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Swelling and stiffness, 3 years after total knee replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Apr 3 5:43pm | Replies (218)Comment receiving replies
Could you be allergic to the implant? If allergic I imagine there would be inflamation in the area and do not know if that would show up in an xray.
Why I can't have a knee replacement- My ortho was ready to proceed with my knee replacement this spring but I insisted upon metal allergy and bone cement allergy testing first. He told me he hadn't had issues with rejection, but I am an allergic person and would rather proceed cautiously. I have Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, and Patch Testing showed about 7 allergies out of 80 sites. I have multiple adhesive allergies but was never tested for the adhesive in bone cement. In my Patch Test Panel's I never have the metal panels run. I have known I react to nickle all my life. He ordered a blood tes stating this was more accurate than the Patch Test and I was told I must pay $600 up front as Medicare doesn't pay for this test. My blood test came back showing allergies to 5 metals, the bone cement was safe. He said there would not be one metal implant I could use; although not allergic to titanium, even titanium has traces of other metals I would react to. No problem as he could put in a ceramic coated implant so no metal would contact me and was ready to proceed. I did the homework on the "Gold" implant (called this as the ceramic is gold in color). Last year a class action lawsuit was filed as many have learned the bone cement won't adhere to the implant, moisture builds up between the ceramic coating and bone cement and the implant comes loose from the bone.I figure I am better off accepting the limitations I have now rather than risk rejection. I have a file with the exact name of this implant if interested I ill look it up.
I am appealing to Medicare to reimburse me for this blood test expense based upon my doctors "letter of necessity" because of my allergic history. Yet even if not reimbursed I am grateful for this test..
Replies to "Could you be allergic to the implant? If allergic I imagine there would be inflamation in..."
I find your case fascinating because I have adhesive allergies as well and my first knee replacement had to be revised after 5 years due to the cement having “vanished”. Literally, there was no cement left when they went in to drill out the old knee, the doc just lifted it out without any problem! Now the revision is a bit loose. I wonder if my allergy to adhesive could be related to an allergy to bone cement thereby causing the cement to breakdown and vanish! My other knee is ready for replacement too and now I’m wondering if this is something I need to look at. Since I’ve had allergic reactions in the hospital to all forms of adhesive (from Bandaids to Tegaderm) I’m thinking I need to do the allergy testing. I’m also allergic to Nickel which piqued my inquiry.
Did they discuss a "press fit" option. My guess is they don't use cement.
I had tkr 2.4 years ago. I wished I had been tested ahead of the surgery. I am now undergoing metal skin testing after 2 years of pain, swelling and loss of muscle. My tests are in 2 weeks, I ordered the tests yesterday but ugh, did not think about the cement. I am now hypersensitive to adhesives.
I also have a lot of allergies. Eg, I’m allergic to the rooster protein in the knee injections they gave me. I’m allergic to adhesive tape. I’ve been worried about allergic reactions to the cement and the metals (I can’t wear any earrings). What was the allergy test you had? Was it to all metals and the cement?
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Thank you for all this information. I don’t know that I’m allergic to any metals, just that I have food sensitivities galore, and not much I can eat. So, what will you do ? I haven’t been able to kneel for many many years now, both knees with and without implant. Ortho said I’m bone on bone, so I need replacement on my other knee now, and naturally I’m scared. I had a couple of injections which helped. Apparently not suppose to do long term. I went to a seminar, and they said if one is bone on bone, stem cell would not work. On research, I did find out that my knee brand was recalled. The Dupuy.