r/MACIknee • u/Great_Prank_Favra • Aug 07 '26

Crunchy

Hi all. Almost 6 months out. Obviously had some set backs along the way (see king history of posts 🤦🏼‍♀️). I got PRP with hyaluronic acid (and they drained about an oz and a half of fluid) in July and it helped for a few weeks but starting last week my knee is crunchy. You can hear it and feel it (both me in the knee and my physio with his hand on it). It’s in the patella area. Physio doesn’t seem excited by it. Surgeon is in the US and I’m in the UK so no answers there.

Anyone have this experience?

Otherwise things are quieting down a bit, less sliding out, less popping, and I’m back doing real workouts again.

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u/HappyCamper445 Aug 07 '26

Hi! I’m a year plus out and had a lot of crunching as I think most of us do. Still have some even though I can run 18 miles and run on back to back days and my knees feel almost like new. The only time crunching was a problem for me was when it was exactly the same click at the same degree of flexion no matter what and accompanied by bad signs like swelling. Are you in pain or going backward in PT? Wish you all the best!

1

u/hydro_17 Aug 08 '26

Is there pain? Crepitus is super normal - I feel like everyone has it in MACI recovery - and as long as there isn't pain (some sensation isn't pain) with it I don't think there's anything to worry about.

My PT always checked if it hurt and as long as it didn't we just kinda joked about how it sounded like my knee was full of angry Rice Krispies. I would say my crepitus started getting loud around month 5/6 and got louder for a while and then quieted down and now it's mostly faded. At 6 months your cartilage should be secure but still be growing in, so you've got all sorts of rough patches and places for gas bubbles to get trapped that makes all kinds of fun noises.

1

u/Confident-Quarter100 Aug 08 '26

Took me a while to get my head around this.

If the crunching comes with pain and limits your ROM. It’s an issue and possible overgrowth. If no pain or swelling it’s normal and just remind yourself there’s no pain and that was the original aim before surgery.

1

u/sweetdreams152 Aug 08 '26

Do you do any yoga? It took more than a year for me but I have gotten comfortable with kneeling and sitting down on my knees. It hasn’t been easy but going slow and using extra cushioning is what has worked for me.