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Hip revision due to metal on metal ions.

Posted by sailaway @sailaway, Dec 10, 2019

My husband has two great Metal on Metal (MoM) hips from 2008 and 2010. He and surgeon chose these types of replacements as being appropriate for an athletic person, and he has been able to downhill ski with them. Now he has rising levels of chromium and cobalt, released from friction between the metal surfaces, and many aches and pains throughout body. There is an "impressive" pocket of inflammatory fluid around one hip joint (where metal ions are being released) and we are being advised to have a revision where one of the metal parts is replaced with ceramic. This is pending another blood test and a MARS MRI in 5 months. Appreciate hearing from any others with this experience. Thank you.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 15, 2021
In reply to @sickofbeinsick1 "I have to say…I went back for my 1st follow-up post rev….6 months later. I had..." + (show)
@sickofbeinsick1

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!!

Jump to this post

You might need to be an advocate for yourself - if you are still having symptoms this long, have them check your blood to see if your body is adequately eliminating the chromium and cobalt. You should start feeling better as your body heals...
Another issue that has surfaced over time with the heavy metal poisoning from hip implants is thyroid changes - your TSH, free T3 & free T4 should be checked for irregularities.
Finally, you could try to get your primary provider to order the tests.

Let me know if you can get these tests ordered - you may well be dealing with some things that can be resolved.
Sue

REPLY
2 replies
sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Nov 15, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "You might need to be an advocate for yourself - if you are still having symptoms..." + (show)
@sueinmn

You might need to be an advocate for yourself - if you are still having symptoms this long, have them check your blood to see if your body is adequately eliminating the chromium and cobalt. You should start feeling better as your body heals...
Another issue that has surfaced over time with the heavy metal poisoning from hip implants is thyroid changes - your TSH, free T3 & free T4 should be checked for irregularities.
Finally, you could try to get your primary provider to order the tests.

Let me know if you can get these tests ordered - you may well be dealing with some things that can be resolved.
Sue

Jump to this post

I have been my ONLY advocate for so long. No Dr’s will touch me with a 10” pole. Other things I’ve noticed is Depression…beyond what I thought was somewhat bad….not to mention mental decline…I thought that happened w/out being aware. I’m sure there’s some things I’m not aware of…but when you ARE aware, it sucks !

REPLY
sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "You might need to be an advocate for yourself - if you are still having symptoms..." + (show)
@sueinmn

You might need to be an advocate for yourself - if you are still having symptoms this long, have them check your blood to see if your body is adequately eliminating the chromium and cobalt. You should start feeling better as your body heals...
Another issue that has surfaced over time with the heavy metal poisoning from hip implants is thyroid changes - your TSH, free T3 & free T4 should be checked for irregularities.
Finally, you could try to get your primary provider to order the tests.

Let me know if you can get these tests ordered - you may well be dealing with some things that can be resolved.
Sue

Jump to this post

That is something I never put together…previous blood tests showed HIGH TPO levels. The last test (2019) TSH 3rd gen.?
was 6.79 & anti-TPO = 384. Could have something to do with metal ions ? I haven’t had another thyroid test since…due to COVID & everything else I personally was going thru. I guess when you’re not in your rite mind, those sort of things fall to the wayside ?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @sickofbeinsick1 "That is something I never put together…previous blood tests showed HIGH TPO levels. The last test..." + (show)
@sickofbeinsick1

That is something I never put together…previous blood tests showed HIGH TPO levels. The last test (2019) TSH 3rd gen.?
was 6.79 & anti-TPO = 384. Could have something to do with metal ions ? I haven’t had another thyroid test since…due to COVID & everything else I personally was going thru. I guess when you’re not in your rite mind, those sort of things fall to the wayside ?

Jump to this post

We didn't know it in 2011-2012 when I was going through it, even though the Hospitalist suspected a thyroid storm after my first replacement surgery, but it later became an issue in some lawsuits. Possibly worth checking into?

It did take me a bit more than a year to feel well after my revisions were all done. Unfortunately in addition to the temporary thyroid issue, I was left with a permanent "ditch" along my thigh where the metal collected and damaged tissue, and a permanent essential tremor.

