Titanium plate in neck and have severe metal allergy

@tia2 I am also allergic to titanium in my body. I had a spinal fusion done without hardware for that reason because I suspected it could become an issue. When I broke my ankle, I reacted to the titanium plates. Luckily, I was able to have them removed. I would suggest looking at the website for the Environmental Heath Center Dallas. They did have protocols for treating allergies to surgical implants. It might also involve treating other allergies too. I had an environmental medicine doctor who had recommended this if I needed any permanent implants. They are in Texas in a suburb of Dallas. It may be ehcd.com. I’m sorry you’re in this predicament. Allergies can be a lot to deal with.

@jenniferhunter Hi. How did you know you're allergic to titanium? What was your reaction?

@jenniferhunter Hi. How did you know you're allergic to titanium? What was your reaction?

@ccchang I had hives that came up anywhere on my body, not a few, but large patches that covered the front of a thigh or forearm. Pretty much anywhere my clothing rubbed, it would start a patch of hives. I had pain where the hardware plates were on my ankle and my skin was developing some pigment over them. I felt like someone was kicking me all the time. Getting the hardware removed cleared up all these issues. These symptoms began 6 months after the injury and installation of the titanium plates and screws. I had to stay on antihistamines all the time.

@ccchang I had hives that came up anywhere on my body, not a few, but large patches that covered the front of a thigh or forearm. Pretty much anywhere my clothing rubbed, it would start a patch of hives. I had pain where the hardware plates were on my ankle and my skin was developing some pigment over them. I felt like someone was kicking me all the time. Getting the hardware removed cleared up all these issues. These symptoms began 6 months after the injury and installation of the titanium plates and screws. I had to stay on antihistamines all the time.

@ccchang there’s several tests that will bring up the allergy reaction to metals. One is a patch test. One is a Melissa blood test. Another is a blind pill test where they put a form of titanium in a capsule. No one knows what’s in the pill except the nurse, depending on the severity the reactions are not fun. You swell up from the inside.

@tia2 Oh wow, okay. You're right, that does not sound fun. It's just interesting and odd that I wasn't tested prior to my surgery (titanium cage and screws), seems like that should be standard procedure. Ok, thank you.

@ccchang Cori, I did get tested for reactions to implant materials before my spine surgery and it was all negative, even titanium. Since I was able to have a single level fusion in my neck without hardware, I chose that because I knew I had reacted to all kinds of metals from pierced earrings. My hunch was right. After exposure to titanium from hardware plates after an ankle fracture, I developed hives 6 months later. It may not be the same for everyone who develops a metal allergy. You can develop an allergy after a period of exposure so the blood test really only is a snapshot of the current situation, and it can change.

@jenniferhunter I see. Ok, thank you. I have pain at my surgery (cage) site and ongoing numbness. I'm wondering if it's related to scar tissue. I've seen your links to MFR which is super interesting, but I've not been able to find that kind of therapist yet. I'm in Honolulu, HI.

@ccchang You can just use your hands and pull on your skin to create the stretch. You can also use small firm balls to push the skin or other massage type tools you can find. I have a question mark shaped thing that has some rubber knobs on it that is good to use. The rubber grabs the skin better than my hands do. You can also use your body weight by laying on balls and I roll against my quest mark thing to stretch the front of my chest or I pull down on my chest to stretch the neck and surgical incision scar.