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
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.
Connect

I have had 2 TKRs and 2 THRs. After my last one I developed a rash that is almost full body (not on calfs yet). I am trying to figure out what is causing it and I am not sure yet. One thing I am adding to my list is PEG which is used as a lubricant in joint replacements. But I have been reactive to metals for decades (can’t wear metal jewelry, for instance) so it may be the metals although I had the TKRs 8 years ago and no problems until now after the THRs. Doctors are not any help so far.
I am also looking at environmental triggers like mites. I have totally stripped my bedroom and am doing a deep clean, ripped out carpet, put potential mite food (books, clothes, etc) in plastic bins even though I hate plastic. Still not better so far but I am exposed to a lot of dust from cleaning. I do not have IgA so maybe that makes a difference.
I also grew up across the street from a SuperFund site so who knows what that might have done.