Evidentially my problem originated when I was 11 years old and had several occasions of "giving away" of my right knee. The doctor at the time diagnosed "growing pains." After those episodes I had no further problems until May, 2005 at the age of 41. Again my right knee started giving away and painfully so. I limped and had problems putting weight on my knee. However, it would come and go, a few days of problems and then a few days without, so assuming, incorrectly of course, that I had only pulled a muscle, I didn't go to the doctor until Aug, 2005. The Xray showed the possibility of a lesion on my right medial condyle. Within a few days, I had an MRI which showed a lesion on the articular surface of my right medial condyle which measured 1.5 x 0.8 x 2.0 cm. (As well a Baker's Cyst which burst just a few days after the MRI - I actually felt it burst and had a few days of mild burning or aching in my calf.) I met with an Orthopedic surgeon and my surgery was scheduled for Sept 22, 2005. I had never had surgery before and was very nervous about it. The surgeon discussed the different methods he might use on my knee, but he wasn't sure until he actually was able to see it. My surgery was fine. I entered the center at 10:00am and by 12:00pm I entered the surgery room, the anesthesia took effect within seconds, when I awoke at 2:00pm, I was laying in the recovery room. My doctor found the lesion to be only partially attached, he scraped the bone that the lesion had detached from and used 2 small screws to pin the fragment to the bone. The description of the surgery performed, according to my insurance records was: Knee Arthscpy Drill dsicans. My incision was little larger than what he was expecting to make and so my husband gave permission for a block. (This block, by the way, left my leg totally numb from Friday, Sept 22 at 2:00pm until Sunday night, Sept 24. After drinking some juice, they asked me if I felt any pain, and I felt none, so they wheeled me out the car and my husband took me home and I went right to bed and stayed there for 2 days. I stayed in bed because firstly my leg was so numb I had a hard time on the crutches and secondly I was given the painkiller Percoset and who needs to get out of bed when they have Percoset! I had an ace bandage wrapped around my leg from the top of my thigh to my ankle which I was permitted to take off on Sunday night. My leg was fairly swollen when I took the bandage off, I had 2 small 1/3" incisions one on the inside of my upper knee and the other on the outer left side of my knee cap. I also had an incision running the length of the inside of my knee cap which was approx 3 1/2" long. All incisions had staples. I was off work for 14 days. I was given 2 exercizes to do during those 2 weeks, which I did religiously. One was to flex my ankle, and the other was to be in a sitting position with my feet on the floor and to put my foot out to a 45 degree angle (impossible to do.) During those 2 weeks I had some moderate pain, nothing that a percoset didn't take care of, I also was required to take 4 ibuprophen 3 times a day for swelling. I found it very uncomfortable to lay on my stomach or lay on my side until the staples were taken out. The big issue was walking non weight bearing with crutches, which I initially was required to do for 6 weeks, and I wanted to address this, because during my first few weeks on the crutches I looked on the internet to see if anyone else had the same problems with crutches and if they were able to work them out and I didn't find anything addressing this. I am a normal body weight for my size and in fairly good shape. The crutches were extremely painful the first 3 weeks and the worst part of the whole ordeal. My palms ached, my forearms ached, my biceps and shoulders ached. There were nights I cried because I couldn't take one more step. I used a heating pad on my arms at night. However, (and here are my words of encouragement - my muscles adapted to the crutches after 3 weeks, and although I can't traipse through a big grocery store, I can get around without any pain. I work in the downtown area of our city on the fifth floor of a building with 800 people in it. And I have no problems getting to my desk, going to the library, etc. However, one problem that has occured, and I am sure it is temporary, is that my left foot swelled slightly due to the pressure of my body weight being on it, which means I can't fit into any of my shoes as my left foot is now a full size larger than my right, but I bought a pair of men's river sandals, they have an open toe and if I knew I was going to be on crutches this long, I would have invested in a nice pair of Birkenstocks. On my first appointment 10 days later my staples were taken out, this is a painless procedure and an xray was taken which showed the 2 screws in my leg. These 2 screws will not be taken out by the way, but they are made of a special material and I will be able to pass through a metal detector. My next appointment was on 11/4. An xray was taken, and although the Dr. felt I was progressing nicely, I needed another full 6 weeks of non weight bearing crutch use. Although the fragment is now screwed into my bone, the object of the scraping is with the hopes of the fragment healing back into the bone itself. My next appointment is December 16th. I will have been on the crutches a full 3 months. I now cheat (occasionally) and use only one crutch to move around the house. Around my 3rd week post op, I implemented my own therapy and started spending 30 minutes a night stretching and doing pilates, nothing weight bearing though. I can now fully extend my leg. I have some mild pain still, most of the time it is brief and doesn't even hit the level of taking a few ibuphropens for. The pain moves from area to area around my knee cap and just above my knee cap. It also occurs if I sit in a crossed leg position with my left knee hanging over my right knee. Evidentally I still have some mild swelling, although I can't see the swelling, I have a thick feeling in my knee every now and then and when I press on it, I can feel the fluid shift away from the pressure. I have 17 days to go until I no longer have to walk with crutches and I am thrilled at the prospect as well as is my husband who has had to do all the cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning! Because of my age, my fully developed skeletion, and the fact that my lesion clung to my bone for 30 years the possibility exists that this fragment will not heal back into my bone like we are hoping for. I have decided not to think about it for the time being!

