There was a class action lawsuit (probably several) involving the Stryker hip that was recalled around 2012-2015. I received a settlement in 2015 after undergoing a revision for a recalled hip in which the metal deteriorated which resulted in poisoning and infection. I thought the settlement was deliberately calculated for a "low award" because the average age of the patients was older. Had people been younger I think the settlement would have been much larger. I wasn't going to use a lawyer, filing my own paperwork, to save the loss of a 1/3rd of the settlement, but they required the use of a lawyer to receive the settlement. That was probably illegal blackmail but I played along to get a settlement. Lawyers created one set of paperwork and then just kept filing the same paperwork, just changing the name of the patient for each filing. Lawyers made out like bandits.
I don't know if my severe pain problems in my TKR have to do with metal and/or cement allergies but even though I can't afford the $600 tests costs either, I don't know what else to do. Doctors aren't interested in detective work when something goes wrong. They just like to do the surgeries and then patients are on their own. I've now been to four different revision surgeons and no one can give me any idea why I'm in severe pain 24/7, can barely walk and can't do steps at all. I've also have unexplained rashes and the start of kidney problems, for no known reason. I also had unexplained sepsis last year that almost killed me. Related? No idea! Not much of a life at this point, pretty frustrating. So I'm doing the allergy tests as a last resort. Hopefully it will offer me some ideas. We patients absolutely have to be our own advocates. I'm more than fed up with the lack of help from physicians . . .