Knee Post Operation-Microfracture Surgery

I am just past a year out of my surgery and sadly to say I am worse that what I was before the surgery.  December 2010 I had Micro-fracture surgery on my right knee I was on crutches for 8 weeks with no weight bearing.  I attended physical therapy twice a week for 3 months.  I went for a follow-up in May and my then Doctor, Andrew Marcus at the Core Institute told me that he didn't think my surgery was successful and I needed to have a second surgery called O.A.T.S. that would require another 8 weeks no weight bearing on crutches.  I was not willing to do that again, it was mentally and physically exhausting the first time and the memory was too fresh.  Dr. Marcus informed me that I could do a second option which was Gel Injections I agreed to try the shots.  He stated that they would check with my insurance to get it approved and his office would call me back to schedule.  I never got a call back so in November '11 I called the Core Institute and discovered Dr. Marcus is no longer practicing there. I had to start all over with a new doctor and the first appointment I could obtain was with Dr. Brown January 21st, 2012.  I went to see Dr. Brown and he ordered for me to have a MRI on both my right knee and left knee, the right knee was to have the die injection and the left knee was just a standard MRI.  The reason he ordered both knees is because I was having pain in my left knee as well.  After my surgery I started to have intense pain in the ball of my foot, so much that it would stop me from walking.  I adjusted how I walked and then started having pain in my right heel, the pain resembled bruise like feeling.  Again I adjusted how I walked and started to get pain in my left knee. 

I had the MRI's on February 13th, 2012 and went back to see Dr. Brown on February 21, 2012.  Dr. Brown informed me that I have level IV arthritis in my left knee and the Micro-fracture surgery was not successful on my right knee.  He talked to me for a few minutes about my options, a cadaver bone with attached cartilage, a steel plate or the gel injections. He recommended the gel injections and that I start taking Undenatured Type II Chicken Cartilage 40mg/day along with Super Red: Krill oil Omega 3.  I left his office feeling defeated.

I went to the health food store and $73.00 later I am now taking MSM for an anti-inflammatory and Glucosamine HCI to help stimulate cartilage growth (they didn't have and didn't know about the chicken cartilage). Now I tried Glucosamine before at Dr. Marcus's recommendation but I purchased the cheapest bottle I could find at Wal-Mart and it made me itch, I am allergic to Sulfa and that was one of the ingredients.  The sales person at the vitamin store told me that the one he is selling me does not have sulfa in it. He also sold me Omega Fatty Acid oil made by Udo's Oil 3-6-9 blend.  He threw in a free mango protein shake to try and told me to attempt putting the oil in the shake.  I talked to a few people who drink protein shakes and they said to mix them up with milk versus water because it gives it a better texture.  I did just that this morning and tried the mango shake, it tasted ok so I added the oil and although it wasn't gross it wasn't good either.  I chugged it down and it almost came right back up.  I am not giving up on it, I will try again tomorrow using apple sauce.  This oil is supposed to make you feel better all around, help with concentration, hair & skin, and weight loss.  I will keep you posted on my progress.