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← Return to TKR implant allergy?
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Greetings! I am brand new to this website and just saw your post. I had my first TKR almost 2 years ago and will be getting the second one this coming Tuesday.
Addressing metal allergies to implants... I had a blood test prior to my first knee replacement because I suspected I might have a nickel allergy. The test did indeed confirm this and as a result, the surgeon used an implant that did not have nickel in it. If I had not had this test, I would’ve had a severe allergy to the implant that he was going to use. I really dodged a bullet.
If you want to totally rule out a possible metal allergy, I would recommend that you have the blood test. Ask your surgeon about it.
It is expensive but my military insurance surprisingly covered it. The company is Orthopedic Analysis and they send you a mail-in kit.
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Replies to "Greetings! I am brand new to this website and just saw your post. I had my..."
Good afternoon @phoenix12 . It looks like you and Jennifer went right to work on an important issue. Thanks for sharing your experience with the metal allergies issue.
Would you like to share your reasons for joining Connect? I note that you will be getting a second TKR on Tuesday and that is coming up quickly. If it were me I would be trying to have an excuse for staying out of the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Did you have a positive recovery for your first TKR? Are you changing the surgeon or the type of surgery, like Robotic? Have you been doing your pre-op exercises? It is so helpful when your muscles and other elements are ready to go to work and help with your recovery.
I had my second TKR 3 months ago. It was robotic and the recovery has been easy and rewarding.
I will watch for your post and am ready to help you find the information you need. Our mission at Connect is to improve the quality of life of every member.
What can I help you with today?
Chris
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@phoenix12 I also did this blood test at Orthopedic Analysis. I had issues with metals in earrings and had to give them up. I didn't have allergies according to the test, but I opted anyway for spine fusion without hardware a few years ago. Last year, I broke my ankle and ended up with titanium hardware and I seemed to develop an issue 6 months later with it because I was having chronic hives and pain. I had the hardware removed this year and improved immediately, but this isn't always an option. The metals are alloys and are not pure, so it's possible to react to one of the mixtures in it, and sometimes that doesn't develop until a person has been exposed to it for a period of time. That is an important discussion to have with your surgeon. It's good that the test pointed you in a better direction and hopefully that will be good going into the future. There are some treatments with environmental medicine doctors to treat metal allergies from implants. This link is the practice that started this field of medicine. https://www.ehcd.com/
There is also a provider search at https://www.aaemonline.org/ and there may be some similar treatments available with these providers.