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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@7797

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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How has the PT affected you? Any relief from the pain at all? Last year I was having really bad pain and spasms, and the daily stretches I learned seemed to help over time - now if I quit them for a few days, I find myself flying out of bed with muscle spasms in my legs. Good reminder that fitness isn't just a one time thing.
Do you and the PT have a plan for you to keep stretching and exercising once the formal sessions are over?
Sue

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@sueinmn

How has the PT affected you? Any relief from the pain at all? Last year I was having really bad pain and spasms, and the daily stretches I learned seemed to help over time - now if I quit them for a few days, I find myself flying out of bed with muscle spasms in my legs. Good reminder that fitness isn't just a one time thing.
Do you and the PT have a plan for you to keep stretching and exercising once the formal sessions are over?
Sue

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Just started PT. I’ll incorporate them into my daily routine especially if they work.

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@7797

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!

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I had a rev. almost 1 year ago to the day. I had the original in ‘04…so in 16 yrs I never had a blood test. It was never mentioned. I woke up 1 day & couldn’t walk, in bed for a week…(I’ve posted this b4). Went directly to Ortho, 1st thing they did was test for metal (positive of course). He said since the rev., all was good, no more metal. However, in release papers I found some couple months three months later orders for another blood test… I did not even know they were there or that I was supposed to have it tested again. However I did go back four months later and had it tested by just another doctor at my PCP and I just found out last week that there was still metal in my blood. My biggest issue is mental I don’t even remember having that second test done with my PCP.
h
However, I don’t think I ever mentioned that the Doctor Who did the first implant was not the same one who did the revision the Doctor Who did the revision left so when I went back it was a different doctor but told me the same thing. Some days are good some not so much as seems like it comes in waves.
🙁

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@sickofbeinsick1

I had a rev. almost 1 year ago to the day. I had the original in ‘04…so in 16 yrs I never had a blood test. It was never mentioned. I woke up 1 day & couldn’t walk, in bed for a week…(I’ve posted this b4). Went directly to Ortho, 1st thing they did was test for metal (positive of course). He said since the rev., all was good, no more metal. However, in release papers I found some couple months three months later orders for another blood test… I did not even know they were there or that I was supposed to have it tested again. However I did go back four months later and had it tested by just another doctor at my PCP and I just found out last week that there was still metal in my blood. My biggest issue is mental I don’t even remember having that second test done with my PCP.
h
However, I don’t think I ever mentioned that the Doctor Who did the first implant was not the same one who did the revision the Doctor Who did the revision left so when I went back it was a different doctor but told me the same thing. Some days are good some not so much as seems like it comes in waves.
🙁

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I'm sorry to hear that you are still suffering multiple issues, I assume the docs not sure how they all tie together, or what the catalyst was that started it all, since it has been so long for you.
When I had continued problems after my metal hips were replaced, it was a persistent primary care provider that helped me put the pieces together.
Who have you been seeing? Do you have an option to see a group, where the primary and specialists work together?
Sue

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@sueinmn

I'm sorry to hear that you are still suffering multiple issues, I assume the docs not sure how they all tie together, or what the catalyst was that started it all, since it has been so long for you.
When I had continued problems after my metal hips were replaced, it was a persistent primary care provider that helped me put the pieces together.
Who have you been seeing? Do you have an option to see a group, where the primary and specialists work together?
Sue

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I did not have one Dr. at the time…in fact the Dr I saw constantly was a GI Dr….in fact the one who told me she thought all my gut issues could be due to my hip!

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@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

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Me again…I remember you saying something about thyroid…I think I’m doing the same. I was taking NP 20 (?) after rev., my hair was coming out by handfuls…I took myself off. But I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s & or Graves as well. I’ve noticed recently my fingertips are going numb again…maybe an Endocrinologist is in order? Seems there’s something I’m forgetting…imagine that…HA

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I had both hips done with metal on metal hips in 2007 and 2009. Since I was younger I was told they would last longer.. Due to tissue destruction and pain, the 2009 metal on metal device was replaced/revised in 2015. However , I have always had low levels of cobalt and chromium in blood.
However, recently my cobalt and chromium levels have more than tripled and are in the toxic level. I am not thrilled about a 4th hip replacement surgery to remove the defective hip replacement device causing cobalt and chromium poisoning as I have had numerous serious medical issues and recent major medical surgeries this past year. Also having surgery during this covid epidemic is not appealing. Has anyone tried chelation with N acetyl cystein to remove the cobalt and chromium. Does anyone know a medical toxicologist familiar with this issue. My orthopedist said he has seen mixed results using N acetyl cysteine?

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@stephanieann

I had both hips done with metal on metal hips in 2007 and 2009. Since I was younger I was told they would last longer.. Due to tissue destruction and pain, the 2009 metal on metal device was replaced/revised in 2015. However , I have always had low levels of cobalt and chromium in blood.
However, recently my cobalt and chromium levels have more than tripled and are in the toxic level. I am not thrilled about a 4th hip replacement surgery to remove the defective hip replacement device causing cobalt and chromium poisoning as I have had numerous serious medical issues and recent major medical surgeries this past year. Also having surgery during this covid epidemic is not appealing. Has anyone tried chelation with N acetyl cystein to remove the cobalt and chromium. Does anyone know a medical toxicologist familiar with this issue. My orthopedist said he has seen mixed results using N acetyl cysteine?

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I took a look. It sounds like results so far are extremely limited - you can take a look here.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7183002/

My concern is whether chelation therapy is effective when you are already at a toxic level and having medical issues. My metal on metal implants were replaced when my metal levels reached toxic levels, less than 5 years after the initial surgeries. 10 years later, I still have some residual effects from the damage.

Also, I have had 4 successful surgeries during Covid without incident, I would not consider it a reason for deferring surgery or subsequent PT.

Sue

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Thank you Sue for your prompt reply. In 2020 at beginning of covid pandemic I had a triple coronary bypass even though I had almost no symptoms but cardiologist recommended it. 2 wks post surgery I was back in hospital with sepsis, likely from the surgery. I had a long difficult recovery , 2 more hospitalizations and then home with IV's and difficulty getting rid of the staph infection in blood. Consequently I am wary of having another major surgery after having 3 hip surgeries and a bypass and covid still rampant. . But you are correct. Waiting too long may be bad also It is hard for me to weigh the risk/benefits of having another hip replacement. Also my left hip is the one that needs the revision but I have chronic rt knee pain from an injury and am worried about walking after the hip surgery. I wish there was more data and research on if chelation works to remove the cobald and chromium. Stay safe and healthy

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Has anyone tried chelation first to remove the excessive high levels of cobalt and chromium in blood. ? I have had 3 hip surgeries. One in 2007 rt hip and another in 2009 left hip to put in metal on metal total hip implants. In 2015 the surgeon replaced the rt. Metal implant which was damaging tissue . Now my left hip MOM implant is likely causing a sudden increase in cobalt and chromium levels and likely I will need to get it out. That will be a total of 4 hip surgeries. My big concern is that my right knee gives me a great deal of pain and I limp due to complete root tear of rt knee meniscus. They tell me I should get a right knee replacement also, This is a lot of surgeries and I just had coronary bypass surgery in 2020, So if anyone knows anything about chelation please advise. Stay safe and healthy

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