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Am I having a systemic or allergic reaction to my TKR?
Has anyone ever experienced the below symptoms post TKR?
* SWELLING OF THE EYES AND MOUTH (1ST WEEK POST OP)
* HIVES (intermittent) FOR FIRST SIX WEEKS POST OP
* VISION CHANGES (BEGAN 1ST WEEK POST OP AND HAVE CONTINUED FOR 10 MOS. POST OP
* CONGESTION ISSUES SINCE TKR, CONSTANT PHLEGM
* INSOMNIA (intermittent) POST OP
* CONSTANT RINGING IN THE EARS POST OP
* MENTAL CHANGES POST OP
* CONSTANT CHAPPED LIPS POST OP
* STATICKY HAIR POST OP
* WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM POST OP
* SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT POST OP
* CANDIDIA OF THE ESOPHOGUS POST OP
* DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY POST OP
My hunch is that I am allergic or sensitive to one of the metals or cements in my TKR. I began having these symptoms immediately after my TKR and have continued to have them for 10 months post op. I am considering Total knee revision with a hypo-allergenic knee. I've been told that my allergy or sensitivity is 1 in a million. I'm just hoping to reach someone else out there that may have had or has the same symptoms.
My current knee implant (Arthrex) has Colbalt, Nickel and Chromium (and more) in it and cement was used. I was tested post-surgery with metal patch testing, blood testing and blood poisoning (from metals) testing, all tests showed no allergy/sensitivity. I have had several tests looking for a potential correlation to my implanted knee and above symptoms with no success. I am not sure if my symptoms are connected to my TKR or not. I would like to validate a connection between my symptoms and my implanted knee before I pursue revision surgery. If there is no connection, I will not seek to have my implanted knee replaced.
Thank you in advance with any similarities that you may have had with your TKR, or if you are a physician who has had a patient in my situation.
Thank you and God Bless.
Kathy
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@kar1000 I'm sorry for what your are experiencing, and agree it sounds like some kind of a systemic reaction to the implant.
Here on Connect, we are all patients and/or caregivers, so the best we can do is to share our experiences.
@lonna66 had an experience like yours - maybe she has some information to share.
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1 ReactionDid you have any steroid injections at the time? I had a steroid injection with my MUA and experienced many of your symptoms, along with increased heart rate as well. Most subsided within a month or so after but the cardiac issues are finally resolving after 7 months!
Yes, please share your experience- thank you!
I don’t believe I had steroid injections.
@lonna66
Please share your story!!!!
I had a nerve block called Experal…
Do you know anything about that?
Thanks
The side effects are rare:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/022496s9lbl.pdf
I have had some of your conditions. I was diagnosed with a nickel allergy. It’s in most implants and the cement used to secure it. I was tested by a lab in Chicago. They sent the kit to do it. This only happened because I took the lead on this. My doctor told me I couldn’t be allergic. Skin test doesn’t work on everyone, you need a blood test. I went through 5 TKRs before I found out. Only 6 percent of males are allergic to some form of surgical metal in the US. Still living with the fact that my body has been poisoned with nickel for 3 years. It seems you are invested in your health, stay that way, doctors are not always right. They mean well, but don’t know everything. Trust what your body is telling you. Hope all goes well.
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1 ReactionThere is a blood test that can test for allergies to those metals. I had it done because I’ve had 3 revisions and they kept getting loose. I’m not allergic and am scheduled for a 4th revision with different surgeon
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1 ReactionI did have to pay out of pocket for it. $300-400
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