Cartiva - Has anyone had it?

Hi Garet,

It is expensive but the resutls are very promising. I had it done 8 weeks ago and am very pleased so far. I had HR stage 2-3 as well. At 6 weeks I accidentally stubbed my bad toe slightly getting out of the shower and it didn't hurt at all. That's a first for me in a couple years.

While it's still early I have a bit more RoM in my toe than before as I continue to do the exercises as prescribed, I'm sure things will improve a bit more over time. That being said, I was told not to expect much change in RoM. Being able to walk, run, etc without pain and not having to fuse that joint will be reward enough for me and worth every penny. I'm wearing a walking boot as I also had to have mid-foot fusion (everyone is different) but will be out of it starting in a couple weeks.

I'm in Canada, not sure where you are, but do your research and make sure to get an orthopedic surgeon with lots fo experience and that is a foot specialist.

If you contact Cartiva(or search the web) they will send you the recent study published July 2016 by Dr. Judy Baumhhauer in the US(New York state). If not, let me know I have it.

I've found that it's also been done since at least 2008 (if not earlier).

At worst it can still be reverted to a fusion if necessary.

I'll post updates very couple weeks or so.

Thank you for the information.  I'd consider doing it in Canada if it's cheaper than the US. Sometimes hospitals can negotiate with customers paying cash because they get paid immediately instead of waiting to be paid by insurance companies. At least that's what I hope.

Hi Garet, can I ask what the cost is? Thanks.

They quoted me over the phone 7,500 Canadian not including medication. It's not cheap, but certainly much more reasonable than anything I can find in the US.

Thanks Garet.

Hi Garet - 5 days post op here... They told me if the ankle nerve block didn't work I couldn't have twilight anesthia and would have to have general anesthia.  But it worked so just twilight anesthia.  I am allergic to codeine so my pain meds were tramadol and tylenol.  But the tylenol didn't work the first 2 days, so I took ibuprophen and tramadol. But on day 4, I was pain free.  Today is day 5.  I went outside and walked a bit for about 15 minutes or so.  Wearing the heel bearing shoe and a flip flop sandel on my other foot that has a higher base (just not 2 inches high base - like the heel bearing shoe)  But my hip is hurting from walking crooked. I came home and laid on the couch and iced for awhile afterwards just in case.  The worst part for me is not being able to leave the house for 2 weeks straight on a beautiful summer day. My doctor didnt say anything about icing after day 3. And he said I was ambulatory. Just no driving until done with heel bearing shoe. I really have no pain.  Just the feeling of stitches pulling that I have had on many surgeries in the past. I can wiggle all my toes.  Even my big toe so I am happy about that.  Sometimes if it is a quick distance, I don't wear the heel shoe, and just walk on the outer edge of my foot, not letting my toe area touch the floor.  The bandaging is so thick, my big toe doesn't move anyways when I walk on the outer edge of my foot. August 1 is bandages changed and I assume stitches out.  I hope this surgery will work. I used to walk 3 miles a day and I am anxious to get back outside and do it again, but pain free this time around.  The pain before the surgery in my right big toe was excruitating!

 I advise against it. I'm not sure any doctor would do that - mine recommended that I hold off. Two legs in plastic shower bags.?  Nah.

Good point 

Hi Markee,

I haven't heard of anyone having  both feet done. If you have someone to take full care of you,possibly for weeks,  I guess it's possible. Definitely a personal decision based on personal situations, not so much on the procedure would be my guess. Personally, I wouldn't do both at the same time.

Markee

I had Cartiva implants in both feet 12 days ago and can't complain about anything other than intermittent nerve pain, which apparently is not concerning to the physician at this point.  If I had the choice I would definitely do them together again.  Post op days 1-5 required elevation, ice 30 minutes and walking 5 minutes each hour.  Day 4 & 5 my husband had an out of town golf tournament, so each hour when I walked I would walk to the freezer for the ice, make meal, etc.  I would ice for 30 minutes and set the ice packs aside to return to freezer during 5 minute walk.  Day 6-11 is 15 minutes of walking and 15 minutes not walking with elevation at night.  I would want someone in the house the first two days for emergencies, but had no problem after that doing what I needed other than driving. 

Thats sounds great you never had to be in a wheel chair  

Basically your able to get around the house carefully right away ?

When do you think you be able to drive again ?

No wheelchair, I walked down the hall twice after recovery so they could make sure I could walk before they released me.  Walking is normal except the feel of the clunckety protective shoes.  You just need to get used to walking with them.  Make sure you get a pair that fits correctly and that you can get them cinched securely to the foot, otherwise the shoe separates from the foot and slaps the toe.  I had to have my shoes replaced at first post op visit.  The only time I used a wheel chair is when I went to Sams Club last week.  I shopped the first 15 minutes by walking behind and pushing the wheel chair after 15 minutes of walking, I got in the wheel chair to finish shopping.

I forgot, I would also discuss what kind of anethesia you will be receiving.  There are others on this thread that had total leg blocks and had to use crutches post op.

When your talking about  clunckety protective shoes u mean a boot or just some kind of protective  shoe that you can accually walk normally in ?

Talking about walking around Sams Club I can pretty much do anything in the gym going to gym consitantly for over 30yrs I'm in great shape right now i can do full leg workouts squats calf raises everything no problem but walking around Walmart or home Depot after about 15mins and no treadmill for me for a long time already just flares it up really bad 

So about anethesia your saying you didn't get the nearve block ?

I don't know if you can see this shoe, but name brand is Darco....you will have a new pair of these or similar on your feet when you wake from surgery.

Mine was local possibly to just the MTP and big toe.   I was able to use my feet and walk out of recovery room. I also had an IV for other anesthesia.  

Another poster on this thread said that she had a block which made her leg unusable for a couple of days, she had to use crutches for at least two days. 

Yeah thanks yeah  I can see the picture i can deal with those  anything better then having to wear the boot i couldn't make it through a single day wearing the boot in the past 

 

My doctor does both feet at the same time.  The pain isn't that bad that you couldn't do them both at the same time.  By day 4 I was fine.  I think it would be easier if I did both at once because the post op shoe is really cumbersome, really tall heel and having one on each foot would make it a lot easier to walk.