Microfracturing for loss of cartilage in knee - recovery and longevity?

[NoKids2]

I've had MRI results this week that show I've lost cartilage in one knee (most likely related to a very heavy fall 3 years ago) and have an area the size of a ten pence piece where it is practically bone on bone. The consultant is suggesting an operation to clear it out, smooth the bone and the use microfracturing to stimulate some degree of cartilage regrowth. 80% success rate of improvement.

My main question is really about the recovery period. He's told me I can be walking on it within a few hours and need to be careful not to bend it more than 90 degrees for the first 4 weeks or so, but thats it!

I know it's going to depend on specific circumstances but I've been googling to try and understand better what provides the best chance of success but all I'm finding are stories where people have been told no weight bearing/on crutches for months/etc. I've also found studies demonstrating that it's really not a long term fix and the issue may return within 5-10 years (I'm 48F)

Does anyone have knowledge or experience of something similar? What was the recovery like? Long term implications?

Actually, just to get this off my chest, I'm really f*ed off because I had an MRI about 9 months after the fall which showed there was a problem and had a referral to a consultant, only to be told he couldn't see any problem on the MRI. It was in the heavy duty post christmas lock down in Jan 21 and I've been convinced for a long time that I was fobbed off because they were discouraging surgery at the time. I'm assuming (and it feels like) it has got progressively worse over time and had he done something about it 2 years ago I would be in a much better position overall/long term.