h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

About 8 years ago while on a bicycle ride I was run off the road by a very rude motorist. In the ensuing crash I landed square on my left knee. I heard a loud pop and thought that my days of cycling were over.Fortunatly,I was able to ride away,although in great pain.By the time I got home my knee was swollen to the size of a grapefruit.After some rest and an icepack the swelling went down and I was able to resume normal activity.Flash forward to October 2001.While at work one day,I was climbing some stairs when all of a sudden my left knee goes out.I almost fell down the stairs backwards.From that day on I experienced the most excruciating pain ever.I was finally able to see an orthopedic dr. and he did an MRI which revealed a double miniscus tear.In July 2002 he did an arthroscope and removed two flaps that were "catching" and also revealed a small divot on the femur.It was caused by the rubbing of the upper and lower leg because there was no cartilege.My dr. suggested a new procedure,cartilege transplant.I figured,what the hell,anything is better than this pain.I should include that at this time I had stop all physical activity like cycling,hiking,running,tennis,all the things I love to do.Still with me?The procedure entails injecting a piece of my cartilege with a cell that encourages the cartilege to grow.Then a piece of tissue is removed from my shin to patch the divot and the the cartilege/cell mixture is injected underneath.It was a 5 hour operation and a four day hospital stay.My dr. told me I should be able to return to work in about six weeks.Well,3 1/2 months later I still can't walk without crutches and a brace. My dr.informed me two days ago that he will need to scope it again in two months to remove overgrowth.That equals seven months off my feet,sitting at home questioning my sanity.I'm looking for people who have had this surgery and how their recovey is/was.I'm starting to second guess my decision to hvae had this operation.There is a better explanation of it at www.genzymebiosurgery.com/opage.asp?ogroup=1&olevel=3&opage=47 Any reply would be welcome.

Hi Heyfrey,

Let me say first of all I feel for you, everything has not been going your way at all esp since the op. (and I should know about that) As far as regretting you opting to have the op - thats in the past so forget it, you have got to concentrate on the future and work at getting better. I know it is tough at times but you CAN do it. Find out if there is any support groups.

Does anyone esle know/have experience of a medical process taking longer that expected.

Thank you for the words of encouragement Flanker.Right now any positive reinforcement is a good thing.I did recieve some good news today.I went and spoke with my boss and he told me, it doesn't matter if it takes one month or six months,my job is secure.Just get myself well.Talk about a load off my shoulders.You stated that you know about ops not going your way.If I may ask,what did you have done?I think any kind of surgery is risky and that there are hidden dangers,however I think drs. here in the states need to be more candid about those dangers.It seems like everytime I see mine he lays something new on me.Oh well,hindsight is 20-20.

As you say "hindsight is 20-20" but right now you've got to try to be positive. That's good news from your boss and it means that there is one less thing to worry about. As to what I had done - a number of years ago I suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage and I had an op to clip off the aneurysm. This left me paralysed completely down my right side and affected my speech.

I was a 27 year old sports mad junior director of a large financal company at the time.

Today I am a happily married dad of three, I can walk, run, talk, hold down a design engineer's job and really enjoy life. So if I can do it so can anybody cause I'm not special really I'm not.

Remember you've got it in you. Go for it.