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Hi there - I had a similar forum string on this - "Running after micro surgery" - do a search and you will find it.  HAd a few replies on it.

 I am 5 weeks post op and still non-weight bearing.  Slowly moving over to partial weight bearing but will be on crutches for another 5 weeks.  Have had very mixed opinions - from yes you will run to give up running all together.  Struggling with the prospect at the moment to be honest....all I know is that it will never be the same again and marathons are well and truly behind me.

6 months on and had the microfracture 4 weeks ago.  Saw the Consultant today and advice is not to run again so the result of making the decision and having gone through this surgical procedure is not the one I wanted.  He said I may be able to do some running - once or twice a week maybe towards the end of the year but only very short runs on soft surfaces.  He said he wouldn't do that even.

Am I in any pain since the op - no - but I wasn't in pain with everyday activities before. I had cut my running down to a level where I didn't even get that much/any pain when I did go out.  Am I glad I had the op, God no - it feels like a terrible mistake at the moment - but then again who knows what would have happened if I hadn't had it.

Do I regret running all these years - not at all.  Do I hate the prospect of not running again - yes - can't get my head around it at the moment.  Biggest regret is not having done more cross training over the years.  Can anyone take away what I have achieved in the past - all my race wins etc - of course not, but would I give some of them up to be able to run for the next 10-15 years - oh yes. 

I look around at other runners whose style, weight etc is poor and ask "why" but I think I know the answer.  25 years of road and cross country running - pushing myself to the point that I have trainined hard and over the years won a lot, but now at a cost.

So what do I do now - how do I get the same kick and keep fit?  Got to work that one out once I get my head around what I have been told.  Can I still cope with coaching and organising races for others when I can't do it myself anymore?  Not sure how I feel about this at the moment.

Hi Amanda

 Had the injection today.  The specialist was great but had to sit on my foot to stop my leg shaking - told you I was no good with needles!  He did a local anesaetic injection first and then injected the other stuff.  Was expecting a reaction after 3-4 hours but "touch wood" nothing yet some 9 hours later.  Told to take it easy for 2-3 days, no running for a week and then gradually introduce some shorter runs.  Back to see him in 6 weeks.  Also seeing a Podiatist about orthotics (been that route before a couple of times but willing to give it another try) but looking at having something in my day shoes too.  Back for a MRI re-scan in 3 months to see if there have been any improvements post injection, orthotics and stopping the distance running and concentrating on shorter stuff.

 Still un-decided about surgery.  Specialist thinks it would be a good option for me but not convinced at the moment. 

 The people at work who have had it done had much worse cartilidge loss than I and were in lots of pain all of the time.  They said they still have pain and can't really do much impact although one of them has said he is glad he did it.  Mine isn't like that - perhaps that is why he thinks it may work for me.

 I will just see how things go....

Thanks both.

 I am having a hylouronic injection on Monday - not great with needles so that should be interesting......

 After that I am planning to reduce  mileage right down and start on the cycling.  Been chatting to a couple of people at work who have had the micro-fracture - one person said don't do it and the other was successful although he wasn't a runner and now 3 years on he now has arthritis so it didn't seem to help him much either.

 Going to look into some other things first before going the surgery route.  I don't have pain all the time so feels like it may be a bit over the top.

 I am approaching 44 and still very competitive regularly winning age group prizes - I can't give up running yet

Hi fellow runners

 Got my MRI scan results today and have been advised I have a Osteochondral Defect on my right knee - basically a 6mm hole has been worn away.  Apparently this is a very small area.  I had key hole surgery in 2000 when they went in and shaved a few bits of cartlidge off and did a tidy up job.

 11 years later and stared having knee pain again - started about Xmas but I managed to finish my London training and made it round in 3:19 - sounds ok but I was diappointed.  Thought I ought to get it checked out properly with a scan and hence found out the news today.

 Have been recommended a Hyaluronic Acid injection and then to consider Micro-fracture surgery.  Anyone out there back running after this type of surgery???

 Been told marathon days are now a thing of the past but that I should be able to do some running going forward but just not that distance.  Need to get into cycling as well I guess to split the load.

 Interested to hear from anyone who has come out the other side and is running again - how long it took etc

Thanks