Cartiva - Has anyone had it?

Yep, the same thing has happened to me , I have a $100 pair of Merrell shoes that is great one day and I can't even tolerate them the next day! I am a hairstylist & I am still in the boot at the salon for safety and security but I am beginning to wonder if I will ever be able to get into a " regular shoe" I am very upset that the Cartiva implant is marketed as a QUICK recovery ! I am just short of 9 weeks out & I see almost zero improvement!!

Hi All,

For shoes I had the best sucessful with Skechers GoWalk3. They are super cushioned and come in W's and M's. I bought a size bigger than normal for getting back into shoes while the swelling was still there, and after regular sized pair for later. I was lucky and didn't have much swelling as I kept my foot elevated A LOT right after after for the first 3-4 weeks.

So, I went for my doctor's appointment and she yelled at me!! Put my foot in a CAST for one week. She said I was not supposed to be walking on it, even tho she told me when she removed my stitches to buy a pair of comfy sneakers, which I did, and go slow, but I could walk. So, here I am in a cast, which I guess is supposed to help the swelling, but I cannot ice or do any toe exercises now. I feel like I am back to square one. No PT either due to the cast. She said the swelling will take up to a year to go away. But, I told her it's not just the swelling, it's the pain on the ball of my foot - she didn't seem to hear me. I am not happy at all. Cartiva's recovery is a long one!! I have a titanium pin in my other foot, happened 12 years ago, and the recovery was much, much quicker. Very disappointed. When I go back to get the cast off, if the swelling has not gone down, I am going to seek another opinion. 

Hi lorjie, I cannot believe that your Dr. would be so unprofessional... I am going to say that the #1 reason I choose to have the Cartiva implant was because I was told that I would be able to get up and walk/ move. I had my first PT session today and I was very pleased. I don't understand the cast it makes no sense!?.. I am realizing that I am looking at a good 6 to 9 months to get to a point where my foot feels " normal" again... maybe even a year...elevation is very important so at least you can do that as much as your time allows.. I am just as disappointed as you are that this surgery is " marketed" to be a quick recovery. I think that it should be only introduce as a good alternative to fusion... let's keep each other posted... take care of yourself 🙂

Hi Nancy,

 Where in MN do you live and who did your surgery? I am in Eden Prairie and Dr Holthusen from Twin Cities Orthopedics did mine. One in September and one in October. I am doing pretty well. How about you?

Karen

Hi Karen,

I have not yet had cartiva--only chielectomy, on both feet, (right in November, 2016, and left in May, 2017).  These chielectomies will need to be re done in 5-10 years and so I'm considering cartiva instead.  I'm on this site as well as a chielectomy Facebook group.  Based on all of the accounts of both surgeries that I've read, I would say that the recovery for both is very similar, the cartiva may be a little worse.  Overall, it seems to me that recoveries are very variable for both procedures.  In my observation, I would say that age, length of time with the problem, severity of the problem, skill of the surgeon, and quality of the PT all affect the duration and degree of recovery, ROM, and freedom from pain post-surgery.

For me, after 18 months since the first surgery, and 11 months since the second, the recovery has been disappointing.  I believe that my doctor and physical therapist were outstanding, but I'm 62 and probably started getting this condition when I was in my 30's.  It's only been in the last month that I've been able to walk 4 miles in a single day.  I will never again be able to wear heels.  And I still have pain every day; not severe, but every day.  The degree of pain correlates directly with the amount of time I'm on my feet and the distance I travel.  As I mentioned, the shoes are the most important thing of all at this point.  And by the way, I still do my pt exercises!

My doctor is Dr. Kazuto Augustus in Huntington Beach, CA.

Nancy

Hey Judyae, nice to here of some one that is having a positive outcome with this procedure! I’m still trying to decide? What stage were you? I’m between 2-3 

I am not experiencing any of these problems and hope I will not. Here is my recent post:

Had Cartiva just 2.5 weeks ago. Only iced and pain pill one day.   Pain 3-4 days, then soreness. I drove after 2 days and stairs immediately. I can now walk a mile and ride a bike. Range of motion is maybe 50% after 2 weeks and will improve. I am in sneakers without a limp. Doing all normal chores. No significant discomfort at rest. Mild with MTP extension. None with flexion. It will only get better in time, as it was an invasion surgery. 

Hi Gerry, has your Dr. prescribed any physical therapy ? How about walking? Do you have a lot of pain while walking? Also do you have a lot of swelling? I am asking because it looks like we're just a few days apart... I had my surgery on 2/20/18. I am having a hard time recovering ....& I find walking any distance a challenge... I am 49 yrs old.

Hi Gerry, my doctor said that I need to give it 6 months. How about pain while walking & swelling of the foot?

I had my surgery 2/27. Still in walking boot. Dr. can't seem to make up her mind what I should do. Went to PT - on her orders - and then she told me to stop and put foot in a soft cast for a week. Said I could wear a wide running shoe. I did that and then she said, no back in boot. This week she gave me an Rx for a systemic anti-inflammatory and told me to put on a running shoe and do the stationary bike 5 days a week for 45 minutes. And I'm back to PT - sigh.... She said swelling could take a year to go away. My gait is off and I hear cracks like Rice Krispies when I move my toe. Frustrating - would not do this again.

How severe was your arthritis prior to surgery?  Mine was on the lower end of the scale.  I do  not know what the future will be but after just 2 1/2 weeks I am doing amazingly well and have great expectations. In the past I had a total hip replacement, three years ago, and it is totally functional but still displays some discomfort that I’m living with. We all heal differently. But in reference to the Cartiva surgery,  I would skip the therapy. I was a therapist by profession prior to retirement. The only movement the MTP joint does is flexion and extension. Just put on a walking sneaker, and walk, and there is your therapy.    Invasive surgery can take a while for soft tissue to heal. After 2 1/2 weeks I am relatively pain-free even to deep massage. I am sorry your results were not as expected but hopefully it will improve. 

Hey lorjie, I am one week ahead of you surgery l was 2/20... I just started " gait training p.t." & I still have to whear the boot at work I am a hairstylist... my surgeon said that it's to early to consider the surgery a failure... He also told me to give it 6 months at least..

I still have swelling... I can get into sketchers dlites in a half size bigger than I usually whear.... I understand how you feel 😣