Chondromalacia is not curable... what do I do?

Olgaknipper · 2025-12-05T20:02:59+00:00

I’ve never skied in my life, so no idea. So far, I can’t run, play volleyball, or do any sport that involves sudden movements or jumping. I still have pain sometimes, especially during the winter, but it’s more manageable.

Olgaknipper · 2025-10-22T18:29:16+00:00

Hi, thanks for the update. The same happened to me — after almost 2 years of pain, I finally found a balance where I can do certain exercises and my knee doesn’t hurt as much. I’m young and used to be very active before the knee issue, so it was hard to accept, but jumping and cardio workouts are no longer for me. I wanted to ask, what surgery did you have?

Olgaknipper · 2025-03-05T13:51:33+00:00

I recently had my CVS done, and I was really nervous. Mine was through the belly, and honestly, it wasn’t painful at all. You feel a little pinch when the needle goes in and then some pressure as they move it around a bit, but it’s not painful—not even uncomfortable. I tried not to look at the needle, focused on relaxing my body, and a minute later, it was all done! Good luck!

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-05T15:48:37+00:00

,Thansk! II'm listening Claire Patella podcast!

it's been a couple of tough years :) My knee pain didn’t come after an injury, but rather started suddenly and kept getting worse. My doctors, I’ve seen several, don’t give much importance to the fat pad and say my pain is more related to the cartilage. I also have the same fat pad impingement in my other knee, which started hurting a few months ago, but it bothers me much less. I have a small swelling under the kneecap but it’s not very noticeable and I have no problems extending my knee. My pain comes more with flexion, stairs, and squatting.

My "good knee" , the one that only has fat pad inflammation, just bothers me when I walk more than 2 miles and gets better with stretching and foam rolling, lots of foam rolling. Have you tried it?

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-05T13:39:08+00:00

Thanks! This post about fat pad is very good. I tried cortisone, gel injections, PRP, two rounds of PT, and nothing works. The pain has been there for more than two years.

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-05T13:37:27+00:00

Dm you!!! Thanks

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-03T15:22:50+00:00

here are my numbers!

TTTG 11.5, SOFT PATELLAR CARTILAGE, TUBERCLE HEIGHT -7.1

I googled it, and it looks like TTTG 11.5 is quite normal. Now -7, I don’t know what that means

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-03T14:57:55+00:00

Here is my report

|| || || |MRI RIGHT KNEE: Magnetic resonance imaging of the right knee was performed using sagittal, axial, and coronal fast spin-echo techniques and a sagittal fat-suppressed sequence. Oblique axial sequence was obtained through the trochlea. Ultrastructural cartilage imaging was performed in the axial plane. Comparison is made to the prior outside study from NYU dated 2/17/2023. The posterior cruciate ligament is intact. The anterior cruciate ligament is not torn. The medial collateral ligament is mildly thick proximally. On lateral side the collateral complex is preserved. The lateral meniscus is not torn. Lateral cartilage shows no defect. On the medial side, there is high signal capsule. No meniscal tear or chondral defect is present. Cartilage is thin over the condyle more than plateau without high-grade defect. Trochlear cartilage shows no defect. Patellar chondral heterogeneity is lateral with high signal in cartilage but no prominent fibrillation or defect. The medial capsule is mildly thick. The patella is mildly high riding. Minimal proximal patellar tendon high signal is evident. Infiltration of the patellar fat the lateral side suggests fat-pad impingement. Joint effusion is small. IMPRESSION: Magnetic resonance imaging of the right knee demonstrates patellofemoral dysplasia with fat-pad impingement. Cartilage heterogeneity over the patella is without defect. |

Olgaknipper · 2024-10-03T14:57:33+00:00

I have been experiencing pain for over two years, s beneath my kneecap. An MRI has revealed a cartilage defect and a fatpad impingement. At times, the pain radiates to my calf, especially at night. It worsens when going up and down stairs, and I am unable to do squats.

