Hi All,
I was hoping I could get some information if possible. I am due to have microfracture surgery on my articular cartilage next week. I hurt my knee playing basketball (came down heavy on it) and the issue has been ongoing for about 10 months now - I'm 32.

I am lucky to have a surgeon with an excellent reputation operating on me but I would like to find out more about the rehab process and if/what I can to aid it. I have an appointment booked with a physio for the Saturday (op Tuesday night).

I'd like to know what actaully happens to the area after the microfracture procedure is performed. As I understand it small perforations will be made into the bone to allow blood to seep through and form a scab over the lesion. After that happens and a scab forms is movement (with no load on leg) supposed to "mould" the scab into the correct shape to fit with my knee passing over it, or is the scab not supposed to mould - is it just left to heal and when it finishes healing it'll leave fibro catilage underneath?

I understand that I will need up to 6 weeks on crutches and I will get my physio booked in for during that time. Is there anything diet wise I should be leaning towards to aid recovery? I was planning to take some Glucosamine, MSM & Chondroitin up to and throughout the rehab process. Is there anything else that can help cartilage repair?

I'll be icing it up post-op and the physio has said to just lay off it and don't bend it until I've seen him. I'd like to do everything possible to aid recovery so that I can increase my chances of returning to play sports again if possible. I'm pretty gutted at the sobering prospect that I might not be able to.

Any advice / information / guidance or articles you can point me in the direction of would be VERY much appreciated. I'd prefer not have the injury of course but I have found the reading very interesting.

Many thanks in advance.

Ian

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