My bad hips were only in place about 5 years.
Sue

REPLY
3 replies
sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "We didn't know it in 2011-2012 when I was going through it, even though the Hospitalist..." + (show)
@sueinmn

We didn't know it in 2011-2012 when I was going through it, even though the Hospitalist suspected a thyroid storm after my first replacement surgery, but it later became an issue in some lawsuits. Possibly worth checking into?

It did take me a bit more than a year to feel well after my revisions were all done. Unfortunately in addition to the temporary thyroid issue, I was left with a permanent "ditch" along my thigh where the metal collected and damaged tissue, and a permanent essential tremor.

My bad hips were only in place about 5 years.
Sue

Jump to this post

That is not good news. I had a Bio-Met in (04).. it was 6 weeks after my last born, I had a 2 yr. old at home. Did visit a couple attorneys maybe 2 yrs. post. Got nothing. I thought it was me, I must be a weenie…I’ve always considered myself a strong person…I MUST be to go thru what i did / am still. What scares me most is that as I said previously (no Dr. would touch me…pole) here I am 16 (17) years later. It took a while to realize how much I’d changed….I don’t recognize myself anymore. It really makes me sad when I realize how much of my kids lives I’ve missed out on.
I feel like we were all cheated

REPLY
2 replies
sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @sickofbeinsick1 "That is not good news. I had a Bio-Met in (04).. it was 6 weeks after..." + (show)
@sickofbeinsick1

That is not good news. I had a Bio-Met in (04).. it was 6 weeks after my last born, I had a 2 yr. old at home. Did visit a couple attorneys maybe 2 yrs. post. Got nothing. I thought it was me, I must be a weenie…I’ve always considered myself a strong person…I MUST be to go thru what i did / am still. What scares me most is that as I said previously (no Dr. would touch me…pole) here I am 16 (17) years later. It took a while to realize how much I’d changed….I don’t recognize myself anymore. It really makes me sad when I realize how much of my kids lives I’ve missed out on.
I feel like we were all cheated

Jump to this post

I don’t know if you can see all my posts, but I’m not just in replacements…I’ve been dealing w/ gut, memory, MAJIR depression (not sure if I posted that) it may make me seem weak,
God forbid

REPLY
sickofbeinsick1. AKA Tina | @sickofbeinsick1 | Nov 16, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "We didn't know it in 2011-2012 when I was going through it, even though the Hospitalist..." + (show)
@sueinmn

We didn't know it in 2011-2012 when I was going through it, even though the Hospitalist suspected a thyroid storm after my first replacement surgery, but it later became an issue in some lawsuits. Possibly worth checking into?

It did take me a bit more than a year to feel well after my revisions were all done. Unfortunately in addition to the temporary thyroid issue, I was left with a permanent "ditch" along my thigh where the metal collected and damaged tissue, and a permanent essential tremor.

My bad hips were only in place about 5 years.
Sue

Jump to this post

If you or your husband is having rising Ion levels this early, DONT wait. In 2004 when I had mine, I thought I was lucky cuz I could walk again. Never dreamed what happened could happen.
Don’t wait.
I know everyone is different, but that’s one way you don’t want to risk.. no matter, it’s really bad & the longer you wait….?

REPLY
7797 | @7797 | Nov 19, 2021

i have had my levels tested again 5 years after a hip revision. *-chromium level was 3.0 and cobalt levels were 1.0. both are a little over twice the upper limit of normal, is this a concern?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 19, 2021
In reply to @7797 "i have had my levels tested again 5 years after a hip revision. *-chromium level was..." + (show)
@7797

i have had my levels tested again 5 years after a hip revision. *-chromium level was 3.0 and cobalt levels were 1.0. both are a little over twice the upper limit of normal, is this a concern?

Jump to this post

I'm not sure what is usual, when my blood was tested 1 year post-removal, my levels were near/just above upper limits of normal. They haven't been retested because I had no more symptoms. Are you still having problems?
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
7797 | @7797 | Nov 19, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "I'm not sure what is usual, when my blood was tested 1 year post-removal, my levels..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I'm not sure what is usual, when my blood was tested 1 year post-removal, my levels were near/just above upper limits of normal. They haven't been retested because I had no more symptoms. Are you still having problems?
Sue

Jump to this post

My biggest issue is nightly muscle spasms in the thigh area. Other issues are stiffness and soreness. I’m back at PT per your advice working at strengthening and flexibility.

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