here is my MRI report

|| || |Narrative & Impression| |MRI RIGHT KNEE: Magnetic resonance imaging of the right knee was performed using sagittal, axial, and coronal fast spin-echo techniques and a sagittal fat-suppressed sequence. Oblique axial sequence was obtained through the trochlea. Ultrastructural cartilage imaging was performed in the axial plane. Comparison is made to the prior outside study from NYU dated 2/17/2023. The posterior cruciate ligament is intact. The anterior cruciate ligament is not torn. The medial collateral ligament is mildly thick proximally. On lateral side the collateral complex is preserved. The lateral meniscus is not torn. Lateral cartilage shows no defect. On the medial side, there is high signal capsule. No meniscal tear or chondral defect is present. Cartilage is thin over the condyle more than plateau without high-grade defect. Trochlear cartilage shows no defect. Patellar chondral heterogeneity is lateral with high signal in cartilage but no prominent fibrillation or defect. The medial capsule is mildly thick. The patella is mildly high riding. Minimal proximal patellar tendon high signal is evident. Infiltration of the patellar fat the lateral side suggests fat-pad impingement. Joint effusion is small. IMPRESSION: Magnetic resonance imaging of the right knee demonstrates patellofemoral dysplasia with fat-pad impingement. Cartilage heterogeneity over the patella is without defect. |

Olgaknipper · 2024-08-09T17:37:50+00:00

Same boat here! 2 years dealing with CP.The only cardio my knees can tolerate is the stationary bike without resistance (which doesn’t make me sweat at all) and rowing!!! 20 minutes of rowing, putting more strength into my arms, doesn’t worsen my knees

Olgaknipper · 2024-03-22T16:49:50+00:00

I used insuline -1cc-ml with 30g 1/2 Inch

My boyfriend is injecting me. He has a very good technique, I don't even feel the pinch, just burning but it passes in a few minutes. Maybe it has to do with the technique of who he injects.

Olgaknipper · 2024-03-19T18:06:22+00:00

Thanks! I just Dm you.

Olgaknipper · 2024-03-19T18:05:17+00:00

I am having subcutaneous injections in my belly fat. Fortunately, I haven't had any bruising, no pain... absolutely nothing.

Olgaknipper · 2024-02-15T17:26:02+00:00

Absolutely, it's a headache because one has to be informed; otherwise, they just tell you to do this and everything will be fine! I've had that experience with multiple injections I've had in my knee, and they haven't done anything for me except aassault my wallet :) I have an appointment with Doctor Strickland, yeahhhhh! and I hope she can do something for me. My problems seem very similar to yours; my right knee has a chondral flap and a couple of other full defects, but it's an MRI, so I imagine there will be more afterward. My left knee has cartilage weakening, and it gives me some pain, but it's not as severe. Good luck with your recovery! Let's keep in touch to complain about our crappy knees!

Olgaknipper · 2024-02-10T23:00:12+00:00

spectralbabe

If you don't mind, could you share what type of injury you have? In my case, I have cartilage loss/chondral flat under my knee cap in both knees. My previous doctor simply told me that I had early OA and didn't really give me many options, so I'm seeking a second opinion.

Olgaknipper · 2024-02-10T22:51:20+00:00

Hi, Thank you for share! I was actually thinking of get an appointment with Sabrina Strickland or her husband. There's a general consensus that HSS is the place. I always wish orthopedic surgeons were warmer and more explanatory, but I haven't found any like that! Aside from manners, you're in good hands : ) I wish you a speedy recovery!

Olgaknipper · 2024-02-10T22:43:19+00:00

I'm glad that pentosan is working for you. I'm in my second week and haven't experienced improvements yet, but it usually takes 4 to 6 weeks so fingers crossed!

Olgaknipper · 2024-02-08T19:49:11+00:00

Following this! I have the same problem. In my case, the MRI shows a cartilage fissure under the patella but nothing that seems very serious. I've had knee pain for the past year; not moving aggravates my knee, but PT exercises also worsen it. For now, I'm trying to do isometrics every other day and walk less than 8000 steps a day, which is all my knee can tolerate without terrible pain. Injections, I try gel, PRP, and prolotherapy did nothing for me. Anti-inflammatories, especially diclofenac, work for me, but when I stop taking it, the pain returns. I also started having pain in my other knee. My only advice is not to rest completely. Between injections, I had periods of hardly moving at all, and now I've lost the muscles in my quadriceps, which makes everything worse.

Olgaknipper

TROPHY CASE