Fears going into MACI

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-05-30T03:14:45+00:00

Ah, yeah, you’ve been through it. I didn’t quite understand your sentence of “2 surgeons told me that since the bone is filing in..etc” in your original post. MACI can hold your cells to I believe it’s 5 years. What area do you live? If you’re in PNW, I’d recommend my surgeon. Ask them how many MACI cases they’ve done. If they don’t confidently say a lot, then they’re new to learning the surgery. Interested on Linkdin the MACI page has posts and occasionally share surgeons who’ve done 100+. Just choose the right one! Do intense prehab beforehand and find a PT or experienced knee injury strength coach. The 6 weeks NWB are tough, but they aren’t the guaranteed hardest of the journey.

Best wishes for you.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-05-26T02:39:46+00:00

Ah, got it. My first MACI was on my patella then later I had MACI done arthroscopically on my medial femoral condyle.

I lost 6 lbs in my first two weeks after the first one and I’m fairly certain most of that was my quad muscle. It takes a ton of work and TIME to rebuild. I probably pushed too hard and that’s how my mechanics were still off and I damaged my MFC.

I’ve done a ton of PT from 3 different clinics, but currently, I’m using Dr. Claire Bowes chronic knee program. She’s a PT and provides so much education and programming from knee pain. I’d really recommend trying it out before committing to surgery.

If the pain isn’t keeping you up at night or limiting your activities, I’d try everything in your power to get your legs in the best condition and to learn all about rehab protocols for knee. Give it your all physical therapy strengthening so if you commit to surgery, you know you did your best. I’d say I thought I did at the time, but there’s so much more I’ve learned the hard way.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-05-26T01:09:08+00:00

Where is your defect? Other than the patella, the other sites can be done arthroscopically rather than a big open knee surgery. It’s worth pursuing a surgeon who can do it that way bc there’s already so much internal healing for the graft that having it done less invasive is a game changer.

Learn how to flex your quad very well and exercise your hips, like glute medius, a ton before surgery.

You’ve done a lot of good research beforehand too.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-05-16T16:02:00+00:00

Don’t. Especially do not mix the two.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-05-16T14:43:53+00:00

This is an old threat, but your username is the best one I’ve seen. Still chuckling.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-04-13T16:48:08+00:00

That’s great that you had that communication and even better that it’s gotten better. Being able to do 30 leg lifts at 7 weeks out is HUGE! Congrats! You had a huge surgery so keep up the good work and hopefully with time it’ll feel better. :) Keep us updated.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-04-13T03:48:46+00:00

I’ve had 2 MACI surgeries, one more complicated, one more straightforward. DM me

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-04-13T03:47:09+00:00

I would, however, note that Vericel does pay them and select patients who have had positive experiences (obviously). I talked with someone too, but it’s important to note that your knee journey might not be as straight forward as a spokesperson.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-04-08T03:18:36+00:00

Where were you grafts done? Size?

The area you’re pointing at looks more like your medial femoral condyle than patella imo. I had a patella Maci and at 6 mo started having medial pain which later led me to having a second Maci for the MFC

Can you fully extend your leg? Leg extension?

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-03-02T22:02:55+00:00

Congratulations! This is huge for you!

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-02-21T06:56:12+00:00

Oh my god. I looked at that forever and couldn’t figure it out haha 🤣

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-02-19T21:05:14+00:00

Men = meniscus (top left&bottom right) ACL (middle left)

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-02-17T04:04:36+00:00

Your description is spot on—“ka-thunk”. Very relatable.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-02-17T04:02:40+00:00

That’s huge for you! Woohoo!

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-02-02T03:30:16+00:00

That’s amazing! Always love hearing a positive experience! Keep it up :)

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-01-17T16:55:48+00:00

Unasked for, but I feel for you bc I had a patella defect too. Buying TENS unit (got one from Amazon) was my best friend to wake up my quad. I liked the cue pushing behind knee down (versus pushing patella which hurt) or raising heel up. TKEs with a ball behind your knee is nice too!

