Question for @sueinmn re: metallosis / cobalt level

@sueinmn
Should I

Thank you Sue for the response. I'm really concerned about this issue and am glad that I am now with an Orthopedist that is monitoring me.....I see him this week! So hopefully I'll get something going. I've noticed some tremors and unsteady walking. Could this be a symptom? Thanks

@dkg0727 Whether your issues are from the Cobalt or something else is a question for your doctor, after they take a full medical history and examine you. I have permanent tremors from my time with Cobalt toxicity, but may eventually have gotten them anyways due to family history.

I had 2 metal on metal hips put in 2007 and 2009. I had a hip revision done in 2013 due to hip necrosis but my other hip has not been symptomatic so MOM has yet to be removed. My last cobalt and chromium levels in 2024 were Cobalt 8.5 and chromium 5.4. I also have a lung tumor that has been growing very slowly since 2020 when they first noticed it. It is a neuroendocrine tumor (rare type of cancer) and is now dotatate positive meaning it is malignant. I am scheduled for a lobectomy early March. Could the neuroendocrine tumor be the result of having excess cobalt and chromium in my blood. So far medical oncologist doctors and orthopedist have not been able to answer this. I am now being seen at Stanford. Does anyone at Mayo have familiarity with this? I have been seen at Mayo previously in 2010 for breast cancer. Are the elevated levels of cobalt and chromium causing cancer? I should probably have the MOM implant removed but I have had many surgeries Thanks

I had mom hip replacement in2005. found out about 1 and 1/2 years ago I had cobalt and chromium in my blood,
revision surgery was recommended but I decided against after getting 2nd opinion. I will be 98 this month. My cobalt is now at 50.2 and chromium is 13.7 I am in very good health for my age. Have some heart problems and thyroid which I have had for many years. Should I be doing anything about these high readings, and who should I be seeing. Do see my orthopedic Dr. Thank you

@sueinmn hi Sue, I have read some recent posts of yours and I saw one written recently written to Maureen716 regarding cobalt and your past level readings. There was one part where you said—

“ What I do know is that with implants, anything below 7 is considered acceptable without evidence of a degrading device.“

So my question is how you came to know that along the way; is that something the doctor had mentioned during your journey? because it’s very reassuring to me. (my MOM hip joint was replaced in 2010 ironically; I apparently got the last of the dangerous ones)

And I wonder, while the lab gives us lows and highs that are desired for the results in a given test, do you feel they are just desirable levels and not necessarily dangerous if results are not exactly within those parameters?

I know I’m putting you on the spot. I’m just curious about your take on it as you have been through quite a bit and gained a lot of knowledge along the way.

Thank you in advance…

@hurkey The short answer, research. I read everything I could get my hands on, even though my levels were many times that high.
This was just one of the articles I relied on:
https://www.moriarty.com/depuy_hip_recall/stay_informed/cobalt_poisoning/
The remainder are "lost in the sands of time" - broken links, page not secure, etc.
I had many classic symptoms of cobalt poisoning, most of which have since resolved.
Depending on the brand, anywhere between 20% and 50% of metal on metal implants have failed. A lot of the people who had there implants 20+ years ago are now having issues, but age and health may not allow revision at this time.
There are still some lawsuits pending over us of the implants after the risks were know.

@sueinmn your info means a lot; thank you for the info and trouble of answering me.

As we have mentioned to each other, I have relatively low levels of cobalt (.9) and chromium(3.2) If and when it increases, do I start with a hematologist? Because my orthopedist has retired and my newly assigned one in the same group is talking like I won’t have trouble with metallosis till I reach a level of 100 or something and I know from research in here that that’s not the case. So I’ve lost a little faith. Just looking for a course of action to follow. I live in Central California and my closest city is Fresno. However, if I have to, I can get to LA. I’d probably go to Sinai and look for a surgeon experienced in metallosis and hip replacement. Or will I need to go to Mayo Clinic in Arizona or something?

Any light you can shed on these areas is greatly appreciated; thank you

@hurkey You are a long way from a concerning level, so monitoring is the way to go unless you begin to have issues with the hip.
You will need to find an orthopedic surgeon familiar with revisions, there should be one near you as revisions are rather common. I found mine by asking my favorite PT who they would go to!

@sueinmn very much appreciated; thank you!