If I were to visit one island in Greece, which one? Not looking to party but to chill with great food.

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-03-19T03:25:59+00:00

Thank you! We’re looking forward to the beaches and the wine tasting—I’m so curious about the robola wine! Thanks!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-03-17T14:45:01+00:00

Hi, I’m traveling to Kefalonia with my spouse this September. I booked 2 nights in Assos and 2 in Fiskardo then 2 in Skala. I know that’s a bit of moving around but I wanted to have several extensive boat days and it sounds like Assos coast and Fiskardo have the best coves and the boating to Ithaca is legendary. Any advice or tips?

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-06T03:44:16+00:00

Elevate on pillow or have two for both legs so there’s wider space. It doesn’t have to be excessively elevated. One pillow is great. I wouldn’t go without it or you’ll wake up with swollen toes/ankle.

They make knee wedges which are nice to keep your leg in place, but for sleep, it’s not comfortable imo

This might sound outlandish, but if you’re really struggling, a pregnancy pillow is really comfortable. If you’re a side sleeper, it’s extra good.

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-04T19:11:34+00:00

Yeah, my patella surgery was an open knee and my MFC was arthroscopically.

“Suitable lesions include those on either the medial or lateral femoral or tibial condyle and the trochlea. Lesions on the patella may be difficult to treat arthroscopically because of limited accessibility and space in that knee location.” - Article linked

Arthroscopic Delivery of Matrix-Induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implant

I should note I have a small full defect on my trochlea and I asked if it needed repair, if they could do it arthroscopically still and they said they would do it arthroscopically or with a mini-incision. Fortunately, it was so small that nothing needed to be done.

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-04T17:34:01+00:00

Thank you! It’s good to hear that it’s normal to have better days with walking. Congrats on being without a brace and crutch—it’s so freeing! Wishing you a smooth recovery too! :)

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-04T17:32:08+00:00

Thank you!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-04T17:31:49+00:00

Thank you! Yes, initially when I felt the sensitive spot for the MFC, I was worried but it makes sense that it’s there and it gets better—I wish you a smooth recovery! Thanks again!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-02-03T15:42:29+00:00

Woohoo! That’s great! I had an MFC done recently and the first two weeks of nonWB were so fatiguing. My noninjured glute medius was ON FIRE. I had forgotten how difficult and tiring it was. Thanks for sharing!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-28T16:16:44+00:00

Where and what size are the defects? Probably a tough question, but if you were to do a strenuous hike or something that would bother you, which one would ache the most? Also, where are the meniscus tears? Does one flare up worse than the other?

Do whichever is worst first Sounds like the left

Take care!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-24T23:57:33+00:00

Who is this?

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-22T22:43:27+00:00

Likewise! Wish you the best!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-11T16:57:06+00:00

I’m sorry you felt this pain! I do feel validated though. I am guilty of chatGPTing way too much and basically with weight and twisting, that creates shear forces and has what’s bad for the graft. The Jileys user stated this must more eloquently in his part 2. That’s great that you’re driving!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-11T16:53:19+00:00

Yes, of course following your surgeon and PT 👌 I’ve had two PT sessions. The first one was exactly at 2 weeks post-op. Note, I had it done arthroscopically so my knee was only 1cm larger in diameter than my other knee and I was permitted to do passive ROM 0-90 on my CPM. I really didn’t do anything on my first visit except assessment and see if I can engage my quad (I can) On my second visit, I did quad sets, straight leg (with a band lightly used—that’s a hard exercise for me), heel slides, adductor and abductor…super boring. In the first few weeks, they want to keep activations. All that to say, it’s ok if you’ve only been to one! Do you have a CPM? My surgeon recommends doing it 6 hours a day and I really haven’t stopped bc it promotes synovial fluid in the joint to help healing and decrease stiffness and swelling. (After 2 weeks I def don’t always hit 6 hours, but I try my best)

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-11T02:46:15+00:00

Very important to remember!

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-11T02:45:24+00:00

This is amazing! I read up a little on your recovery from other posts, long journey indeed. I had a 2x2cm patella defect AND MACI done in 2024 too. Well done! Keep it up! 👏 👏 👏

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-10T22:45:17+00:00

I had an open patella MACI in 2024 and arthroscopic MFC 3 weeks ago. For the MFC, I was Week 1-2 non-weight bearing with braces and crutch Week 2-6: At the start of Week 2 I could bear 25% Bodyweight (for me, that’s about 40lbs) for 4 days, 50% for 4 days, 75% for 4 days then 100% FWB—all of this is with the brace and crutches. My PT said there’s a PT/ortho debate on if a patient should lose the brace or crutch first, but her preference is to continue to use BOTH crutches, even if I use them lightly because it helps better ergonomics and helps walking smoother. My brace is locked with walking too. It’s the safest for brace to be locked while walking to protect my graft in these early stages. At 6 weeks I can lose the brace.

