Has anyone had hardware removal from their leg?

My sister had pins put in both hips as a your girl for ‘slipped epiphasis’ and I know the spelling is wrong. As a young woman she had the pins removed from one side that she sleeps on as she felt them. She slept better. That’s all I have on that topic except that all these years later, she had both hips done. Now she actually has more hardware.

shellylynn34,
not the leg but lylaaaa posted about hardware from her back https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ive-had-all-my-hardware-removed-after-t2-t10-fusion-ask-me-anything/
The chiropractor I see had a single pin removed from his lower leg and was pleased.

I just want to be feeling better after the surgery it is monday. Like the tightness from the plate and screws make my knee extremely stiff. I hope it doesn't make it easy to break or be too much on the bones sin e the holes wil be there and has to fill back in and heal .

For what it's worth, I had bunioneictomies on both big toes, including fusion with screws and plates. Now that the joint has fused, my surgeon said I could have the hardware removed. But it doesn't bother me so I'm leaving it alone.,

If the hardware does bother you, and the surgeon says it can be removed safely, I'd probably get that done. See Aaron's post about his sister.

All the best to you!

Joe

Thank you for your advice and support I also just had a Bunyan removed. It feels ok too.

Hi again Shelly. Yeah as long as your bones have a healthy blood supply (the opposite of osteoarthritis), your body will fill any gaps from the removal of metal with bone, over time.

I broke a tooth on the top-front of my mouth two weeks ago and had to have it pulled. I want to get an implant in 3 months, and the surgeon said my body will regrow bone in the now empty socket. I have two other, three-root molars implanted and each time a bone graft was done.

Anyway it sounds like you'd feel better if the hardware is gone, and if your surgeon supports it, it seems like you could do it. I'm pretty sure that would be an easy surgery and an easy recovery.

Joe

In 2010, I fractured my tibia and fibula. I had plates and screws put in initially to hold the tibia together so it could heal. It was very uncomfortable with all of that hardware, but had to leave it all in for sometime, partly because we were in Montana on a motor home trip.
After we returned to California, I finally found a good orthopedic doctor who removed all the heavy hardware and instead inserted a titanium rod into the tibia itself, which would help it heal from the inside out. The relief of no longer having all of that hardware was amazing, but of course, my leg took a long time to totally heal and I was still experiencing pain, but more tolerable,
The surgeon had told me that I’d probably have a limp or have to use a cane, but after PT and working with it, I was able to walk into his office the day I was released instead of being pushed in a wheelchair.
I realize this is a pretty long story to answer your question, but I think it helps to get the big picture for the best understanding, Best of luck with your healing, do the PT as best you can, and never give up!

Thank you all for all the stories and support and advice. I'm up getting ready now. Praying for s great outcome.

Hi talkwithme,

Wow thanks for your amazing story. I had my right hip replaced recently, and that requires driving a titanium shaft into the femur to hold the new titanium hip ball. I felt that metal in my leg, my leg was not quite as flexible, but barely noticeable. In this case, the metal can't be removed, but I can live with it.

I also had both knees replaced, and those surgeries require a titanium shaft be inserted into the tibia with a metal plane on the top. This implant will stay there forever as well. With my knees, I've never felt the metal.

You make the most important point, the value in doing all recommended rehab. In fact, it's better to treat it as an order rather than a recommendation. I've recovered quickly and completely from my joint replacements. In fact, I'm going to have my shoulder replaced this Wednesday.

To Shelly's point, yes there are some surgeries where the hardware can be removed once all the healing is over. Talk it over with your surgeon and ask about the healing process once the metal is removed. And ask him if, in his opinion, you'll feel better once the metal is gone.

Thanks everyone for a great discussion!

Joe

Yes I was 17 and in a car accident had a pin plate and four screws. That was in 1988. Doc took it all out the next spring break and had to use crutches for a few weeks but if I did not have the scares I would not know I ever broke it. He did say had we waited another six months he would have not been able to get it out .. the bone was growing up around it. I actually still have part of it. I would always say if you can have it removed do it. Amy