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?
KateSand krista4435
Posted
I had my surgery on 4/19/2017. I was in a surgery shoe for 10 days, until the stitches came out and doc said it was okay to wear a sandle with good support.
The healing process is not going well for me at all. I started PT three weeks ago, and iit has not helped at all. I have throbbing pain in the ball of the foot after walking for more that 10 minutes. I have stabbing pain in the arch (planters facia) and pain on top edge of the foot behind the last two toes.
My flexibality is better and doesn't hurt much at all to stretch it out (up or down).
Does anyone have a rec for a decent sandal with cushey foot bed? The Ecco sandal is supportive, the the foot bed is too hard. I'm wearing OOFO's recovery shoes and Clark's flip-flops, but I need a shoe with a back strap.
I see the Dr. again in two weeks, but since this surgery in the USA is fairly new,
he doesn't really know what to tell me. I was his second surgery.
kathie00932 KateSand
Posted
I"m so sorry to hear your recovery is not going well. My doctor wanted me to start PT right after surgery, 9 days, but my PT said that i should not be wearing sandals or flip flops for much time at all. i only wear them when i know i won't be walking much. good support tennis shoes/athletic shoes are the best, i would think.
krista4435 KateSand
Posted
I'm sorry your recovery isn't going well but it sounds like you have good flexibility which is great. I have a bit more ROM up but lost all the down motion.
For really cushy shows try Skechers. I have the GoWalk3 shoes and they're very soft and comfy.
I hope your feel better soon.
kathie00932 krista4435
Posted
That's how mine is Krista! i have much more of a flexion up, but can't push my toe down much at all!
krista4435 KateSand
Posted
Hi Kate,
I forgot to mention that I had the stabbing pain in the same places as you - the arch and on top edge of the foot behind the last two toes for a long time. It's subsiding but very slowly.
nancy0814 KateSand
Posted
krista4435 kathie00932
Posted
How is your ROM going? Are you getting any down motion? I have a tiny bit but not much. My PT says that the Extensor tendon on the top of the foot is very tight not allowing the toe to bend down.
Hobble KateSand
Posted
theresa80604 krista4435
Posted
I had the Cartiva implant done on 6/22/17 by Dr. Kirstina Olsen at UCSF. Dr. Olsen does foot an ankle surgery at the UCSF Orthopedic Institute and has a very good reputation in Northern California. I was avoiding bone fusion because of its permanent effect on my mobility and the flexibility of my foot and was overjoyed that there is now an alternative. So far, the worst part of the experience was my negative reaction to the narcotics. Even with the anti nauseous pills I could not keep even water down so switched to acetaminophen for two days. First week was instructed to keep toes above the nose and ice for 20 minutes per hour for the first 72 hours. I got around with crutches and had to negotiate the many steps in our house on my rear end. Beyond the first 24 hour period I was in no pain. Yesterday I had my first post op visit. Incision is healing well. Now I have to bend the toe for five minutes every hour, elevate foot frequently and start weight bearing on heel until I can tolerate on toe, same day began going up and down stairs upright (big improvement!!) and I think flexibility has already improved. This has come at the cost of some pain so I'm taking Tylenol again. I also am continuing to use the cast cover for showering which I got on Amazon and which works great. I go back in two weeks to recheck and have the stitches removed.
markee theresa80604
Posted
theresa80604 markee
Posted
Just on my right foot because that had bone spurs plus almost no cartilage. I need to have my left foot done as well but my doc prefers not to do both st once. And actually I don't know how I would have even gotten to the bathroom if I had done both feet. I was instructed to put no weight on foot for the first week and you need at least one foot to use crutches.
At two weeks I can walk well without crutches, but standing in one place is a problem . It produces a pressure in the foot.
robert73702 krista4435
Posted
Hello, I had my surgery Cartiva yesterday. They rolled me out of the building in a wheelchair. I can walk on the foot with my post op shoe right after surgery, no crutches. There is only slight pain and it itches. The toe hurts a lot less then before the surgery with all the bone spurs. I can actually move my toe more then before, even swollen. When I can I raise my foot and ice it down. I am very thankful for having this surgery.
Doctor said it may even help the knee and hip pain I have been having since couldn't walk properly due to swelling and severe pain before the surgery.
william_66723 krista4435
Posted
After 11 weeks toe with Cartiva is more painfull than untreated toe.
i was getting by hiking 7 miles with mbt rocker shoes. Now it is worse than before. Gave up hiking. riding bicycle. At this point i wish i did not have the surgery
Doctor says healing takes time. So there is still hope.
Nicholas111 william_66723
Posted
william_66723 Nicholas111
Posted
I think that i am undergoing a general arthritic flare.
All the joints in both hands are tender. Not swollen.
Both big toes no cartilage and having some back pain.
So the Cartiva on the right toe is probably being impacted by some
arthritic flare.
It will be 3 months July 27. Manually manipulating toe does not hurt much.
Weight bearing in bare feet brings on the same pain as before.
Back to rocker shoes. Hiked four miles with the help of nsaids and pain was
tolerable but not gone. It feels like the bones are still hitting each other, maybe the plastic button is not big enough. On xrays it barely sticks out from the metatarsal. Possibly shortening the metatarsal bone would have helped.
Surgeon said he could not do cheilectomy because there was not much
room due to the implant.
I would investigate cheilectomy with the tendon wrap in joint.
Nicholas111 william_66723
Posted
Hi William,
That's unfortunate the bones feel like they are still touching. What did the doctor say about it when you saw the xrays? Does he think they drilled too deep? I know what a cheilectomy is, but what is a cheiectomy with a 'tendon wrap in joint'?
Thanks
kathie00932 william_66723
Posted
William: This is how I feel! Had mine April 25, right before yours, and i feel like i'm still having more pain than prior to surgery....what's up? i was thinking at 3 months i would be feeling much better than this...i keep going, i've gone back to my aerobics classes, etc. in hopes that i will "limber up" soon!
Nicholas111 kathie00932
Posted
Hi Kathie, sorry to hear you're healing slow as well. Would you mind indicating your age? I would suggest seeing a chiropractor and asking for the graston technique on your feet (note: I believe there are different names for the graston technique - all are based off of Gua Sha, which comes from China). This might help with the limbering up.
william_66723
Posted
With rocker shoes back to 3 mile walks as before. Cannot wear regular shoes.
So do not know if the surgery helped ????????????
Nicholas111 william_66723
Posted
laur09175 kathie00932
Posted
Hi Kathie - you're the one that had Dr Zonno in KC right? Really looking forward to an update from you. I am 9 months post op from his surgery - zero improvement in pain.
Hobble kathie00932
Posted