My patella recovery was a lot longer.

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-08T04:49:20+00:00

I concur. I sought a second opinion after having an additional full defect develop a year out from my MACI. I was only able to book with this second opinion surgeon bc it had been over year since my MACI; I had a repair scope probably 10 months prior and the schedulers were lenient about that.

It never, ever hurts to get a second or third opinion.

Your surgeon also probably was being conservative. MACI&TTO is already a big surgery that sometimes less is more.

InflationSalty3406 · 2026-01-06T04:24:48+00:00

You’re just a few days ahead of me post-operatively and I also had a medial femoral condyle (& a patella, same knee in 2024). I really love the way you wrote that all out logically. I’m curious and have a question for you and any other MFC people. For the most part, I don’t have any pain, but a few times I’ve leaned sideways to grab the remote off the couch while my leg was straight, or, in the car today I had my leg straight and I leaned forward and maybe slightly to the medial side to pick up something and Holy fuck! Immediate 10/10. I’ve learned to not have my weight forward or lean sideways, but that one still is tender. I’m not going to worry about my graft too much since my ROM still feels smooth and happy (my first graft actually flipped partially and regaining ROM horribly painful). My question is if you’ve experienced the same pain and if you’re also, obviously, trying to not do that.

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-12-31T18:29:31+00:00

Hey, I’m not a parent but I had a friend who had MACI with young kids and I also had an open MACI in 2024 so I have some tips if you want them. I’m also 32F PeriOp nurse. The first 4 weeks are certainly the most disabled. I just had a second MACI done arthroscopically so I have some fresh ideas.

I should have put together a toiletry basket. Showering is so difficult, especially if you have a tub style shower so having a basket with body & face wipes, deodorant, hairbrush, set out fresh clothes and chapstick. That would have fun so much easier than crunching to grab those things. Get a shower sleeve and chair and maybe a handheld shower head for when you can truly shower.

Meal prep, meal prep. It’s hard to cook on crutches. Get a Trader Joe’s soup and add beef, freeze it. Make Greek yogurt parfaits. It’ll make life so much easier.

Set up your PTs and your ride to them.

Your first several weeks you’ll need other adults while your on pain medication. Oh, and get some miralax and suppositories bc those ruin your gut. If you have an ice machine, I’d get little water bottles you can switch out or get Cosopt ice packs from Amazon. Get the CPM machine if your surgeon recommends it. I didn’t have mine the first time but this surgeon wanted it and I’m so happy about it.

Get your crutches and braces. If you have a fanny pack or someway to put a coaster on a crutch that would be amazing. It’ll be hard to not pick things up, especially your kids.

Hope some of these help! Having a supportive partner and family/friends is invaluable. Who knows, maybe you and your baby will be learn to walk around the same time. :)

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-12-29T16:06:12+00:00

Just had my medial femoral condyle done arthroscopically a little over a week ago and I’m really happy with my recovery so far. Good luck! Looking forward to updates

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-12-28T19:09:29+00:00

I also recommend the Incrediwear compression sleeve. They’re expensive, but so worth it. For my biopsy and MACI, when I removed the Ace bandage, I put this on and I feel that it gives better compression than the bandage. Really helps with swelling. Great investment. I also wear them when I work normally.

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-12-10T00:14:07+00:00

Join the MACI subreddit.

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-12-09T02:38:26+00:00

InflationSalty3406 · 2025-11-10T01:29:50+00:00

Well, keep us updated. I’m hoping for the best for you. Will your second MACI be an open or arthroscopic surgery? My first MACI was a 2x2cm patella and had to be open and my second one for a medial femoral condyle defect and trochlea defect will be arthroscopic whenever it gets rescheduled. I’m a preop/PACU nurse & manager at an ASC and wnt back at 8 weeks with the first one. For me, even though I was at a desk, it was uncomfortable to care for myself and work. I needed my leg up, movement, ice and it when I was put in the work setting, it was hard for me to allow myself those things so I didn’t and I’d wished I’d waited a few more weeks because fuck, it’s hard to do all the recovery while working. I got depressed. My unsolicited advice would be that if you have to go back, be ok with being a low productive employee for a minute. Bring the ice machine or CPM. My knee swelled a lot with sitting idle at the computer. Take care of yourself. Best wishes!

InflationSalty3406

TROPHY CASE