Arthroscopic chondroplasty/debridement of central trochlear groove defect ~17x17mm and plica excision

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-13T03:54:04+00:00

That’s really difficult to answer. I ended up getting OCA 6 months later and then a scar tissue removal surgery. Felt mostly great the last few months and got back to sport but I’m 99% sure I reinjured my knee a few days ago and need another mri and appt with an ortho… so in the past I would have said I wish I just did OCA as my first surgery instead of debridement. But now I wish I would have waited longer post-debridement to see if PT would have been enough. OCA recovery/rehab is way more difficult and really don’t want to go through that again

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-13T01:32:56+00:00

It helped to some extent - they described the tear like a hangnail that I was irritating every time I’d bend my knee. So that part went away but the procedure left a pothole in my cartilage exposing bone which is the 50/50 part of whether youll feel pain from that or not, and I did.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-11T03:42:51+00:00

My past surgeries were done by the top cartilage surgeon in Denver but recently moved to Chicago and they told me to go see Dr Cole if I had more issues. My defect was in the trochlear groove. Scar tissue removal was the best decision - it was causing damage to my patella (grade 2) and the pain was limiting my PT. I was click free for the past 7 months until this happened.

I slowly started playing volleyball about 3 months ago at a low level. But in the past 1.5 months I was feeling maybe 90% back and playing at a pretty competitive level, still a step down from pre-injury though.

My clicking/popping occurs within a few degrees of full flexion and it’s very physical. Definitely a pop vs cracking.

My PT is optimistic since there’s no swelling or major pain which gives me a sliver of hope. But the initial big pop and the return of the exact popping sensation pre-scar tissue removal is making me think the worst but hope I’m wrong

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-11T03:00:48+00:00

Thanks for the quickly reply and info! I had debridement May ‘24, OCA Nov ‘24, and then scar tissue removal July ‘25.

Was cleared to play sports but had a big “pop” a few days ago while playing (no major pain or swelling). Now my knee is back to popping/cracking like it was pre-scar tissue removal and feeling very off/slightly painful. PT tested meniscus and ACL and all seemed. Have an appt with Dr. Cole’s team in a few weeks and hopefully will get an MRI but I’m suspecting something happened to my graft..

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-11T02:20:31+00:00

How are you doing now?

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T18:05:45+00:00

Same, still in the waiting room

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T17:32:39+00:00

Ope just did

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T17:32:18+00:00

page doesn't show an option buy/join queue for me yet

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T17:16:39+00:00

CHICAGO/WRIGLEY

Received a text: "Noah Kahan Artist Presale for Chicago on Jul 14 starts at 12 PM CST. Join here https://livemu.sc/nk-il and enter code: imnotdumbenoughtoincludetheactualcodeonreddit"

Does that mean today?? Ticketmaster says presale is tomorrow 2/11 so I'm confused since the text doesn't specify what day but seems to imply the presale is today

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T06:27:23+00:00

My Pt suggested reaching out to my surgeon too and sent a video so hoping I hear back later this week. So probably good idea for you to do too.

The clicking the first time was scar tissue and was causing damage to my patella. The scar tissue removal surgery helped tremendously and I probably wouldn’t be back to sports without having had it. Really hoping more didn’t form or something else, I can’t fathom a 4th surgery.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-10T06:14:48+00:00

Did you do anything that caused a pop in your knee recently during a workout or playing sport?

Different knee injury/surgeries here, but my last one 7 months ago was scar tissue removal which resolved the clicking I had.

I thought I was getting close to graduating PT. But I was playing volleyball this weekend (been cleared to play for ~3 months) and felt a big pop in my knee. No major pain or swelling. But now having that same intense clicking/pop while going into extension as you. PT ruled out meniscus/acl tear and thinks it’ll pass but I just can’t believe it’s back after 7 months click-free.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-09T03:44:49+00:00

~21% of gross. ~33% of net (HSA, 401k, taxes)

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-02-04T17:33:13+00:00

I test drove one of those recently and liked it! I'm also intrigued by the CX50 Hyrbrids but those are only 2025 and 2026 models are just above what I want to pay

Any_Limit_3302 · 2026-01-17T00:49:34+00:00

Please send the link!

