Pain & Swelling 6 mos post Cartiva surgery
Posted , 18 users are following.
Dr has ordered CT scan. Does anyone know of someone having to have their Cartiva implant removed?
1 like, 34 replies
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Notes on Pain & Swelling 6 mos post Cartiva surgery
molly85436 lola2017
Posted
I am in the same boat with the cartiva implant.
I had the surgery 5/18 and my toe is worse now than before the surgery. It hurts all the time. I cannot wear normal shoes. I did physical therapy for 3 months 2 x's a week and it still is the same. I got a second opinion and the dr said toe fusion. This doesnt sound like a good option either.
I've had a cat scan and an MRI and the bone is swollen and lots or scar tissue.
If I were to get the Cartiva removed I would want someone who has done it before.
I am beyond frustrated that I ever did the surgery. Its been a nightmare. looking for more opinions on next steps
bev01638 molly85436
Posted
I feel your pain. I've had to get my shoulder replaced first and get strong enough to handle 6 weeks on crutches for when i have my fusion. I am in week 10 of 6 months of PT. I need both toes done. Hubby had similar fusion for a bunion. 1.5 years later still tingles at times but he didnt have pain before hand.
Sandels work best for me as well as original style Crocs with wide foot bed.
Anyone in Baltimore area?
karen79645 lola2017
Posted
I had my surgery October 2018. I was scheduled just to have a bone spur shaved. Right before going under anesthesia, my doctor came in and said he was taking the Cartiva implant in in case I had less cartilage than thought. I had no time to ask questions and he knew from pre-surgery appointment that I did not want a fusion and failed to tell me that would be my only option if the implant failed. It's been over 6 months and I still have swelling and pain. It is worse than before surgery. I tried PT and it did get rid of the clicking noise but nothing else. I am so upset to be facing another surgery, especially a fusion because I was adamant I did not want one. It's my understanding now after researching I have no other option since he removed my remaining cartilage plus bone. I am in so much pain and can only wear a few shoes.
rose64565 karen79645
Posted
Iola,
To quote a surgeon, " the toe fusion is tried & true. " There was a lot of hype and promotion surrounding the Cartiva implant. Many failures are surfacing. Perhaps the FDA jumped the gun when it approved the Cartiva, maybe screening needs to be more selective. I am optimistic for my fusion. I will be starting PT soon. It would be mindful if Cartiva would compensate those they failed.
ericav rose64565
Posted
is there anyplace that lists symptoms of failure? it’s been a little over five months for me and I still have swelling, pain and tingling/burning. But when I went to see a PT they told me it generally takes a year for recovery.... I would love more data on indicators of failure to know if/when I need to pull the trigger on a fusion!
rose64565 ericav
Posted
Ericav,
Have you spoken to your surgeon? Your surgeon is the best qualified to answer if the implant has failed. Personally i know that a clicking sound with movement was a bad sign for me. Again, speak to your surgeon.
bev01638 lola2017
Posted
i hear your pain and am so sorry to hear of another cartiva failure. MY feet are awful too -both big toe knuckles are now very swollen. my husband had bunion surgery which is fusion . 18 months later still tingles but pain is gone. I will have to accept fusion this fall. Still recovering from total shoulder replacement Feb 19.
rose64565 lola2017
Posted
Yes, i had 2 cartiva implants fail. Now i ha ve a fusion. Hopeful.
Roberta265 lola2017
Posted
I had my surgery in May of last year. My doctor intended to use a Cartiva implant and even provided a brochure on it. On the day of surgery, he informed me that my hospital had not approved use of the Cartiva implant and was investigating it further. Subsequently, I have a metal implant and a pin where the bone was broken. It's a little over a year and while my toe is nice and straight, it is still swollen and aches frequently. The good thing is the pain is less bad than it was a year ago. For those of you who are having difficulty with the Cartiva, is it possible to convert to a metal implant rather than undergo a fusion?
Roberta265
Posted
I am editing my above post. When i had my surgery, I was under the impression that Cartiva was a type of joint replacement and not synthetic cartilage. Because my hospital had not approved Cartiva, my doctor did a metal joint replacement . Hope this clarifies my above post.
Danadane6 lola2017
Posted
I had tcartivia implant almost 4 months ago. The entire reason was so I could have full range of motion . I can barely move my toe upwards and even if I force it down it won't budge a bit . I have constant shock like feelings that are absolutely horrible. The 2 toes next to my big toe are turned in opposite directions and don't get me started on this incision . Icall it frankenfoot . I am going to see if I can upload a picture to see if anyone else's incision looked like this.
Danadane6 lola2017
Posted
I had tcartivia implant almost 4 months ago. The entire reason was so I could have full range of motion . I can barely move my toe upwards and even if I force it down it won't budge a bit . I have constant shock like feelings that are absolutely horrible. The 2 toes next to my big toe are turned in opposite directions and don't get me started on this incision . Icall it frankenfoot . I am going to see if I can upload a picture to see if anyone else's incision looked like this.
Danadane6 lola2017
Posted
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was anyone else's this jagged ?
bev01638 Danadane6
Posted
is this from a fusion? I am scheduled end of Feb to have one done and remove the implant
karen79645 lola2017
Posted
I got the implant 15 months ago and still have pain and swelling. I was supposed to just have a bone spur shaved but right before surgery my dr came in and said he might do the implant having not mentioned it at any of my pre op appts. He also failed to mention before surgery that if it failed I'd be stuck with a fusion which he knew I did not want. I was adamant at every preop appt that I did not want a fusion. I am living with it this way as a result and I also dont want another implant surgery because its my understanding they will cut even more bone away and put a larger implant in. And then if it fails too, its still then a fusion. I guess I'm going to live with it this way and hope eventually theres another option.