Cartiva - Has anyone had it?
Posted , 157 users are following.
I'm looking looking at looking at getting looking at getting this. Anyone with experience here?
4 likes, 836 replies
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Notes on Cartiva - Has anyone had it?
DickN krista4435
Posted
I'm also 10 months out.
I have no pain at rest.
I play tennis several times a week with no issues.
Some minimal pain when walking or running.
ROM about 50%
Still can't do lunges.
I'm not taking any pain meds and not really doing anything to manage pain.
I'm happy I did it and am hoping that there will still be some improvement.
I'm curious as to how many got the surgery and are absolutely fine and happy with it. This forum doesn't represent more than a small percentage of veryone getting the Cartiva implant.
BTW, any of us that got this 10 months ago were among the first in the US to get this, I'm guessing that most doctors are much better at this now.
palmetto24648 krista4435
Posted
I'm encouraged to see that folks here are taking time to breathe! Yes, this implant does have a longer recovery time than some people will say - whether they are optimistic or they were favored with a great recovery like I was, I don't know, but I believe a full recovery takes at least six months, and maybe a year for some. As some of these posts have noted, there are many factors that contribute to a quick (and full) recovery.
Exercise, exercise, exercise! This increases blood flow and healing. First, as you can stand it, work your toe in a very warm bath -- then in a few weeks, put on rocker bottom shoes (or Cloudsteppers, or whatever you can get) and begin the retraining of your walk. Don't allow your foot to roll out to the outside; it is tempting because it's a habit, and you are apprehensive of pain. After all, many of us have coped with the pain for years. Focus on using the ball of your foot, not the outside edge.
I'm six weeks out from my second Cartiva, and I'm stoked that this one is going almost as well as the left foot did. Doc said I actually had more arthritic damage on this one, so I'm content to let this take a little longer. I'm already back into normal shoes and trying to train myself to use the foot correctly. Pain free most of the time; it tells me when I've been on my feet too long or tweaked it on some uneven ground. I expect this will be resolved in another few weeks.
If I can influence others to give it a go, I will -- but I will also tell them some guidelines: first, make certain that you choose a surgeon who is very experienced with Cartiva. Next, exercise all the way up to surgery, with shoes or inserts that allow you to walk and move as much as possible. Post-surgery, begin moving that toe asap, even in the surgical boot. I started that at one week after. Do the bath exercises, and elevate when swollen. Moving is the best thing you can do!
Many best wishes and positive thoughts to all - I love my Cartivas!
Gerry1234 palmetto24648
Posted
had inly cartiva 11 months and still healing
lisa5569 krista4435
Posted
I'm scheduled to this tomorrow. I want to cancel. I have alot of pain in the ball of my foot behind big toe. I have some in the joint bottom and top, plus a bone spur.
I was originally dignoised with sesamoiditis. It really hurts to walk. Now, my lower back hurts, leg and foot on the opposite side.
I've read bad reviews on your sesamoids afterwards.
Thank you! EVERYONE for your input. I have a few hours to cancel.
I
fusor2000 lisa5569
Posted
All I can say is that I am eight months post and it appears to be getting better and better over time. At present it is significantly better than prior to surgery.Not all surgeons are the same and I guess it depends on how bad you are to start.
Cissy2018 lisa5569
Posted
My advice is the cxl ASAP wise mistake in my life.
cissy
fusor2000 PXM
Posted
Just sue the surgeon. He should know when to or not to proceed with the surgery. In my case the surgery was successful.
DickN lisa5569
Posted
You have to keep in mind that people that have had a successful Cartiva implant are not likely to be contributing to this forum. So the one thing we don't really know is the percentage rate between successful and unsuccessful surgeries.
Probably the most important thing to know is how many implants your Doctor has performed and for how long he/she has been doing it. It's likely that if his/her patients have not had success they wouldn't continue to do the implants. It's not like the implants offer a big financial gain for doctors as they pretty much make the same amount with traditional surgery. So why take the risk of continuing to do implant surgery if their patients are having problems.
Hope this helps.
NancyMN DickN
Posted
I agree with Dick. The stories on this forum are anecdotal, not statistical. This surgery was performed successfully in the U.K. for many years before it was approved in the U.S. It's so new here that doctors, unless they're British imports, can't possibly have a lot of experience. The doctor is key. And patients starting conditions vary widely.
Gerry1234 fusor2000
Posted
some people are different. i am 72 years old and it's taken me 11 months to feel relief at 90 percent. i think age makes a difference.
Gerry1234 PXM
Posted
i am 72 and it's been 11 months. not 100 yet recovery, about 80 percent bit don't think it will get any better but NOT DOING A FUSION!
debra55847 krista4435
Posted
I am 13 months out from my surgery and only have about 40% rom. the joint still swells and is sore. the only other option is a fusion and there is no way i will be doing that. i manage mine with ice and advil. i find that when i sit for long periods of time, its far worse
Gerry1234 debra55847
Posted
ELEVEN MONTHS OUT AND I JUST PUT UP WITH THE DISCOMFORT WHICH IS A 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. no fusion for me!
debra55847 krista4435
Posted
i do not think my surgeon cleaned it up that well as you can see the bone spurs on the xray. could be why it wont heal properly after 13 months
lynne42061 krista4435
Posted
I also had a failed CARTIVA implant AUGUST of 2017.
Bad decision.
Lynne
fusor2000 lynne42061
Posted
Why don't you just blame your surgeon? There are many successful implants. They just do not gravitate to this site.
lynne42061 fusor2000
Posted
At first I did blame surgeon but after another opinion which they both said same thing. The implant itself had failed. The second surgeon said he hadn't started using CARTIVA yet because the success rate was not high enough. Who knows. I'm worse off than before......but feel for those of you in tremendous pain.....
It stinks following the suggested advice from a surgeon you believe in and then regretting it....
fusor2000 lynne42061
Posted
I am 8 months post. slow continuous improvement . 95% pain free, 50-60% ROM. Able to walk miles since 3 months post. X-ray with nice space between joint. Much better than prior to surgery. I hope there is no failure to implant in the future.