Earring allergy and hip replacement?

I had a hip replacement nearly a year ago. Since I have many allergies and metal allergies run in the family I did some research so I could find a doctor who would work with me. The doc I found was very agreeable and we had several conversations about allergies. Based on what my history told him he said he didn't think it necessary to do testing. He would use a ceramic implant. I came through the surgery and went back to life very quickly. During one of the follow-up visits I was told that the screws in the ceramic implant are titanium. A few months ago I began having pain throughout my body. I also had crazy itching without a rash of any kind. Sometimes I am short of breath and feel chest palpitations. I often have a muddled brain. I am often chilled. All things come and go. Now I am experiencing hip pain and what seems to be nerve pain around the hip. I saw my primary who did blood tests, chest x-ray, head CT and EKG. All results were normal so he gave me an antibiotic in case there was an undetected infection. I didn't go back to look at possible allergy to the implant till today. I called for an ortho appointment and then went to do some research. I found this conversation after reading about the symptoms of an allergy. I am very concerned. More to come.

Hello, Like you, I have always had a problem with earrings and necklaces that aren’t gold. When I was having a knee replacement five years ago, the surgeon had something for me to sign about metal allergies in advance. I told the office about the earrings and they sent me for a patch test, all over my back, for metals and bone cement. I came out with a very high allergy to nickel. Bone cement came out fine, and just a slight reaction to one or two other metals that were insignificant. A particular brand of knee replacement was ordered for me…….the name was Smith and Nephew. Not sure what it is made from but I was so glad that I had that test done. I have heard stories of people who didn’t know they had that nickel allergy, had the surgery and a bad reaction, and then the surgery had to be done again! I am sure that they must have similar products for the hip. All of my best wishes to you as you investigate metal allergies. It’s very important! Mary Ann from Boston

@mabfp3
The Smith & Nephew implant is called Journey II and it is made of oxidized zirconium which is allegedly biocompatible. I had the bicruciate retaining form ("BCR"). As far as I know, I am not allergic to cobalt and nickel but my surgeon likes that implant and uses it in its various forms (PKR, TKR, BCR, etc.). Three years ago he implanted a titanium hip for me.

I would urge everyone to get one because most don't know they are allergic until it happens BUT I also believe that extensive experience in doing the exact procedure is the single most important criteria for a knee replacement surgeon and if the surgeon is used to a different implant, I don't know that I would trust him to change it for me. Most knee replacement robots tend to be tied to the company's implants. Thus if one is using the MAKO robot one normally uses the Stryker implant and does a CT scan in advance to build the implant. If one is using the CORI robot (Smith & Nephew), then the Journey II is the implant of choice and the model is built on the fly during the procedure. Both can work well in the hands of a great surgeon.