Need TKR and had positive allergy testing / Bone Cement and Metals

Posted by okieshan1 @okieshan1, Sep 13, 2018

Does anyone have any suggestions on any medical replacement joints on the market my orthopedic surgeon might not know about? I was scheduled for total knee replacement and my surgeon MADE me take a blood allergy test from Orthopedic Analysis.. Test showed "reactive" to Bone Cement monomer so surgeon referred me to a colleague who could do a cement-less knee. Upon his review of my results however, he also stated I was "mildly-reactive" to Chromium, Molybdenum, Nickel, Vanadium, Zirconium and Iron. (Screenshot of levels attached). I'm also 'mildly reactive' to Cobalt Alloy and Titanium Alloy Particles.

My surgeon said, "I recommend you exhaust all other options, because I can do the cement-less knee, but if the metal allergy bothers you, there will be nothing I can do." Very hard to hear as I'm only 55 and active. In the meantime, I've gotten Genicular nerve burn in both knees which helped reduce pain level from 7 to a 4, but I'm trying to find out if there are any other surgical implant options that might work for someone with Bone cement and certain Metal allergies? Also, wondering will this even affect me as I can wear any type of cheap costume jewelry without ever having a reaction? If I have no issue with metal touching my skin, will it bother me if I have it in my joint for TKR?

Thanks in advance for ANY advice!

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@cobweb

Had my yearly appointment with stem cell Dr. He said if i do yearly PRP i will never have to undergo TKR. I can golf, garden on one knee, bike etc. Not having to suffer through another TKr is great in my mind. Spending out of pocket was a choice that i made and as i look back, was a wise choice. I read every day those who suffer with their TKR. So yes, i did not take government money to do another TKR but i take no pain pills etc. I do have constant pain from my TKR but i try to ignore it, ice and elevate it. Enough said. By the way, the surgeons in my area also say stem cells do not work. I did read that Ohio State hospitals have new procedures for the knee. One is they insert the cartiledge through an incision in the knee, the other is a meniscus replacement . Both without major surgery. Watched their news clip. Might be something to investigate .

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How much does PRP cost? And do you know if it's only covered if it's in the knee?

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Butterflylan17- I looked at your profile and among your many health issues you mentioned metal allergy. I have been dazzled by my success using cilantro as a metal detox. This has arrested a very challenging form of eczema, Grover's Disease, which simply has a mind of it's own and no treatments help much. Go to the Mayo site for the Grover's Disease and Miracle Cure for GD with cilantro and read about the success for at least 50% of us. I read up on metal allergies at the time I started my daily smoothly of cilantro but didn't even know I had metal issues then (except knew I couldn't wear nickle in jewelry). Now I know that I have 5 different metal allergies which blood testing for my knee replacement implant identified. Oh course once an allergy always an allergy, so must continue cilantro for life to keep metals detoxed as they are even in our water. This could help with your iron issues.

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Hey there, Gardening junkie! Thank you SO much for this info! I have been using more cilantro lately in even my pasta dishes, and it turns out great. I also like my himalayan salt block, where I bake veggies for dinner or for a snack. It doesn't have that salty taste and is really a mineral. I'm trying to get back to just eating healthier again, after some stress this past winter. I will definitely schedule an appt with an allergist again. I had a host of allergies growing up, had the special bedding, allergy shots every week et. My daughter is allergic to nickle because from what I understand some gold even contains nickle. She could never wear earrings. And a couple of my nicer rings would make my finger turn blue.

Now I just have one last question for you....obviously you like to garden...awesome. How should I be storing my garlic? Because I got this little mesh bag from my mother in law and then the whole thing was put in a container and the garlic is spoiled in a week or so. I trust your recommendation!

Thanks! Laura

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@grandpacb

Stem cell is expensive and not covered by Medicare. The doctors we work with state there is no conclusive proof that stem cell therapy works.

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@grandpacb You are correct, they do not always work and that's a huge expenditure if they don't. My husband knows a man who had that done and he is still having problems and was looking for the name of a good ortho doctor so my husband gave him the name of mine.

I presume having stem cells does not preclude being able to have traditional TKR. Does anyone know if that is a problem?
JK

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@contentandwell

@grandpacb You are correct, they do not always work and that's a huge expenditure if they don't. My husband knows a man who had that done and he is still having problems and was looking for the name of a good ortho doctor so my husband gave him the name of mine.

I presume having stem cells does not preclude being able to have traditional TKR. Does anyone know if that is a problem?
JK

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u can do both. No problem

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Like you from an early age I had environmental allergies because of hay-fever which is a result of inhaled allergies. I did have the shots but never finished he series and now as a senior my environmental allergies are less severe for some reason. My husband who never had environmental allergies now does as a senior. The test for contact allergies which cause reactions, 5 Day Extended is slower to give results, much more expensive specific to contact allergies like the metal allergy you mentioned. Google True Test Kits. For Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, there are no allergy shots to minimize symptoms, in fact with each contact your reaction time is less and symptoms more severe.
I am a landscape gardener; design and flowers are my thing. Usually grew a few veggies in my herb bed, but now because of eczema delicious homegrown tomatoes and my crisp peppers are not recommended. My wonderful herb garden has green onions and chives which keep on giving all year even in zone 6, but never tried to grow garlic. I keep my grocery store garlic in a dark pantry and it can last for over a month, but if you have a bumper crop I image it would be best to give most of it away or perhaps keep in the ground as long as you can.

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An update and confusion about my allergies and poor prognosis for knee replacements. In September when I posted to this site I based my metal and adhesive allergy's on my patch test results. Deciding to go ahead with surgery I insisted I have the recommended blood test for metals and bone cement used in replacement joints. I was surprised, although allergic to many types of adhesives I am not allergic to bone cement. Yet the big disaster is that I am mildly allergic to 3 and moderately allergic to 2 metals used in artificial joints. Yes now will just carry on as I am.

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@gardeningjunkie

An update and confusion about my allergies and poor prognosis for knee replacements. In September when I posted to this site I based my metal and adhesive allergy's on my patch test results. Deciding to go ahead with surgery I insisted I have the recommended blood test for metals and bone cement used in replacement joints. I was surprised, although allergic to many types of adhesives I am not allergic to bone cement. Yet the big disaster is that I am mildly allergic to 3 and moderately allergic to 2 metals used in artificial joints. Yes now will just carry on as I am.

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@gardeningjunkie Are there any artificial joints made with materials that you are not allergic to? I am allergic to nickel in jewelry but I have no idea if there is any in either of my knees, I never even thought of that. Thankfully I have not had a problem.
JK

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@maryclaire651

How much does PRP cost? And do you know if it's only covered if it's in the knee?

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Their are local companies whose insurance is covering stem cells. PRP was $1000 for me. It takes a week to kick in for me.

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@grandpacb

Thanks for info. We asked about stem cell therapy and were quoted a cost of $7,000 not covered by insurance or Medicare. I have seen a lot of posts on here about stem cell therapy for knee replacements but nothing on shoulder replacements. Does anyone have knowledge of stem cell being used for shoulder joints? The doctor who quoted the price for the shoulder didn’t seem very confident it would work for a shoulder.

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i had it done on the back and i am pain free for 4 years

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