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Cobalt poisoning
I had hip replacement about 10 years ago. I was falling often, had several tests conducted and discovered when I went to my orthopedic surgeon that I have cobalt poisoning caused by the implant. My level was 5.4 and he didn't feel comfortable with it being over 1.5. I have had 2 surgeries to help with the problem. Is there a class action suit to address this problem? Thank you for your help.
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@debbiesbp I'm sorry to hear about the problems you have had. I went through the same thing, on both hips, about 14 years ago. At that time, I had full metal-on-metal hips, which were recalled by the manufacturer just 4 years after my surgeries, and the manufacturer paid for the replacements.
More recently, I believe there have been some issues with resurfaced (partially replaced) hips releasing metal ions as they wear, requiring revision. I do not know how the cost of those I being handled.
When it comes to medical/legal issues like this, Google is actually a pretty good tool. You will need to know the manufacturer, distributor and model of each part of the implant (stem, femoral head or ball, acetabular cup and liner.) This information should be in your original surgical records as every part has a serial number. Ideally you or the revising surgeon has the part(s) that were replaced.
Using that information, you can do a specific search to find out what the legal status is.
Do you know what implants you had? How are you healing?
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2 ReactionsI started taking a supplement called NAC about 2 months ago. My Cobalt levels went from 2.4 to 1.5 after only 6 weeks of taking 600mg every morning. I have 2 resurfaced hips and a partial knee. All of them are made of cobalt and chromium. My chromium levels also dropped from 2.0 to 1.7.
It's a shame that so many of us have to suffer due to medical devices not being adequately tested. I used to say that I have reached the heavy metal age...silver in my hair, gold in my teeth, lead in my bottom, and now cobalt in my hips.
I'm glad NAC is working for you. Will you continue to have annual followup testing to be sure the numbers continue to fall/stay at a safe level?
I drafted a reply and my computer ate it - I don't think we will reach a place where any device is required to be tested for its expected life of 5-10-20- years before release, and science and medicine do not yet have a way to do this outside the body.
My implants were bothering me for 3+ years before the manufacturer reached out to the surgeons with recommendations for metallosis testing.
The biggest problem isn't lack of testing, it is lack of a comprehensive registry of all devices and the people to whom they have been sold, as well as an enforceable requirement that efforts be made to notify the patients promptly when concerns arise.
And another accessible registry of all devices/parts that are causing issues so patients and providers are informed.
By the time my implants were removed and replaced, I was critically ill.
I am sorry that you have gone through so much. May you find some relief from your pain.