Cartiva Implant - Outcomes, Feedback and Advice
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This discussion is for patients who have gotten Cartiva Implant to repair and improve the lives of people suffering from hallux-rigidus, range of motion loss, and the pain that comes with it. I have had a cheilectomy to both feet, and am a candidate to have both feet treated with the Cartiva implant. My first surgery was April 20, 2018, in Waterbury CT on the East Coast of the USA. I am extremely active 44 yr old, I am a Alpine Ski Coach, a Competitive Sailing National Champion, a father of two, and have had my shoulder repaired twice once arthroscopic-ally, and once open for a labrum repair. I tore my ACL and had that repaired as well. In my experience finding a great Doctor, the right procedure and the right diet and PT is the best way to ensure a good outcome. Having support online and in forums is a great way to get word of mouth, best practice and advice from similar people. Lets help each other find a great outcome.
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nicholas37329
Posted
Day 4 report. 4/25/2018
Here are the details from today's visit surgical post op to my doctor. Changed the dressing to something much less intrusive, and rewrapped, back to another week of elevation and icing, but free to walk around as I please. I even went shopping at the mall today for my sons birthday. It hurt a fair amount, like pain level 4-5, but I decided to rest and ice after and I was fine.
The plan for now is to wait another week to let the wound heel, then very aggressive PT starts on day 14. Free to move around as I please. Painful to walk for extended periods, but moving easily around the house, hanging with the kids, sleeping well.
The topic of pain meds came up today with the Doc. I reported I was off the Percoset in 48 hrs post surgery, a record for me and exceeding my previous record of 72 hours post surgery. My basic hypothesis is, that pain occurs in a massive wall post surgery in the first 36 hours, and thne it quickly subsides. For smaller less intrusive surgeries, pain meds like opiods can be reduced substantially. I reported a total of 12 pills taken from Friday to Sunday night, my surgery was Friday, but when I counted today I had only taken 7, the scrip was for 30!
4 weeks prior to the surgery, I applied to the medical marijuana program in CT and qualified. The pharmacist prescribed a very light vaping pen that taken over the weekend during those first 36 hours allowed me to sleep, avoid nausea, and generally feel pretty awesome. Medical marijuana is a miracle. It is going to change everything.
By taking the marijuana and getting off the pain meds I was able to go to the bathroom 24 hours after surgery. As a human, moving my bowels is like maybe the most important thing I do, so do have the ability to be pain free, off the opiods, eating sleeping and pooping, well it is pretty wonderful.
So this message is for the other recent Cartiva implant patients, can you share your post op experience?
nicholas37329
Posted
The Doctor performed an XRAY today, he went for 4mm gap for the big toe after inserting the implant, in the theory that it will sink in 1mm and match the 3mm space in my other joints. The space pre-surgery was 1mm, with lots of cartilage loss and bone spurs. I dont know what stage this is considered, but my range of motion was probably in the 20-25 degree range.
BTW the Cartiva rep was in my surgery observing. I had approved fo fusionin the case of poor bone health. The doctor also let me know, that the bone internal to the metatarsal is not solid bone, it is stringy and vertical scaled, llike long baleen, and occasionally will not take the Cartiva implant properly given this inherent structure of the bone, hence the approval for the fusion. After today we are both stoked to see how it comes out, we are excited it will work well.