Introduction-March 12, 2013 (originally published elsewhere)

I am creating this blog/diary in hopes that it will be helpful to others who are planning ACI surgery.  I found reading the experiences of others to be very helpful to prepare for the surgery and to understand the range of outcomes. This surgery is being developed and he outcomes are increasingly more successful.  So, the experiences of people who had the surgery even a couple years ago may be less relevant than he most current ones-since the techniques for surgery and the rehab protocol are changing based on research and outcome studies.  I also published this diary on the website:  kneegeeks, so it is possible that some things I wrote might briefer to that website and seem out of context. I will try to edit to avoid that confusion....

I am planning to have ACI surgery on both knees-one at a time.  I don't know how spaced apart the surgeries will be.  I know that people have done two ACI surgeries and survived, but it is difficult.
I will also have a Fulkerson procedure which is when the patella is moved forward and up because of misalignment.  Misaligned patellas are the reason why the cartilage on my knees has worn away severely in a few places down to the bone.

 I am having an arthroscopy March !2 (6 days from now) to "harvest" cartilage for ACI surgeries.  I have had knee pain for 10 years and was told by 4 orthopedic surgeons that it was chondromalacia and there was nothing they could do.  My understanding is that my patellas are in the "wrong" place (outside the center) and have worn away the cartilage completely in some areas (probably would have been less damage if I could have had the patellas moved 10 years ago-not sure why that did not happen).  I live in Atlanta which I am now especially happy about because one of the top surgeons for ACI knee surgery, Dr. Gillogly, is here and he will perform the surgery.  

I have very much appreciated the blogs that i have read online and on kneegeeks.com.  I know that everyone progresses at a different pace, but it is very helpful to have some info from others who have had the same surgery.  The ACI surgery is for "younger people", ie not for those in their senior years who would have a knee replacement.  I am on the older end of the age spectrum for this surgery-It is done on people up to about 55 years old and I am 49.  Hopefully, I will be able to move along in rehab as well as the younger folks!

 I have purchased some of the items recommended on a some of the blogs I have read!   I am trying to lose the weight I have gained being inactive prior to surgery and also to strengthen my quadriceps, which seems like it would be helpful for rehab...  I know many people have their injuries as result of "trauma"-I have not seen any blogs/posts with a history like mine, ie, wearing away of the cartilage over time.