down n muscle is getting shape .

  2. Brien,

    I too had a lot of medial pain, and I still do sometimes. By Dr. said it was common and not a lot to worry about. I have noticed that it is getting better. Slowly, but it is getting better.
    So, yes, I would say that I’ve had similar experiences to you. The pain, setbacks and slow muscle regrowth echo what I am going through. That said, not that I am getting a base of muscle, I can push myself more with better results.

    Good luck,
    Steve

  3. Hi Steve,

    Congratulations!! I cannot wait to be as mobile as you. I had my first microfracture surgery 6 months ago, and then a second surgery to clean out the knee about 3 months ago. My pt says that I have to look at recovery from the second surgery date and so I consider myself 3 months post op. My quad is getting a bit stronger as it doesn’t look as wasted away, but I get pretty sharp pain on the medial joint line when I overdo it or go up stairs. My pt thinks that this is referred pain, but I am confused by it and wonder if there is something wrong with my recovery. I sometimes wonder if I will ever recover from this. I still cannot walk down or up stairs normally and have to go up one step at a time. I would love to hear if others have had similar experiences.

    Warmly,

    Brien

  4. Congrats Steve on the 6 months –
    i’ve been following since week 6 when i had my MF surgery. I’ve longed to reach that 6-months – perhaps too much. I’ve kind of envisioned that at 6 months all the pain goes away, no more swelling or weakness, back to normal. I know that isn’t the case however but it is a milestone. Was hard to envision even being at 5 months ( next week for me ) when all of this started.

    Keep moving forward man – and keep posting.

    Jim

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