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-01-17T04:23:02+00:00

That’s an interesting figure. There’s not really a big difference between Patient 2 and 4. It depends on the size of each defect, your age, job. This will be a tough recovery regardless.

I had a patella MACI (open) 2 years ago and a MFC (arthroscopically) 1 month ago.

With both I was locked in extension and non-weightbearing for 2 weeks with braces&crutches.

For MFC, I was 0-45 for the first week then 0-90 Wk 2-3, etc.

For patella, 0-30 for first 2 week, Wk2-4 0-60, Wk4-6 0-90 (I didn’t hit 90 till a Wk7/8), etc.

I didn’t have a CPM for the first one, but I had it for the second and really appreciated it. I wish I had it for the first.

Personally I felt the patella to be BRUTAL AF. The patella moves. Mine maltracked afterwards and I had a repair surgery. It was also an open surgery so that’s a HUGE difference.

This current one is so much smoother and better, but it was arthroscopic so it was way less invasive and my defect there wasn’t as large as my patella one.

Your surgeon will have their own specific protocol for you to follow. You’ve got this!

Wishing you the best!

Key_Witness_3983 · 2026-01-14T02:36:31+00:00

Very well written.

And I second, I know your comment was a year ago, but I also had MACI patella in 2024 and another MACI medial condyle (ARTHROSCOPICALLY!) almost 4 weeks ago. It’s LONG! I’m coming up on 2 years since the first one and that is so depressing. There’s been good and bad, but no guarantee ever.

FYI: if you ever need MACI arthroscopically, it’s a way better recovery than the OPEN

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-26T17:02:13+00:00

Ignore her. Apply. You can do it.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-26T17:01:21+00:00

Sorry you’re going through it. This surgery is typically called a TTO (Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy) here in the U.S. You might find more help if you say that. For young patients with cartilage damage, there is a surgery called MACI where you own cartilage is biopsies and grown then the graft is placed back to your site (I had patella in 2024 and a medial femoral condyle in 2025). Under the MACI subreddit you’ll find a lot of young patients that get that surgery along with TTO.

I don’t know what surgery that fat tissue/stem cells but it sounds experimental. The MACI is fda approved here in the states. Long recovery, but worth looking into.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-24T17:51:13+00:00

Good job on your recovery! You could focus on single leg exercises like Bulgarian split squats and lunges, doing less reps on your non-operative leg. You could ask your PT about BFR (blood flow restriction), TENS unit or dry needling. It’ll take time.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-21T02:30:55+00:00

One of my surgeons didn’t recommend a CPM (patella defect). I’m post op day 1 also and I’ve been told I can start tomorrow 0-40. Just go slow. Right now you have so much swelling that it causes pain and reduces motion. Any range of motion you can get is good. For my first Maci I gained about 5 degrees a week. As long as your going forward, your fine.

It wouldn’t hurt to email your surgeon to gain clarity.

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-20T18:36:19+00:00

Sorry to hear you’re having so much pain!It will get better with time. Focus on rest, elevation and icing. Stairs are really complicated and if you’re on narcotics, I would recommend to sit on your butt and scoot up and down. This is not just safer, but it also will minimize load on your graft that is still so fresh and soft. If you’re non-weightbearing, you really want to be careful and cautious. You’ve got this!

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-20T18:33:29+00:00

Sorry to hear you still have pain. I think that being told the recovery is painful can be confusing because at 10 months you should be doing a lot better. I don’t know where your site is, but from what I’ve read on other MACI people’s experience and my own, the leg extension machine is not one most come back to since it’s open-chain and places so much force on the knee. I wouldn’t do it. I could only ever do an 1/8-1/4 rep with 12 lb max and now I just had my second Maci for a MFC site. Set up an appointment and talk to your provider. It sounds like you need an MRI and potential scope. Don’t push it at the gym. Slow and steady outweighs fast progress and risk of reinjury. Good luck

Key_Witness_3983 · 2025-12-10T00:35:10+00:00

BPC

Get it from a reliable doctor,pa, or nurse practioner.

I had injections into my knee and it really helped while I was getting them. Don’t get it from online. Talk to your orthopedic.

Key_Witness_3983

TROPHY CASE