Patients with Cartiva implants are often told their pain is “normal,” that they are “slow healers,” or that they simply need more time. But if you are months or even years beyond surgery and still experiencing significant symptoms, the possibility of implant failure should be taken seriously.
Symptoms that may suggest a failing Cartiva implant can include:
- Persistent or worsening big toe joint pain
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Swelling around the joint
- Difficulty walking or pushing off the foot normally
- A toe that appears shorter, unstable, or deformed
- Imaging findings suggesting subsidence, loosening, bone loss, or related complications
For some people, the symptoms are severe from the start. For others, they develop more gradually. Either way, patients suffering with any of the above symptoms need to see their healthcare provider.
Why some patients have not had revision surgery yet
There are many reasons a patient may not have undergone revision surgery, even if the Cartiva implant is causing problems.
Sometimes the patient is still in the diagnostic stage and has only recently begun to understand that the implant may be failing. Sometimes the patient has been advised to monitor the situation before making a decision. In other cases, the patient is trying to avoid another major surgery, especially if fusion, bone grafting, or hardware may be required. And in some situations, the patient may simply not yet have been told clearly that revision is likely coming.
That is why a “no revision yet” case should not automatically be dismissed. A person can still be dealing with real injury and real functional loss, and simply not yet undergone revision surgery. If this is your situation, we want to speak to you.
What may be happening inside the joint
The Cartiva implant has been associated with problems such as shrinking, migrating, subsiding into the bone, and failing to perform as intended. That kind of failure can contribute to continued pain, progressive bone loss, worsening stiffness, and a more difficult long-term recovery.
This is one reason patients who are still symptomatic should not simply “wait it out” without follow-up. If the implant is failing, continued delay may mean more bone loss, more instability, and potentially a more complex revision later. It’s important to follow up with a healthcare provider and obtain imaging when symptoms continue, because early detection may be important to protecting the joint and understanding the full extent of the damage.
What you should do if you are still suffering
Your health comes first. If you are having serious pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or other troubling symptoms, you should contact your orthopedic surgeon, foot-and-ankle specialist, or another qualified medical provider, and consider imaging such as X-rays or MRI when appropriate.
From a practical standpoint, there are several important steps to take:
1. Get evaluated
A medical provider can assess whether your symptoms may be tied to implant failure, ongoing arthritis, bone loss, instability, or another issue requiring treatment.
2. Preserve your records
Keep copies of operative reports, imaging, follow-up notes, referrals, billing records, and any recommendation for further care. In a Cartiva case, these records can be critical to understanding what happened and where things stand now. If you don’t have your records, we can help you get them.
3. Document how the injury is affecting your life
Pain while walking, standing, exercising, or working matters. So does loss of mobility, reduced activity, and disruption to your normal routine.
4. Do not assume you need to wait until revision
If you are still symptomatic and your healthcare providers are evaluating the implant, that may already be enough to justify a legal consultation. Waiting until the situation worsens is not always the best approach. Remember, the consultation is free of charge.
Why timing matters
Another reason not to delay is that legal deadlines may apply even before revision surgery occurs. Every state has a statute of limitations, and the timing can depend on when you realized, or reasonably should have realized, that your implant was causing injury.
In other words, waiting for revision surgery is not always neutral from a legal standpoint. A patient may already be experiencing symptoms, seeking evaluation, and accumulating medical evidence while the filing clock may also be running. That is one reason early legal review can be important, even if the treatment plan is still developing.
Talk to a Cartiva lawyer if you are still suffering
If you received a Cartiva implant and are still dealing with pain, stiffness, swelling, loss of motion, or concern about possible implant failure, do not assume you have to wait until revision surgery happens to ask questions. Your symptoms may already matter medically and legally.
To speak with an attorney about your Cartiva lawsuit options, call 732-313-2323 for a free consultation.
