Both hips have been replaced with metal on metal. I am going to ask for lab work. I had some tests years ago and it was high, but no one knew what to do about it. Is there some treatment available?
I have numbness in my mouth and left hand and have had many heart and tia test which showed normal. I had a revision done on my left hip, metal ball replaced with ceramic
I have numbness in my mouth and left hand and have had many heart and tia test which showed normal. I had a revision done on my left hip, metal ball replaced with ceramic
Hello Christie, Are they planning to replace the other metal-on-metal implant as well?
Did they place a polymer liner in the acetabular cup as well?
How long have you had the metal implants?
I ask because my metal levels did not begin to fall until after both hips were revised. Then the levels fell to normal in under a year, and most of the problems gradually faded.
Sue
Sue
According to the surgeon who did the revision that resulted in dislocation, about 3 times as likely with the original THR. Mine was thought to have been caused by a "perfect storm" - revision, weaker that expected muscles due to tissue degradation from the metal (he had to remove quite a bit) and trying to correct a leg length imbalance caused by the original surgeon, when he did the revision on the first hip.
I have never felt unstable since the dislocation was repaired, over 12 years ago.
Sue
Hi Sue, I wrote to you last August in regards to my upcoming revision surgery because the cobalt from MoM implants was leaking. Surgery went well. . . . Last Monday 1-29-24, while parked in my car waiting to pick up a student, I reached down to the passenger seat floor to pick up a notebook that had fallen there, and dislocated my hip. It was excruciating. Ambulance took me to ER, where to ER doctor put me under briefly and put the ball back into the socket.
I see my surgeon next week. I am curious as to your dislocation repair. Are you referring to re-placing the ball into the socket, done in the ER right after the dislocation, or something more? Thanks in advance for a response. I am terrified now of another dislocation. (Guess we all go through that fear after experiencing it.)
In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt level is now 4.4. How much can diet affect this level. I assume that I would have to consume a whole lot of vegetables to raise my blood level.
In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt level is now 4.4. How much can diet affect this level. I assume that I would have to consume a whole lot of vegetables to raise my blood level.
Welcome to Mayo Connect. If you have read a bit, here and elsewhere, you will have seenthat the major concerns are with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants, which were chromium-cobalt balls and acetabular cups (without cross-linked polymer linings) used largely between 2000 & 2010.
You can read about them here: https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-023-03618-7
While there is currently some concern about metal ions from other types of hip implants, levels like yours fall into the range generally considered safe. I believe monitoring is recommended to be sure they are not rising, as this would be evidence of premature metal wear. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7842236/#
Do you know exactly what implant you received, and what is the composition of the femur head and the acetabular lining?
Sue
Normal levels of cobalt in blood, derived from food and vitamins, should be below 1.8 micrograms/liter ( a microgram is one millionth of a gram).
Levels above 2.0 should be monitored, and above 5.0 is considered toxic.
Have you been tested for cobalt in your blood? Do you possibly have metal-on-metal hip implants, which is the most common cause of this concern?
First, let me assure you that not everyone with metal-on-metal hip implants has problems. The current numbers are thought to be 30-50%
Normal blood serum levels of chromium and cobalt ions should be below 2ppb (parts per billion). Have your blood serum levels of chromium and cobalt ions checked whether or not you have symptoms. Older guidelines said up to 7ppb were acceptable, but more recent guidance sets the levels at 5ppb. This test can be ordered by your original orthopedic surgeon or by your primary provider, but must usually be sent out to a specialty lab.
If you have no symptoms of failure, and metal ions are below 5ppb, baseline imaging should be done to determine if changes are happening. And you should be rescreened every year, or every 3-6 months if there are physical signs of deterioration or serum levels begin to rise.
However, absence of symptoms does not mean there is not damage occurring. Next steps vary depending upon whether you have symptoms of excess metal ions & particles shedding or not. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985013/
If you have symptoms of a problem - pain, loosening of the implant, evidence of tissue breakdown, there is a comprehensive protocol to follow which includes a physical examination and current medical history, imaging and bloodwork.
Here is a comprehensive article published 4 years ago in the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985013/
So the answer is, "it depends". If you are okay, get checked to establish a baseline, and monitored periodically to make sure you don't develop issues.
