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?
constance10080 krista4435
Posted
Worst decision I have ever made to have Cartiva implanted in my L great toe. I had relief for about 6 months and 3 years later the pain is worst than ever.
karen80368 krista4435
Posted
are you having it revised to fusion? I just need more reasurance that fusion is not going to make it worse. I think fusion is really the only viable option to get you out of pain once cartiva fails, but don't want to trade one set of problems for another. I know after 6-9months fusion should resolve pin in joint but wonder if it messes up rest of foot by making you walk differently as you will not bend that toe
Jennifer8228 karen80368
Posted
After fusion, gait does not really change but a little. The last joint of the toe still bends
Gerry1234 krista4435
Posted
take the fusion. cartiva is expermental. i had it 2 years ago and live with pain every day, but guess what??????? I CAN BEND MY TOE... go with the fusion
LukeR krista4435
Posted
I can understand why people are fearful of fusion. It’s a little scary to think that joy will never move again and wonder if my ankle knee and hip will hurt worse.it’s also a much bigger surgery and it’s a reversible so one needs to pause before contemplating fusion. It’s crazy that they can replace I have a knee but there’s very little to offer for the toe except fusion and these experimental possibilitiesI had Cartiva 10 months ago now and it still hurts when I move my toe up the sesamoid hurt until I had three steroid injections in them feels better. I can walk but I have to have a pad under my foot and I do have pain if I put the toe up at all.Anyway I am in the same predicament to consider fusion.
Jennifer8228 LukeR
Posted
That's a good point. I also had apprehension before my 1st fusion but I had bilateral failed Cartivas and had no choice. Ironically, fusion is what I was avoiding when I got the implants. But after all this and knowing about the high fail rate (now), I wish I would have gone straight to the fusion. Almost everyone who had a fail wish this bc now we're pain-free and reclaiming our lives.
LukeR Jennifer8228
Posted
your post gives me some hope. How long has it been since you had your fusion? What was the recovery like? Are you completely pain-free or still in some pain? can you only wear wide toe box shoes?right now I can still walk but I have a big pad on the bottom of my shoes and I’m in very rigid wide toebox shoes and it still hurts on the top so I take about 400 mg of ibuprofen every day i’m really scared for the fusion but so far you have not had any pain in any other joint?hip? ankle? other toes? how are you limited if at all. I know how heels are out but I don’t really care about that
Jennifer8228 krista4435
Posted
Hi everyone! Are there any failed Cartiva patients who are NOT in the Failed Cartiva Facebook group?
lisa63699 krista4435
Posted
i had the Cartiva implant June 13, 2019. it was doing pretty well for the first 8 weeks except still a lot if nerve pain and then over the next 3-4 weeks started having mire stiffness, pain and at times discolored over most if my foot An x-ray 2 weeks ago showed that the implant had failed and the toe is moving inward. i am scheduled for a revision surgery in 2 weeks. i gave read a few articles (written after my surgery) where doctors are reporting a 50% failure rate for the Cartiva.
val71623 krista4435
Posted
I was sooo stoked that Cartiva was an alternative to having my big toe joint fused. i had the procedure at the end if March 2020. I followed all instructions and did 6 weeks of excellent physical therapy. I had consistent pain and swelling, but was trying to be patient and work thru it. Took forever to get back into non sandal shoes. Doc said all was normal.
Finally went back to doc in November because pain hadn't lessened. He said I was perhaps healing slower, had some arthritis, & scar tissue. Got a steroid shot whic h made it some better. Doc said it hadn't failed, but if pain continues, only option is fusion, sadly.
I have since seen a significant amount of info on failures.
I dont want to have to physically go thru another surgery, and I certainly don't want to pay for another and the subsequent physical therapy.
I am a bit angry, and am wondering if anyone is considering a lawsuit?
fusor2000 val71623
Posted
Mine was very successful.
palmetto24648 val71623
Posted
sorry to hear you've had trouble... mine were super successful (had both done).
Gerry1234 val71623
Posted
it takes a long time.. 2 years. they found out you heal from a fusion faster. it takes 2 years but you can bend the toe. they thought the cartiva would be faster but it isn't so from my experience.
gerri92374 val71623
Posted
sorry to hear rehab wasnt easy but i did get relief. surgery 2016 and having little pain at times. going too go back to make sure implant is in place. arthritis does come back. not sure how it affects implant
patricia32684 gerri92374
Posted
Hi, my surgery was 2 years ago it took me 9 months & physical therapy. I believe most of us were mislead ..I am a hairstylist and of course I thought this was a wonderful alternative to a toe fusion. I had terrible pain & could hardly walk..I spent 3 months in a boot . . now I can walk for exercise but I have to be cautious. Good luck 👍
deanna96810 val71623
Posted
I don't think fusion is your only option. It is possible that maybe the Arthrosurface hemicap implant could still be done where you can still bend your toe. There are videos online showing this procedure and how it works. For some reason many doctors think fusion is the only answer and it isn't.