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Hip revision due to metal on metal ions.
Joint Replacements | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (68)Comment receiving replies
As to whether there are toxicology & hip revision specialists at Mayo, here is the place to initiate contact with Mayo Clinics, where they will ask you a lot of questions to determine where to best refer you within the system: https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&utm_source=connect&utm_medium=l&utm_content=discussion&utm_campaign=mayoclinic&geo=national&placementsite=enterprise&cauid=101653
I can tell you from experience that "wait and see" when your metal levels are already rising didn't work for me. By the time I agreed to the removal, I had numerous medical issues now known to be the result of the high metal levels.
My second ortho was also not convinced of the need to remove and replace - until he opened up my hip and found extensive tissue damage - he likened it to "cleaning out old oatmeal" from around the implant. After the initial replacements of the MoM implants, I needed a third revision on one leg due to dislocation/instability issues - 10 years later I am wondering if "dithering" and waiting that extra year for surgery caused more muscle/ligament weakness & damage that wasn't readily apparent.
What did your ortho suggest as a treatment plan, knowing that the levels are rising and the toxicity of cobalt in particular?
Sue
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Dear Sue,
I so appreciate your support and comments. I saw my orthopedist last week and he said it was a hard decision call to do a revision. I don't have any other symptoms warranting a hip revision and he said he did not like just chasing the labs. But he also said every single revision he has done (35) when he did it it showed some damage. My orthopedist ordered a MARS MRI to see if there is any damage but apparently that test is not that reliable unless there is already "gross" damage occuring. My problem is that this is my left hip that needs a revision and my right knee needs a knee replacement. I am currently having a lot of pain when I walk due to the rt knee issue, I wonder how I will be able to walk at all after having a hip revision and current pain on my right knee causing me to limp. Also I can't take NSAID's (Advil, etc) due to having coronary bypass surgery last year. I wonder how I can manage the pain. This is a lot of major surgeries to undergo . I currently take CBD and tylenol (which does not do much) and the doctors won't prescribe any real pain meds like tylenol with codeine due to all the concern over opioids I am going to call Mayo tomorrow and see if they have a toxicologist to give advice on chelation. . Just wondering, how long did you wait and see before you decided to replace it? I know I shouldn't wait too long because I know these metals can be carcinogenic , cause cardio myopathy and a host of other bad things. . Your thoughts, comments greatly appreciated.