1. Community
  2. Injury and accidents
  3. Foot and Toe Problems

Cartiva - Has anyone had it?

Posted , 157 users are following.

krista4435
krista4435

I'm looking looking at looking at getting looking at getting this. Anyone with experience here?

4 likes, 836 replies

836 Replies

Prev Next
  • Gerry1234
    Gerry1234 krista4435

    Posted

    It’s been 3 months and in pain on as scale of hurting a 4. Had it done at the Cleveland clinic. Have to wait it out till 6 months. Most doctors have found out it is a slow process. Fusion they found out to be faster. Healing time given is 1 year! Don’t  be. Discouraged! You are not alone!
  • fusor2000
    fusor2000 krista4435

    Posted

    I am exactly 5 weeks. Can walk around 3 mile lake, mild discomfort in joint and ball of foot.  Zero at rest. Minimal in the house in bare feet. No limb whatsoever.   Just saw surgeon at a charity benefit. Stated I was doing super. He stated only one patient with post surgery problems. 
  • Gerry1234
    Gerry1234 krista4435

    Posted

    Today marks 3 months and 10 days since surgery. I have been trying to exercise toe because it’s locked up. It hurts to bend when I walk. I musthaveagrVated it but today if I would want a fusion I would have said yes. I am tired of being in pain day after day. I function as going to store and it doesn’t limit on the things I want to doo buuut it’s like a bad toothache everyday. I take ibuprofen every night and I usually sleep good but it now seems like I am going backwards in recovery. The doctor states he wants to see me the day before thanksgiving which is 6 months away. He will not give me a fusion. States it’s too soon. I need a second opinion but no doubt any doctor would say go toa fusion. I am so frustrated,

     

  • ron43261
    ron43261 krista4435

    Posted

    The Cartiva toe implant is still fairly new in the US, therefore most of the responses seen here are from fairly recent procedures. I myself am 14 weeks post op. I also know that Cartiva has been performed in Europe for 10 years or so give or take? I have been looking for a forum similar to this with its origin in Europe to see if I can get a sense of what patients with longer term recoveries think of the implant. I have not found anything yet. We are all now suffering to one degree to another in our recoveries, and I thought it would be helpful to hear from patients who have not weeks or months but years under their belts. If anyone finds such a forum I would love to hear about it. 
    • patricia32684
      patricia32684 ron43261

      Posted

      Agreed, I would like to hear more from Cartiva patients who are further along. I had my surgery 2/20/18 .. I am 49 & I am now on neutral ground... meaning I am right where I started pain wise ... prior to surgery..p.t. " gait training" has been helpful...& I still need ibuprofen on a fairly regular basis... I am also a hairstylist by profession... have an appointment 5 /30/18 with my Dr.

    • kelley07454
      kelley07454 patricia32684

      Posted

      I has a Cartiva implant along with a cheilectomy and they cleaned out the arthritis in my foot on 4-9-18 so I am 7 weeks post op and I am still wearing the post-op shoe. I saw my surgeon on 5-22-18 at a follow up and he wanted me to wear my post-op shoe for 2 more weeks and wean out of it. He also wants me to start Physical /therapy -twice a week--to help me move my big toe more.  I have attempted to wear a tennis shoe but my toe/foot is still too swollen.  It is very frustrating-I was hoping I would be further along.  I take Advil 1-2 times a day.

      I am a nurse and work at a doctor's office but am on modified duty-mostly at a desk behind a computer and try to keep my foot elevated. 

      I guess I just need to be patient-and hope that things get better.

      My surgeon wants me to wean into a tennis shoe-I probably need to go up @ 1/2 size I a wide shoe.

      I hope things get better.

    • kat66984
      kat66984 kelley07454

      Posted

      Hi Kelley-

      I hobbled into the store with my slippers on at 7 weeks post Cartiva and got Altras (Torin)! Incredible comfort, new running shoe technology, SUPER wide toe, entry is easy, soft tops and cloud like bottoms for people that are having the bottom of the foot hurting.

      I'm 8 weeks today, stretching my toe every day, icing, anti inflammatories, still hurts with every step. But better little by little. PT, gait training too!!

      Moving as much as possible...

