Symptoms of cobalt poisoning?

@chadessa This is an on-going issue, and the metal-on-metal implants that cause the problems are no longer as popular as they were a few years ago. Up to 40% or more of those with MoM implants eventually have issues. I was one of those - both my hips had to be revised at 5 years, and one needed 2 operations. I have been happy with my replacements for over 11 years now.

Here is what Quest Diagnostic Labs has to say about acceptable Cobalt levels:
https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-guides/TS_Cobalt_Blood/cobalt-blood
Here is a partial list of the symptoms you may experience with elevated Cobalt levels:
https://www.drugwatch.com/hip-replacement/metallosis/
A measure of 5.6 is considered "borderline" by some docs, but it becomes and issue if you are having symptoms. Cobalt poisoning can lead to very serious health issues over time, and can also cause the implant to fail, leaving enough damage to bone, muscle & tendons to make revision difficult. Some doctors may recommend chelation therapy to remove the metal, but that is a stop-gap if the implant is shedding ions - it will keep wearing & adding more metal.

If you are having pain in your hip or groin, tissue deterioration around your hip or thigh, or any of the symptoms listed in the link above, it is time for a serious conversation with an orthopedic surgeon. If your original surgeon is not experienced in doing revisions of metal-on-metal hips, you might want to seek out one who is.

How long have you been having issues? Have you had recent x-rays or other images to examine the hip and surrounding area?
Sue

Sue, thank you for responding. I am being evaluated by two ortho docs, both with different approaches. Have had pain and dysfunction since the original surgery which makes it hard to know when the metal issue started. I wonder if lower levels of toxicity over a dozen years could do damage. The two surgeons I am consulting are very good doctors. However, I wonder if I should be finding a revision specialist with expertise in metal issues? I have had exrays, blood work and mars mri, with a repeat scheduled since it’s been a year. One doc may order a CT scan. The other says he’ll find out what’s wrong when he goes in. I would not return to the original surgeon.

Thank you. I wonder how to find a toxicology expert and an endocrinologist? This is scary and it helps to know how well you are doing.

Not scary at all actually, more like getting the right experts to weigh in so the best decisions get made.

I was lucky to have a good team, who got me back to normal.

Please tell me about your team and how they worked together.

@chadessa This is an on-going issue, and the metal-on-metal implants that cause the problems are no longer as popular as they were a few years ago. Up to 40% or more of those with MoM implants eventually have issues. I was one of those - both my hips had to be revised at 5 years, and one needed 2 operations. I have been happy with my replacements for over 11 years now.

Here is what Quest Diagnostic Labs has to say about acceptable Cobalt levels:
https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-guides/TS_Cobalt_Blood/cobalt-blood
Here is a partial list of the symptoms you may experience with elevated Cobalt levels:
https://www.drugwatch.com/hip-replacement/metallosis/
A measure of 5.6 is considered "borderline" by some docs, but it becomes and issue if you are having symptoms. Cobalt poisoning can lead to very serious health issues over time, and can also cause the implant to fail, leaving enough damage to bone, muscle & tendons to make revision difficult. Some doctors may recommend chelation therapy to remove the metal, but that is a stop-gap if the implant is shedding ions - it will keep wearing & adding more metal.

If you are having pain in your hip or groin, tissue deterioration around your hip or thigh, or any of the symptoms listed in the link above, it is time for a serious conversation with an orthopedic surgeon. If your original surgeon is not experienced in doing revisions of metal-on-metal hips, you might want to seek out one who is.

How long have you been having issues? Have you had recent x-rays or other images to examine the hip and surrounding area?
Sue

I don't know if this would be helpful, as many of these people are no longer here, but...
When I was diagnosed with metallosis, the Ortho told me it was OK to wait 5 more months for surgery, and I foolishly believed him. Fast forward 4 months - I was losing hair and weight rapidly, had fatigue & a really bad tremor, rapid heartbeat. He still thought surgery would fix it all. While in the hospital the night of surgery, I became very ill, high fever, high heart rate. The hospitalist, a member of our network, recognized an impending "thyroid storm" started treatment (don't know the meds) and referred me to the others. They were all part of my clinical network, and my primary coordinated my care.

Fired the surgeon & switched to a new, recommended one (outside my network) who also coordinated with my primary. He did my aftercare, 2 more surgeries & referred me to the best rehab PT group I ever had, who also coordinated with my primary.

All of these docs were on the same, compatible clinical network, so moving docs back & forth was easily done - no carrying records back & forth.
We are fortunate, in some ways, in Minnesota to have highly integrated large clinical networks where specialists can communicate easily if they choose to do so. I was beyond fortunate to have a team who did.
Sue

I don't know if this would be helpful, as many of these people are no longer here, but...
When I was diagnosed with metallosis, the Ortho told me it was OK to wait 5 more months for surgery, and I foolishly believed him. Fast forward 4 months - I was losing hair and weight rapidly, had fatigue & a really bad tremor, rapid heartbeat. He still thought surgery would fix it all. While in the hospital the night of surgery, I became very ill, high fever, high heart rate. The hospitalist, a member of our network, recognized an impending "thyroid storm" started treatment (don't know the meds) and referred me to the others. They were all part of my clinical network, and my primary coordinated my care.

Fired the surgeon & switched to a new, recommended one (outside my network) who also coordinated with my primary. He did my aftercare, 2 more surgeries & referred me to the best rehab PT group I ever had, who also coordinated with my primary.

All of these docs were on the same, compatible clinical network, so moving docs back & forth was easily done - no carrying records back & forth.
We are fortunate, in some ways, in Minnesota to have highly integrated large clinical networks where specialists can communicate easily if they choose to do so. I was beyond fortunate to have a team who did.
Sue