Has surgical hardware made you sick?

@jtcannon1976 @eddiestella1 I m scared and don't know what to do the surgeon refuses to listen even delisted himself or said he was and I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm slowly not gonna do well from this . I don't want to say it casually then it becomes true. I think I want it out.

Thank you ! My first reply. And the anxiety lighted up already. I am clueless on Howe to seek out another surgeon or use the one that put it in since he knows what he did he's probably not going to place medical need but I'm gonna possibly try so I don't have to pay. But if not I'll figure out how to get it out myself

@jtcannon1976 meaning a new doctor that sounded a bit morbid sorry

I'm hoping I'm doing this right I am trying to get my message across. Hopefully I'm doing so. I just need help so here it is.....Can this be on the spine too? I'm struggling after a couple screws and plates were implanted in my back for T12 fracture and I'm struggling with fever cold chills pain nausea vomiting lots of pain, but I'm a bout a month and 1/2 post surgery I don't think this should be. Any non medical advice you can give I feel horrible and can't get up barely to pee a city is out the roof with my already anxious disease. Can you help

Hello @jtcannon1976, you are posting correctly. When you make a post or a reply, it is posted publicly for everyone to see. It may take some time to receive responses. Rather than reply to each individual post, you can make longer posts that address responses to many members. You can use the search function at the top as well to find more discussions that are relevant to your diagnosis or experiences as well. There are some more tutorials as well on how to use Connect if there are specific things you have questions about, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/.

@jtcannon1976 - have you shared these symptoms with your provider and/or surgeon? Fever, chills, nausea and pain might be signs of something you want to discuss or report to your medical team. It may be a more acute issue like being sick, but with a recent surgery it is always best to practice caution and alert your providers of symptoms.

@jtcannon1976 Have you brought this to your surgeon's attention? A risk of any surgery is infection, and a fever and vomiting are a significant symptoms that should not be ignored. I would call your doctor ASAP, and not wait for responses here. Unfortunately, I only saw this now, 2 days after you posted this question. With my hardware reactions, my symptoms were pain at the hardware site and chronic hives. I did not have a fever or vomiting. FYI, my reaction to hardware was to titanium plates on my ankle after a fracture and I did have those removed a year and a half after the injury. I had a cervical fusion done without hardware, so that has been fine since the fusion surgery. I did have a respiratory infection right after spine fusion surgery because of retained phlegm that wasn't properly expelled after anesthesia.

My mom didn't have the nausea or fever, but after some time she still had significant pain. Although they recommended against it, she also opted to have the hardware removed by a different surgeon. When he removed it, he found that the prior doctor had use the rod for a left leg instead of the right, which was not the same and was causing her pain. She felt much better after having it removed.

@granddilulsion
Could you share the surgeon's name please. I have been suffering for nearly 2 years after a hip replacement where metal was used including metal screws. I can't find a surgeon who does revisions here where I live (in KY) I keep getting worse and can't walk but a couple of steps and can't raise the leg without pain. TY

I lost ability to walk normally. After nearly 2 years I still cannot raise my hip. I cannot locate a revision surgeon to remove the metal implant and screws they used. Plus I'm 4'11" and most of the clients with the VA are burly males and I think it was one size fits all. KY is not noted for exceptional health care.
Can anyone that has undergone a hip revision let me know about the physician who helped you. At this point, willing to go elsewhere for help.

Metal allergies cause inflation and lack of healing.
Get a blood test which tests all the components of the appliance, hardware, implant and bone cement.
Speaking from personal experience I have accepted my knee disabilites rather suffer with allergies to the implant.
I do have multiple contact allergies, not counting all my environmental allergies so I am always aware of my contacts.
My knee surgery was scheduled and I requested a test for all the elements before the surgery date, yet even with my orthopedist writing up my allergic medical history Medicare wouldn't pay for this test. I paid $600.00, blood was taken and sent to lab in Chicago which tested for various metals and also the bone cement.
I learned I am allegic to 5 metals, however titanium the main metal used in the implant did not test positive. However the othopedist explained there is no such thing as pure titanium. It contains traces of other metals, including the ones I was allergic to. In time the implant erodes from wear and not only the titanium is released into your body and bloodstream but these trace metals are too. Not only would the locatized area react but also these trace metals could be release thoughout your body and stored as heavy metals are. He did explain a ceramic coated implant could be used, but in time the ceramic coating thins and metals are exposed.
If eddiestella1 is still following this post I hope blood testing is considered and if positive removal of the implant/applicance is considered.
Your orthopedist should be aware of a lab that provides this test but if not I have the address of the lab in Chicago, Il that does this testing and I will get out my records and post it.
This will sound cynical, but I personally believe doctors, just like the orthopedist group I went to, don't suggest allergy testing of the components, not because of the personal expense to the patient which Medicare will not pay for, but because at least 5 % of their sugeries would be cancelled. You may be part of the 5% like me.