1. < Joint Replacements
Profile picture for janneg

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.

Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 20 10:45pm
In reply to @maureen716 "@sueinmn There was only a cobalt test. Called cobalt serum/plasma. I go to quest for bloodwork...." + (show)
Profile picture for maureen716 @maureen716

@sueinmn There was only a cobalt test. Called cobalt serum/plasma. I go to quest for bloodwork. I copied it here:
COBALT, SERUM/PLASMA
0.5 H (here they are showing (in red) that 0.5 H is High)
Reference Range: 0.1-0.4 mcg/L
So the value that you are giving as 1.8 mcg/l that you say is normal - quest says is High.
So confusing...

Jump to this post

@maureen716 There are 2 ways to measure cobalt levels, and different values are considered "normal". One is a plasma test (lower readings), the other a serum test (higher value). What I do know is that with implants, anything below 7 is considered acceptable without evidence of a degrading device. I found an old record after I wrote earlier. At the time of my first revision surgery, my cobalt level was over 70, at the second it was 29. One year later it was 6.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for maureen716
maureen716 | @maureen716 | Jan 21 6:28am
In reply to @sueinmn "@maureen716 There are 2 ways to measure cobalt levels, and different values are considered "normal". One..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@maureen716 There are 2 ways to measure cobalt levels, and different values are considered "normal". One is a plasma test (lower readings), the other a serum test (higher value). What I do know is that with implants, anything below 7 is considered acceptable without evidence of a degrading device. I found an old record after I wrote earlier. At the time of my first revision surgery, my cobalt level was over 70, at the second it was 29. One year later it was 6.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn thanks for your help. I will talk to the dr and see if he can help me understand on the 28th. Will let you know what he says. Thanks again !

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.