      I swear by these tennis shoes, I still cannot wear any regular tennies.

      Best...

    • patricia32684
      patricia32684 kelley07454

      Posted

      I tried to get into a regular shoe after 5 &1/2 weeks...no way... from my 13 week experience with this you have to be patient... there was a time when I thought I had NO hope for improvement... now I am on neutral ground... meaning I am right where I started pain wise before my surgery...& I would have given anything to be there at that time..p.t. " gait training" has been helpful... my surgeon said that I would have to give it 6 months & he told me that the week before I had the surgery... I was complaining & miserable by week 5... I am taking ibuprofen a little bit less than I used to... about 400 MLG when needed... I also was whearing my boot until 3 weeks ago... I am a hairstylist by profession...as hard as it was I believe that ditching the boot helped with circulation some improvement... good luck to you 😀

    • william_66723
      william_66723 patricia32684

      Posted

      14 month report. The right toe with the implant is worse than before.

      i have bone to bone on both toes. Xrays after surgery did not look good to me with that small plastic button looking way to small to stop the bone to bone impact. I wish would have gone with the large titanium implant.

      i searched out the best orthopedic surgery in area. i doubt if he did the final stitches because they lookd sloppy.

    • kelley07454
      kelley07454 kat66984

      Posted

      Thanks Kat,

      I'll look into the Altras.  I think it would help if I can get two of the same sized shoe on because walking with the boot on 1 foot make my gait out of alignment and eventually makes my hip hurt. 

      I meet with PT for the first time this Friday-hopefully that will help w/ my gait.  

      My foot still swells very easily., and stretching it makes it worse....I would like to go to the gym and ride a stationary bike but have not attempted yet. 

      Like I said in my previous post, I had more that just the Cartiva procedure done so I need to be patient.

      Have you returned to work????

      Thanks Kelley

    • kelley07454
      kelley07454 kat66984

      Posted

      Kat....

      Do you remember the name of the store you bought the shoes from??

    • patricia32684
      patricia32684 kelley07454

      Posted

      Hi Kelley, the swelling will probably go on for a long time... elevate & ice when you get the chance... the foot doesn't have to be up high... just up... it's frustrating cause I'm Shure that we all have time to just sit around and keep our foot up.. I myself am tired of the daily effort it has been taking... I wasn't prepared for this.

  • Gerry1234
    Gerry1234 krista4435

    Posted

    I feel great when I get out of bed but every ster after feels like I am walking on a pebble. Anyone experience this 3 months after surgery.
    • patricia32684
      patricia32684 Gerry1234

      Posted

      Hey so the bottom of my foot definitely needs some extra attention... I am able to whear dancer pads to help me with the discomfort...& Iceing both the top and bottom helps... when I get a chance to do it. I am able to where Merrell sandals and sketchers slip on shoes in order to walk with some comfort...the sketchers are in a 1/2 size bigger... I am a hairstylist & I am 13 weeks out..p.t. " gait training" has been helpful.. good luck to you

    • lorjie
      lorjie Gerry1234

      Posted

      Yep. 14 weeks post-op and still cannot wear any kind of shoe. Stuck in the short boot. Pain on the bottom of my toe, top of toe, bottom of foot and my PT says my arch is collapsing. I would not recommend this surgery to anyone. MRI on June 5. Can't wait to see if they find anything. Very disappointed.

    • richard72374
      richard72374 patricia32684

      Posted

      I can't say my Cartiva was done a long time ago (September 2017) but I have already had it removed and my right toe fused.  I had good spacing initially and was walking at 2-1/2 weeks with minor discomfort.  Over the next few months there wasn't any improvement and it began to gradually worsen again.  Subsequent Xrays showed the space diminishing and finally about 7 months post surgery I was bone on bone again. I had the Cartiva removed and it surprised the surgeon as it was intact. The small amount of cartilage on the phalange side had been worn through by the Cartiva.  I have attached a photo of my souvenir. 

    • patricia32684
      patricia32684 richard72374

      Posted

      I am almost 5 months out & I have had improvement in the way of healing from surgery...I still have a lot of swelling when I am standing to long.. but I cannot say that I have had any improvement toward the end goal...wich was decreased pain & ROM.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.