On the other hand, if you have elevated metal levels and tissue breakdown, consider revision sooner rather than later - this is not something that will get better or go away - and metal poisoning and tissue breakdown can have serious health consequences.
Yes I feel that I’m much weaker muscle wise. I have tingles in my hands and feet. I could touch my feet now I can’t back is stiff. I have to make an appointment with quest and make my first move on checking this out. I will keep in touch with you thank you so much for your help and thoughtful response
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My cobalt value is 128.3 mcg and chromium is 49.5mcg
Both hips hap metal on metal implants
I have numbness in my mouth and left hand and have had many heart and tia test which showed normal. I had a revision done on my left hip, metal ball replaced with ceramic
Hello Christie, Are they planning to replace the other metal-on-metal implant as well?
Did they place a polymer liner in the acetabular cup as well?
How long have you had the metal implants?
I ask because my metal levels did not begin to fall until after both hips were revised. Then the levels fell to normal in under a year, and most of the problems gradually faded.
Sue
Sue
Hi Sue, I wrote to you last August in regards to my upcoming revision surgery because the cobalt from MoM implants was leaking. Surgery went well. . . . Last Monday 1-29-24, while parked in my car waiting to pick up a student, I reached down to the passenger seat floor to pick up a notebook that had fallen there, and dislocated my hip. It was excruciating. Ambulance took me to ER, where to ER doctor put me under briefly and put the ball back into the socket.
I see my surgeon next week. I am curious as to your dislocation repair. Are you referring to re-placing the ball into the socket, done in the ER right after the dislocation, or something more? Thanks in advance for a response. I am terrified now of another dislocation. (Guess we all go through that fear after experiencing it.)
In 2014, I had my left hip replaced with a titanium hip joint. My blood cobalt level is now 4.4. How much can diet affect this level. I assume that I would have to consume a whole lot of vegetables to raise my blood level.
Welcome to Mayo Connect. If you have read a bit, here and elsewhere, you will have seenthat the major concerns are with metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants, which were chromium-cobalt balls and acetabular cups (without cross-linked polymer linings) used largely between 2000 & 2010.
You can read about them here:
https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-023-03618-7
While there is currently some concern about metal ions from other types of hip implants, levels like yours fall into the range generally considered safe. I believe monitoring is recommended to be sure they are not rising, as this would be evidence of premature metal wear.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7842236/#
Do you know exactly what implant you received, and what is the composition of the femur head and the acetabular lining?
Sue
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Hug
1 Reactionyes my hip replacement is titanium and cobalt What should I do?
First, let me assure you that not everyone with metal-on-metal hip implants has problems. The current numbers are thought to be 30-50%
Normal blood serum levels of chromium and cobalt ions should be below 2ppb (parts per billion). Have your blood serum levels of chromium and cobalt ions checked whether or not you have symptoms. Older guidelines said up to 7ppb were acceptable, but more recent guidance sets the levels at 5ppb. This test can be ordered by your original orthopedic surgeon or by your primary provider, but must usually be sent out to a specialty lab.
If you have no symptoms of failure, and metal ions are below 5ppb, baseline imaging should be done to determine if changes are happening. And you should be rescreened every year, or every 3-6 months if there are physical signs of deterioration or serum levels begin to rise.
However, absence of symptoms does not mean there is not damage occurring. Next steps vary depending upon whether you have symptoms of excess metal ions & particles shedding or not.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985013/
If you have symptoms of a problem - pain, loosening of the implant, evidence of tissue breakdown, there is a comprehensive protocol to follow which includes a physical examination and current medical history, imaging and bloodwork.
Here is a comprehensive article published 4 years ago in the Journal of Clinical Orthopedic Trauma:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6985013/
So the answer is, "it depends". If you are okay, get checked to establish a baseline, and monitored periodically to make sure you don't develop issues.
On the other hand, if you have elevated metal levels and tissue breakdown, consider revision sooner rather than later - this is not something that will get better or go away - and metal poisoning and tissue breakdown can have serious health consequences.
Are you having problems with your implants?
Yes I feel that I’m much weaker muscle wise. I have tingles in my hands and feet. I could touch my feet now I can’t back is stiff. I have to make an appointment with quest and make my first move on checking this out. I will keep in touch with you thank you so much for your help and thoughtful response