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Big toe pain can have many causes but for those who suffer from osteoarthritis there is a new solution, Cartiva. The Cartiva implant is a new option to reduce or eliminate big toe pain caused by osteoarthritis in the joint. Osteoarthritis is a disease that can affect every joint of the body, it leads to a breakdown of the cartilage cushioning in the joint. This wear and tear can cause pain, stiffness and swelling— eventually causing those affected to stop doing the things that they love for fear of aggravating the toe and making the pain worse.

Big Toe Pain and Dealing with it Thanks to Cartiva

Cartiva is an FDA approved synthetic implant created from polyvinyl alcohol and saline—it feels similar to contact lenses and looks like a small round, clear, marshmallow. It is meant to mimic cartilage in the big toe joint and replace the cartilage that osteoarthritis has worn down over time. Cartiva is a synthetic, biostable, durable implant meaning it does not carry the risk of viral or bacterial transmission due to animal materials, it is designed to reduce any chance of systemic irritation, and it is capable of withstanding repetitive loading.

If you have pain due to osteoarthritis in your big toe joint you are very familiar with the stiffness, swelling and inability to walk or bear weight that it causes. With a Cartiva implant, swelling, stiffness and pain are reduced and flexibility is restored. The procedure to get a Cartiva implant is covered by insurance and the procedure takes about 30 minutes. Recovery begins immediately after surgery. Your surgeon will encourage you to begin moving your foot as soon as you can tolerate it after surgery. With the help of a physical therapist and doctor, patients are usually back to normal activities within 6 weeks.

At Panorama Orthopedics, our goal is to offer the best solutions to your orthopedic injuries at the best value—this means offering a comprehensive set of options to all of your injuries. Your doctor will ultimately decide if Cartiva is the best solution for your big toe pain and if it is not, he will offer other solutions. Alternatives to Cartiva include fusion of the big toe joint and big toe joint replacement, both of which are very successful procedures.

If you have suffered with pain in your big toe, Cartiva is one new option that can help you get back to your activities.  If you are interested in Cartiva or any other solutions to your big toe joint pain, call for an appointment with one of our foot & ankle experts today.