I am having the Cartiva implant done in about 3 weeks. They make it sound like the recovery process is not bad, but reading some of the responses make it sound like it could be weeks before the pain goes away and you are able to get around. I had resisted the fusion for the past 5 years and was thrilled to hear about Cartiva. Can anyone tell me about their experience? Thank you.
Look around on these threads I have been commenting about my journey since surgery day. Today i begin week five. Its an easy recovery.
Hello Gemma, I had Cartiva implants in both feet exactly 3 months ago. I still get pain sometimes in one, sometimes the other and sometimes both. I can only fit into shoes which are extra wide and which I have had to buy. The swelling around the joint stops me wearing 95% of the shoes I have. However, the pain is getting better little by little and I am quite mobile. I have even resumed my Ballroom and Latin dance lessons. I went to see the surgeon a month ago and he took xrays. He says the swelling is soft tissue (not the bone regrowing as I thought!) and it will gradually and slowly subside. Recover is certainly a very slow procedure and I only hope that I will be able to wear my high heels again in the not too distant future. I would not have the fusion option because I am a dancer and need to be able to wear heels which would not be possible with fusion. Hope this helps you decide one way or the other.
Can you fit in your shoes Nancy? Also, when you had your surgery, did they only numb the leg and foot?
Thank you for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I have read all different recovery times, from people saying after 8 weeks they still cannot fit in their shoes.
Gemma I am one month post op and basically my foot looks like I have a huge bunion sticking out the side of it. That is where the swelling is at. I can wear my gym shoes fine, and I have a pair of slip on skeetchers that fit fine. I have been wearing wide shoes for quite some time due to the pain of shoes hitting my big toes due to the arthritis. So if you have been wearing bigger shoes all along those will still fit after the surgery is over. I definitely have movement back in my toe. I don't need to take pain meds. But I am still icing and elevating after dinner on the couch every night. It may take an entire year for all the swelling to go down. Just be prepared for that. But the pre surgery pain of arthritis in the toe is now gone.
I can fit in all my shoes! But I was buying a wider width shoe for the past 2 years or so because I couldnt stand shoes touching my big toes, I was in so much pain. My shoes are definitely fitting. I can't wear flip flops yet as my big toe doesnt bend enough yet to wear flip flops. My sons wedding is in January and I plan to wear heels to his wedding. I knew going in that it would take a good 6 mos for all swelling to resolve itself. The nerve block was about 5 shots all around my ankle area. So my foot was totally numb. But I could still walk out of the hospital on my own power. It isn't that numb that you can't walk. I even went to the bathroom in the hospital after the block was done before I went into surgery. It felt funny with a numb foot but I still knew my foot was there.
Thank you for the great information Nancy. Along with numbing the foot, did they put you to sleep? The doctor mentioned something about giving me something to make me drowsy, but not a strong anesthetic. Today I have my visit with him to confirm everything for the surgery in 3 weeks. I have dealt with this pain for 5 years resisting getting that fusion. I have gotten by with Cortizone shots which helped for about 4 months at a time. I just did not want to have screws in my toe, plus to be non weight bearing for weeks is almost impossible for me. I appreciate all of your feedback and so glad I found this board to post on.
Thank you Brenda, I just want to get this over with. I have spent 5 years pretty much in pain, although I would get Cortizone shots that would last 4-5 months at a time so that really helped. I appreciate all of your feedback, and I had no idea so many people have had this done. I keep thinking I am alone with this procedure but it certainly does not look that way being on this chat board. I am scheduled for my surgery in 3 weeks, I cannot wait. I had ask another person on this board too this same questions, I know they numb your foot, but did they put you to sleep? Gemma
Hi Gemma, I had this done in the UK under general anaesthetic. It only required an overnight stay in the hospital. Fully weight bearing immediately, walking with the use of crutches for the first 5 days. Feet up for 55 mins in the hour for the first week.
They put a nerve block in my foot then they put me under in twilght sleep. The surgery only takes 30 minutes. I wAs in recovery one hour later. Got to hospital at 11. Surgery at 1. Home at 5 pm. Now if the foot nerve block didnt work then would have had to have general anesthia with the tube down my throat. No over night stays in america. Its outpatient surgery.
You will have twilight sleep which is a liquid pushed thru the IV in ur arm. And then u just fall asleep. I was doing cortisone for the past 10 yrs and then i did it in May and it didnt work. I knew then fusion or this were my only option. I found out this was available and i booked the surgery immediately. The worst part is elevating for two weeks straight. The post op pain isnt too bad.
I fused my right hand middle finger 2 years ago due to arthritis and it took 8 months for me to feel normal again. All healing takes time. It wont hurt it just wont feel normal. The body has to adjust and swelling needs to go down. Its like that in any surgery you have. Even a root canal and crown. It takes time to adjust to all changes.
Thank you Brenda! They told me they would numb foot and just put me in a twilight sleep. Will go home the same day!
This is such a better option then the fusion where you have to be non weight bearing for 6 weeks or more.. thanks again for the response. Gemma
Hi Gemma it did take awhile until I could wear my own shoes. i started by wearing my crocs because they were wider and didn't hit my scar area. But eventually I fit into my gym shoes again. I wear asics because they have netting in the toe base and I could cut a little hole where the scar is so it didnt rub. I started walking again at 3 weeks post op. But I have mortons extensions in my shoes which I had pre op. They are basically steel plates that go under the soles of the shoes. That way when I walk my toe didn't bend too much and it didnt hurt. I am 10 weeks post op and back to walking 3 miles a day all in a row and about 2 miles a day while at work.
I had the procedure done 5 days ago and I am 69 yrs old. Bone spurs were removed as well as having the Cartiva implant done. I have been doing great. Never took the prescribed drugs, never had to ice, did not get put into a boot, just have a velcro hard sole shoe. I sit in my recliner whenever possible with my foot raised. I could move my big toe right away. In the doctor's report, he put 30% movement after implant. Surgery was on Wed, and I was driving already on Friday. Went to the grocery store, etc. I go back to the doctor a week from today and can give you an update then. I have crutches, and realized I need to use them once in awhile when getting somewhere is a longer distance. I also got a temporary disability parking pass for a month.
Hi
i had the op in the uk now 6 weeks ago and it’s very painful.
I can just get into a trainer but it’s hard.
I need to keep pushing through the pain barrier hoping it will get better.
I will report again in a couple of days.
Hi Brenda, I am having the Cartiva implant done on my right toe the first of June. I am a ballroom teacher and concerned about the down time of this procedure. Do you think I will be able to resume teaching in six to eight weeks? And how is your foot doing now? Thanks for the input. Tammy
Hi,
it’s now 10 weeks and my toe is still very painful.
Something tells me I need to keep pushing to get better.
It makes a big difference on what shoes you wear.
I still get swelling after walking
i can’t see an end to this but hey hoe I will push on.
Kevin
Hi Tammy
good luck I will keep you in the loop with my progress.
Kevin