Connect
← Return to Hip revision, metallosis, and peripheral neuropathy
Discussion
Hip revision, metallosis, and peripheral neuropathy
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
@jimplanner1 Welcome to Mayo Connect, even though it is under these unhappy circumstances. I too was the victim of a metal-on-metal hip implant and developed severe metallosis, in spite of the surgeon repeatedly telling me I was fine. Fortunately, my implant was the subject of an FDA recall, and he was required to give me a letter instructing me to get my metal levels checked. That led to revision on both hips, and over a year of medical complications, but fortunately no neuropathy - Just a lifelong tremor and broken thermostat.
Your surgeon was at best disingenuous, and possibly worse, when he described his findings as "an infection" as it was well-known by that time that pseudo-tumors, corrosion and fluid were signs of metallosis. He should have ordered blood tests or tissue examinations.
Here is a recent update on the known after-effects of this problem - neuropathy is on the list of known issues:
https://www.drugwatch.com/hip-replacement/metallosis/
And here is more about neuropathy after metallosis:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20544916/
Who paid for your revision? Were you ever party to one of the numerous class-action lawsuits?
Replies to "@jimplanner1 Welcome to Mayo Connect, even though it is under these unhappy circumstances. I too was..."
Yes, I believe my doctor was disingenuous. In fact, he never mentioned the pseudonymous, fretting, corrosion, or locking ring failure. I only discovered these things months later, when I requested the surgical report from the hospital. I filed an inquiry with Zimmerman, and they denied any responsibility. Additionally, I contacted numerous attorneys - to no avail. Even though my symptoms were identical to the Durom Cup, there weren’t enough incidents to initiate a lawsuit. Now, all these years later, the statute of limitations has passed. I will forever believe they have damaged my health, but apparently there is nothing to be done. Am I bitter? Probably. But otherwise my life is good, so que sera…
Connect
I had TH replacement in 04…in ‘20, had rev. due to pseudo tumor..I had no idea how serious it was…my cobal, chromium & cadmium levels have decreased, but my brain (memory) is shot. I’m at wits end…I’d like to know what to do now…I can’t even keep up w/ daily chores anymore. Crying because I feel like such a failure to my 2 boys. It’s hard when they have to tell their friends, “she has metal poisoning, so she doesn’t remember a lot “.
I feel like such a burden to my family.