Hip revision due to metal on metal ions.

I had a left hip done in 2017 and was successful. A year later I had the right one done and have had issues since. No recall for me though. Did find out they tore a muscle which can't be repaired and the surgeon tat did it refuses to admit it.

Hi Itsally, my husband had his 2nd MARS MRI which showed that the large area of inflammation, with debris in it, around his right hip was unchanged from 8 months ago. Dr. says this will not resolve on its own and will perform "minimally invasive" surgery to replace the metal ball with ceramic. The hip itself only gives pain when doing heavy lifting; both parts seem to be solidly implanted and have never given him trouble. Husband is concerned about generalized joint pain and aches throughout rest of his body- usually level 4-5 daily. Wondering if this is related to ion levels: cobalt is trending upward at 21.1 and chromium in 12-14 range. Dr says it is up to husband how long he is willing to put up with this situation. And now there is Covid and continuing to age- 79 in March. Good luck with making our decisions!

@sailaway - The constant joint pain and aches got better for me when the metal ion levels began to go down after surgery, and were gone within less than a year. The inflammation & "debris field" improved within the first 3 months.
Sue

I am a 75 year old woman semi active and have a Stryker hip implanted 10 years ago. It was one of the ones tha It was recalled. I have had two mars mri and have my blood levels checked every 6 months. I am really nervous about having revision done and am looking for a doctor nearby who has preformed these revisions. I am in moderate pain that starts from hip and goes down beyond my knees. I am not sure what the critical levels of chromium and cobalt are. Can you help me with these questions?

First, no chromium or cobalt levels are completely safe, and the longer you wait, the more soft tissue damage there is. I waited too long and ended up with heart and thyroid issues from the metals.
Second, revisions are about the same as the original surgery or easier if they just replace cup liner and femoral ball, and not the stem and cup.
Third, the phone is your friend. Call ortho practices and ask specifically whether they do Stryker revisions. When you first see the doc ask them how many and complication rate.
Finally, get your metal ion numbers and keep track of them, keep checking after surgery to make sure they go down. .
Good luck, and ask me anytime.
Sue

Mine is not that good an outcome. i had hip replacement with a metal on metal Zimmer product. The first year was good. pain started in the 2cd year. my doctor said i had bursitis...and i needed to stretch more. i did so fairly diligently. The pain continued. Shots didn't help long.
when i questioned my doctor, somehow he didn't remember i had a metal on metal hip. after more pain and time...about 9 years worth... i found proof i had a metal on metal hip. he tested for metals, which were through the roof...a revision was scheduled...it was way worse than anticipated with bone damage to the hip socket that had to be removed. he didn't replace the metal head but did replace the metal socket with a plastic coated metal socket...i can walk...up hills is painful...i can play golf...painful afterwards. i fight muscle spasms most every night...which is sleep depriving and very frustrating.
i am stretching nightly that has helped. i'm in the process of requesting more PT to make sure i am doing the best stretches and strengthening exercises possible.
my best advice is do not wait for a hip revision!

My wife had a TKR replaced due to titanium allergy, not fun. An alloy joint installed made by Smith & Nephew is probably as successful as possible under the circumstances but it isn't perfect. She also had a hip replaced three yrs ago, no alloy joint was available then and it has been problem free. I feel what you've gone thru.

I can’t believe your husband has only had the implants that long, & already has had blood tests. I had a mom in 2004, one day Nov. last year, I woke up & couldn’t walk. I don’t remember much but my husband told me I was in bed for a week. When I came to, we went to orthopedic surgeon, the 1st thing they did (& the only time I ever had 1) was do a blood test. Had plenty of cobalt & something else, it escapes me rite now. So I had a rev., with ceramic is between the ball & head of socket(?) . I haven’t been rite since
😟

I have to say…I went back for my 1st follow-up post rev….6 months later. I had found in my release papers (from rev surgery) orders for another blood test (for metal). I didn’t know I had them, when I showed the dr. @ follow-up appt, he said I didn’t need them!!

Now I believe that SO many issues I had / have, especially with my gut are due directly to ions…who knows how long I had them or what damage was done…permanent? I guess I’ll never know