My son (just turned 16) was diagnosed with ocd last week in his left knee. The first dr. recommends surgery, and talks as if sports are entirely out of the question in the future. We are going to a sports medicine ortho tomorrow. My son plays lacrosse, and says quitting is not an option. We are being hopeful that the 2nd opinion offers better news--his growth plates are not closed and since being in a brace and on crutches the swelling and stiffness has gown away. He says he is ready to play in his summer league-we are not letting him. Does anyone have any suggestions? He is 16, and i can't imagine him not playing lacrosse- thanks, stephanie

I am writing for my son...who had carticel procedure done last Oct.He is a state ranked soccer player that was recruited to play at Tampa University. Soccer and skimming have been his life so this has been hard for him.He has stayed on protocol for rehab and plans on getting back to college level play. I would love for him to be able to converse with some positive people that have been through this. It has been a year since his 1st surgery.

I just found out last week that I have a lesion in my right knee. I am an active person who loves to run and play basketball. Currently I have no pain and can walk and work and do life pretty like a normal human being. I just can't run or play hoops. My question is should I go ahead with the surgery. My doctor wants to drill out the lesion and hopefully it will heal up. There is a chance that it would not work and they would have to do that transplant thing. I guess I am wondering how effect the surgery is and what risks do I have if I go ahead and do it.

My 15 year old son was recently diagnosed with osteochodritis Dessicans after experiencing kneee pain for the past year. He is a high school football and basketball player and extremely athletic. He is 6ft, but based on growth plates, he still has some growing to do. An inch size legion was discovered on the back of his knee, making it a difficult spot to get to. His doctor recomended that he would be a good candidate for the carticel procudure. Can anyone out there tell me if their athletic son or daughter has gone through this procedure and if it was successful? How long before your son or daughter was able to return to competitive sports? Any information is very much appreciated!

My son will be undergoing arthroscopy next week for ocd, so far the lesion seem to be intact. I was wondering if it has helped anybody and how long of a recovery period it was. they will probaly do some drilling. He is very active in sports and would like to continue. Please let me know you input

I am 25 years old, and 7 years ago I was hit by a car. I had arthoscope 4 montys ago, for a medial miniscus tear. Post surgery I was have extreme pain, and lots of grinding. After an MRI scan I found out that I have OCD in the weight-bearing portion of my knee, I also have full thickness cartilage loss, and I have been told that I have osteonecrosis. I am presently waiting to see my orthopaedic surgeon, and I was wondering if anyone has a similiar injury and if so, what treatment did you recieve for it. Presently I am on crutches, and i have been unable to walk for 3 months. If you can help me with any information please e-mail me. Thanks! Rachelle

I was diagnosed with osetochondritis dessicans in 1988 while a member of the US Air Force. This is where the first three surgeries were accomplished after letting the condition go too far. I had six fragments of cartilage and bone removed the first time. Since then, the fragmenting has continued. Finally, I found a doctor (Dr. McCarroll) at the Sports Medicine Clinic of Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis IN. He discovered that the lesion was over 10cm in area covered. He cleaned it out but suggested the Genzyme procedure to grow cartilage. For me, this was a brutal time of 1 month in a wheelchair, 9 months of intense and exhaustive therapy. I read all the statistics but in 2000 when this was performed I was still in the military. But, I was unable to perform the physical requirements. So, this was the only option I knew of and went ahead with it. Unfortunately, the cartilage did not grow and I've got a lot of bone contact. Doc would like to see inside and that will probably happen next year so stay tuned. Kelly Campbell

I had discomfort in my right knee for years. The discomfort caused me to quit some sports which just killed my knee. I couldnt take the pain anymore, so I went to the doc and I was diagnosed with ocd in the fall of 2004. I had 5 dissolvable pins put in to repair the lesion. I have played a whole season of baseball without any pain. I signed to play college ball, and now just weeks before I am supposed to report there, I had some discomfort in my right knee again. I felt popping in my repaired knee and a little stinging. I waited a couple of days to see if my weightlifting was aggrivating it, and now a week later it's all gone, no pain, no swelling, no nothing. If anyone has had a situation like this, confort me with a good response.

I am a 19 yrs old male who had ocd surgery to (screw fixation) about a month and half ago. I just started putting partial weight on my affected leg, and am doing quadricep strengthening exercises. i was told to do partial weight bearing for 4 weeks. I wanted to know from someone who has been through this, is there any advise you can offer and what should i expect in the coming weeks. thanks alot