I received 2 hip replacements and then developed cobalt & chromium.

Posted by janneg @janneg, Mar 21, 2016

I am one of thousands that received 2 hip replacements and then developed cobalt & chromium and had to have them both again replaced-I need a brain MRI. If I have particles of metal in my filter systems-do I need to worry about having a MRI? No one seems to be able to answer this question. You are lucky to have Dr. Mary O'Connor in Jax-Fla- who was smart enough to NOT put in those devices. Wish we had known sooner. Frightening. Thank you, Janne

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

marysapp | @marysapp | Mar 22, 2016

What replacement did you have? What did you use for the replacement? Have you heard of Verilast hip technology?

janneg | @janneg | Mar 22, 2016

In reply to @marysapp "What replacement did you have? What did you use for the replacement? Have you heard of..." + (show)

The implant really does not matter-I know now everything there is to know about this horrible mistake!

It is the cobalt & chromium that is stored in my body I am worrying about. I know I am a "cancer magnet" from this metal poisoning and I know that it is stored in my body filter systems-all I want to discuss is (Too little information-too late!-it is what it is.)

Question: What if the medical particals-which are stored now forever in my body are they attracted to MRI?
They are magnetic. Appears to be a stupid question-but none of my doctors or technicians can answer it.

I believe Dr. O Connor could.

Thanks,

Janne Gregoire

marysapp | @marysapp | Mar 22, 2016

In reply to @marysapp "What replacement did you have? What did you use for the replacement? Have you heard of..." + (show)

Did the implant cause the cobalt & chromium in your body. If so, can all implants cause this to happen. I am looking at hip surgery this summer 
 
 
Thanks for your response.

janneg | @janneg | Mar 22, 2016

Absolutely not. They finally found out what they were doing to people-we were guinea pigs!

Google or Research: Recent hip failures-metal on metal-All they answers as well as all the "Ambulance Chacers" will be there for your review. You are one of the lucky ones. The doctors all knew 3 years before they bothered to let us know there were problems. Simple Blood Test.

I started to squeak like the Tin Man and you could hear me while I was rooms away for 10 days before I could see the doctor-I was farthing out particles of those metals in my hips. X Rays showed rotten skin from metal poisoning all around "both hips". Do your homework. I heard that my manufacture (Wright Co,- Wrong Co.) sold out to China. J & Johnson the worse case scenario-you will see it all on
line. Good luck with the surgery. I had 4 of those and now need knees- going to wait it out!

"Cancer Magnet" is what some of my doctors are honestly telling us now-won't name them, but at least honest. Too late for 500,000 of us.

janneg | @janneg | Mar 22, 2016

Sorry-thought I was talking to Mayo. I just sent you answer to your post. Thanks, JanG

marysapp | @marysapp | Mar 22, 2016

In reply to @janneg "Absolutely not. They finally found out what they were doing to people-we were guinea pigs! Google..." + (show)

Thank you for your reply. I'm so sorry for the problems that you have had. Doctors aren't using that type of replacement anymore are they? 
I hope your hips are better now ? What did you use the 2nd time around? 
I will read the info on google. I saw Dr. Blasser at Mayo in Jax's. Have you heard anything about him? I want to use the anterior approach. 
Did your arthritis move to your knees. I am only 53 years old. OMG I can't believe I had this happen to me? 
 
 
Thanks again for the info. 
Mary

tubetweak | @tubetweak | Jun 26, 2018

In reply to @janneg "Sorry-thought I was talking to Mayo. I just sent you answer to your post. Thanks, JanG" + (show)

I have a friend with cobalt poisoning from hips. No doctors locally understand. Did you get help from Mayo? My friend needs to go somewhere for help.

edithmiller | @edithmiller | Jun 26, 2018

A good, close friend had hip replacement a few years back. The doctor chose to use a new type of devise for the replacement. He had a terrible time. The devise dislocated at will several times and he developed cobalt poisoning. This went on for a couple of years. Finally the doctor replaced the devise with one that had already proven reliable. I later read in a news article about a woman with the same problems, all caused by that same kind of devise. We are in Alaska. Just a thought - when I had a shoulder replacement that did not turn out well I went to Mayo where they redid the replacement. I have great faith in the doctors at Mayo. They WILL help.

jcmoffatt | @jcmoffatt | Sep 11, 2018

Canadian.Have high blood Cr level 5years post-op knee repl. Fighting for LTD. Help!

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 11, 2018

In reply to @jcmoffatt "Canadian.Have high blood Cr level 5years post-op knee repl. Fighting for LTD. Help!" + (show)

Hello @jcmoffatt, Welcome to Connect. I'm sorry you are having to fight for long term disability. There is another discussion on Connect that you may want to read through here:

Groups > Bones, Joints & Muscles > I received 2 hip replacements and then developed cobalt & chromium.
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-am-one-of-thousands-that-received-2-hip-replacements-and-then/?utm_campaign=search

I'm tagging our moderator @kanaazpereira to see if we should move your post to the discussion above so that you have more visibility. I also found a link that I think may be helpful for you:

National Health Institutes - High blood metal ion levels in 19 of 22 patients with metal-on-metal hinge knee replacements
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5434594/

@jcmoffatt have you talked to your doctors about what can be done to help you?

John