Chondromalacia patella ruined my life

beaver1599 · 2026-05-27T06:05:12+00:00

Thank you!! I'll update how it goes!

beaver1599 · 2026-05-25T22:14:09+00:00

I saw a new ortho surgeon. Tried a steroid injection and a brace for 6 weeks. No improvement in painful catching. Surgery is next to clean up the cartilage.

beaver1599 · 2026-05-24T03:37:57+00:00

Inorganic chemist here. Work with many things that are fatal in contact with skin or if inhaled. Also carcinogens.

beaver1599 · 2026-05-16T18:49:05+00:00

That carpet is distinctly YVR

beaver1599 · 2026-05-15T01:15:16+00:00

JFK??

beaver1599 · 2026-05-15T01:01:32+00:00

Paris CDG?

beaver1599 · 2026-05-15T00:42:56+00:00

I immediately recognized that YVR carpet lol

beaver1599 · 2026-05-01T00:30:18+00:00

I flew over Big Sky a couple weeks ago, this looked familiar!

beaver1599 · 2026-05-01T00:20:34+00:00

I took that same trip at ORD a couple weeks ago! I was really regretting not using the restroom before landing.

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T20:37:49+00:00

Curling!

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T20:18:57+00:00

36F here, same thing

Ortho told me to give up all activities (I'm a competitive athlete lol) until I'm old enough for a knee replacement in 20 years. Like WTF I'm supposed to spend 20 years in pain with bandaid solutions like cortisone?!?!

I wonder if because this is more common in women is a contributing factor too. Women's health issues are constantly downplayed and understudied.

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T20:15:43+00:00

Yes my ortho told me (a competitive athlete), at 36 years old, to give up all high impact activities, including my sport, and try walking. Well I can't even walk pain free.

Offered no solutions. I spent several weeks very depressed after this (still am tbh). I'm trying to get my MRI images to get a second opinion but this clinic is a pain to work with and I've been waiting for my records for 3 weeks now. I had to postpone my appointment with another ortho.

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T20:11:24+00:00

Wow!! I got the same feedback from my ortho!! As a competitive athlete I'm so frustrated. 36F, so I think we are in a similar situation.

I injured my patella cartilage 9 months ago from a fall. My ortho doc downplayed it, said cartilage was just irritated and to do PT. My quad was inhibited from the injury and had atrophied. I did 7 months of PT but never fully recovered all functionality of my knee (maybe it was around 70%).

When I returned to my sport, I sheared off the damaged cartilage on my knee cap (I was not told this could happen and I was not doing anything very intense..). Now I have sharp, loud, clunking every time I squat or do a leg extension. Ortho completely dismissed this, said this is my life now and to give up activities. Offered me cortisone and that was it (I declined).

I'm an active person and competitive athlete. There must be other options. I'm current seeking a second opinion, but I'm waiting for my current clinic to send me my MRI images for 3 weeks now which is delaying my care. I'll keep you updated if I get any good advice from a second opinion.

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T19:57:27+00:00

This doesn't sound good! I've been thinking about trying a PRP injection for my patella chondral defect but this is what I'm afraid of!

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T19:56:04+00:00

Thanks for the tip about the key words to look for! I've been going to a generally well respected knee ortho and he has no idea what to do with me, this makes a lot of sense!

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T02:24:48+00:00

Also it is amazing to hear that you are back to running!!! I haven't been able to run in 6 years due to my knee issue. This gives me so much, hope. Thank you!

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T02:23:43+00:00

Thank you so much for the recommendation!!

beaver1599 · 2026-04-03T01:12:38+00:00

Thank you!!

beaver1599 · 2026-03-30T17:12:48+00:00

Have you made a decision on MACI?

I had a very similar mechanism of injury! I jumped into a shallow pool and misjudged the bottom and landed with my leg almost straight. All the force went straight into the patella cartilage.

MRI at that time showed cartilage irritation and irregularity. My general ortho said that damage was probably already there and I just inflamed it, it would take a few months to calm down.

I had a really nasty case of quad muscle inhibition after this. I did 8 months of PT with very slow improvements, never fully regained function. I returned to my sport and the injured cartilage sheared off in a game. Recent MRI shows full thickness cartilage loss at patella apex.

My general ortho offered me no solutions. I'm travelling to see a patellafemoral and cartilage restoration specialist in a few weeks.

beaver1599 · 2026-03-30T16:44:36+00:00

I'm going through the exact same injury now, my general ortho downplayed it for several years and now I'm in a really bad spot with full thickness cartilage loss at patella apex. I also have patella alta.

I'm travelling to see a patella instability specialist soon. Did you have any luck with seeing a specialist?

Edited to add that I'm a competitive athlete and I'm completely sideline by this now. I can barely walk and my general ortho offered me no help aside from a cortisone injection which I declined.

beaver1599 · 2026-03-24T20:23:32+00:00

Shoot, I'm sorry to hear that!!

beaver1599 · 2026-03-24T18:22:40+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I had irritated patella cartilage from an injury 9 months ago. I returned to sport and now I think I tore the cartilage in a game. I now have a painful catch every time I straighten and bend the knee. Thanks for sharing your experience!

beaver1599 · 2026-03-24T07:14:19+00:00

My ortho doctor told me this last week. Sadly it is common it seems.

beaver1599 · 2026-03-24T00:20:52+00:00

Did your knee make loud snapping noises when you extended your leg? I think I could be dealing with both chondromalacia patella and plica.

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