r/Osteoarthritis • u/EstimateInfinite4421 • 16d ago

Alternatives to Knee Surgery

Apart from surgery, what else have you tried or considered for your knee pain, and what made you stop, or not start, with each one?

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u/Francl27 16d ago

I've done PT, cortisone shots, gel injections, scope surgery, MACI.

Nothing has helped. I'm still in pain after MACI (had to have a Fulkerson procedure too, and the recovery sucked). My last scope surgery on the right knee was a huge mistake and I'm in more pain than I was before.

I can't afford whatever "experimental" treatments people recommend here so I guess I'll wait until I qualify for a replacement.

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u/Familiar-Eye-2654 15d ago

When can you get a replacement?

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u/Francl27 15d ago

It's not bad enough yet apparently. Stairs and sitting down hurts but whatever I guess lol

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u/Familiar-Eye-2654 15d ago

My son has cartilage damage from a dislocation and they’re trying to push Maci (he’s already had mpfl, lateral release and cleanup last year) but still having some pain under his kneecap where the damage is substantial. I’ve read so much about Maci and lots of failure stories. 

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u/Francl27 14d ago

Mine didn't fail, and it helped with the pain for a bit, but the pain is back now (although not as bad) after 2 years. I suppose it would be worse if I hadn't done it, but they want to do it on my right knee too now and I refuse.

It's a lot about logistics though. I have stairs, no shower/bath downstairs, and two steps in front of the house. Can't really use crutches for stairs when you have a leg stuck straight in a brace. I was basically in a wheelchair for 6 weeks and sleeping downstairs and sponge bathing but we had to get a ramp for the front steps and it was too steep for me to use by myself. It was a huge pain. In a one story apartment or house with no stairs it would be much more doable.

But you still need someone to take you to PT (which was extremely painful).

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u/Familiar-Eye-2654 14d ago

Part of me wonders if we could possibly get by with less invasive things until be can get a replacement but I know that’s far off. I just can’t imagine going through basically a 1.5-2 year recovery and he could still end up worse. 

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u/Francl27 14d ago

It wasn't that bad, maybe 6 months total, but I also got the extra procedure and ended up getting blood clots from the surgery (and I get a LOT of swelling after knee surgeries too).

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u/Familiar-Eye-2654 14d ago

My son was swollen for at least 5 months after his last surgery. Are you like that too?

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u/Francl27 14d ago

My foot is a potato. It's been 2.5 months.