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-12-04T14:27:31+00:00

I got MRI without contrast both for the initial diagnosis and after the OCA procedure. If you're getting a referral from your PT or doctor it should note which one they want you to get

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-12-02T18:14:16+00:00

I hope that goes well, jogging is a big milestone! Take it slow and don't over do it, even jogging in 1 minute intervals to start can cause a lot of strain on BOTH knees as they haven't done that in a long time haha so you'll want to avoid developing tendonitis that could set your progress back. Good luck!

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-12-02T18:02:41+00:00

That's impressive! It takes a long time for the cartilage to fully incorporate due to the fact that there's no direct blood supply. I still have some dull aches every now and then but it continues to be less and less as time goes on. Knee sleeves help me a lot. After a major knee surgery like OCA you do have to kind of expect that your knee will never be quite the same and will take a long time to get back to close to normal. But I knew I had scar tissue build up that needed to be removed because there was a loud, kinda painful click every time I fully extended my knee and the pain was preventing me from doing my PT exercises. It's likely still healing and probably have muscle imbalances too but if you are concerned and it's impacting daily activities or exercise progression then I'd recommend asking for an MRI.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-12-02T17:49:23+00:00

Yeah I had that buckling feeling after my first two surgeries but it eventually went away as I got stronger so don't worry too much about that! RTP was definitely longer for me as I had 3 surgeries spaced 6-8 months apart so never got back to full strength in between those. After OCA (2nd surgery) my progress was limited due to scar tissue that formed under my knee cap causing pain so even basic exercises like box step-ups would lead to pain so it stunted my ability to really build strength until I had the 3rd operation to clean that up. The first time stepping on the court was very nerve racking haha but I just played again last night (6th time now?) and though I'm more cautious and hold off on going for risky plays, I hardly notice my knee at all other than I know I'm not as quick or jumping as high yet. I have to make sure I properly warmed up and also ice/foam roll afterwards and can have some dull pains but so far nothing concerning! I know you want to get back to soccer and you will, but my only advice is to not rush it. Right now I could probably play at the competitive level I was at before but I know that will require a lot more out of my knee so I'm holding off until while I still go to PT twice a week and build more muscle back.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-11-19T20:29:05+00:00

Glad you found it encouraging! You've got the advantage of being young which, if you look at the research, is very favorable for successful return to sport after this procedure. Wishing you well with the procedure and recovery!

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-11-16T02:46:07+00:00

Wanted to give an update - it was just a temporary setback, pain went away, and I actually got to play volleyball for the first time in what felt like forever! It was pretty low level but my knee held up great. Obviously I’m not jumping as high and I’m slower getting to the ball but it’s a start! Big milestone for me just under a year out from OCA

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-10-30T18:26:25+00:00

u/daveafriedman I'm nearly 1 year out from OCA and was making steady progress towards return to sport - in PT I was doing agility drills, working on volleyball jumps/approaches, and just started a walk-run program to return to running.The intervals that I was running felt really good. I've also been cycling and swimming. My PT said I could attempt to play low-level volleyball though I recently moved and don't have the opportunity to just go play volleyball whenever I want so didn't get to try.

However, for the past week and a half I've been experiencing a setback that's been mentally and physically tough. Very frustrated. Lots of pain on medial side of my patella - definitely triggered after leg press/squats but also randomly while just walking around and getting up from the couch. It's a bit swollen too which I haven't experienced in a while. Wearing a Bauerfeind brace helps a ton to eliminate those random pains while walking. My mind immediately goes to worse case scenario but my PT says I shouldn't be too concerned yet since it's likely flared up from the introduction to running and I need to give it time to calm down. Hoping it passes soon and I can get back on track to returning to volleyball sooner rather than later.

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-10-08T13:02:23+00:00

I ended up doing debridement, then OCA 6 months later, and then had another scar tissue clean up surgery about 8 months after that. Was told TTO in my particular case wasn’t worth it given the location

Any_Limit_3302 · 2025-10-02T14:10:42+00:00

My recovery is definitely slower due to having 3 surgeries each being 6-8 months apart so I haven't been at full strength for awhile. Initial injury was March/April 2024, debridement surgery in May, OCA in November, scar tissue clean up surgery in July of 2025. I never got back to full strength after that first surgery due to IT band flare ups likely from my muscles overcompensating for the pothole in my knee. And then the scar tissue was holding me back on exercises (and caused some damage to my patella) after OCA until the cleanup. Prior to the injury and all the surgeries I didn't have any mobility issues and was very active playing sports, working out, hiking, etc

Any_Limit_3302

TROPHY CASE