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What is the amount of Chromium and Cobalt needing emergency attention?

Posted by uniapeg @uniapeg, Feb 7 4:09am

I had my right knee replaced in 2012. Just found out last week it was recalled in 2016. Had been dealing with severe anemia and dizziness the last 6 months. Had doctor do blood work and my Chromium is 3.1mcg/L and my cobalt is 5.9mcg/L. My doctor is unsure what to do from here. Im concerned that these levels are high enough to need immediate treatment before damage is done. I have a referral into a orthopedic doctor but we know how long that takes. And I don't know who I even see about getting help or treatment. Would it be a hematologist or neurologist? We don't have any toxicology doctors here. I believe the metals to have already done some damage with symptoms like the severe anemia, loss of vision, constant nausea, headaches and more including blood clots from that leg that almost killed me in 2020. My doctor has no clue and doesn't know where to send me. And I don't know if its a emergency situation or not. Any help would be appreciated.

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closer0043 | @closer0043 | Feb 9 3:12pm
In reply to @morkat "As far as I know, any levels are unacceptable. I researched this for a friend 5..." + (show)
Profile picture for morkat @morkat

As far as I know, any levels are unacceptable. I researched this for a friend 5 years ago. She has had revision surgery (removing the recalled joint replacement) . Look on You Tube and put Chromium and Cobalt revision surgery. There are several cases of this problem.

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@morkat There is Chromium in nearly all multivitamins. It is actually pretty essential in our bodies. I’m not sure about Cobalt though. However, some levels appear to be acceptable and even necessary.

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dannyandebbie | @dannyandebbie | Feb 12 8:16am
In reply to @rogersmith "I am seeing an orthopaedic surgeon Friday to discuss my joint and the Cobalt reading. My..." + (show)
Profile picture for rogersmith @rogersmith

I am seeing an orthopaedic surgeon Friday to discuss my joint and the Cobalt reading. My GP is not very clued up on metal deposits in the blood and what reading is significant. I am hoping the appointment on Friday will provide more information on my Cobalt reading, the side effects and a view on the most likely joint leaking the Cobalt.
I have had confirmed the problem is not with the 2 hip joints replaced nor the right knee because the material used in the replacement device was Titanium and no Cobalt. This leaves my left knee and the right ankle as possible culprits and I am looking for the decision on which is causing the high reading, these two being the oldest replacements. I would then be in a position to consider revision surgery.
All very speculative to date and will copy the conclusion from the Friday meeting.

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@rogersmith my wife had the Stryker implants. Any elevated levels of Cobalt / Chromium I would say is an issue. My wife had titanium / Crome and ended up with 17.6 Cobalt and 9.7 Chroumin, both Toxic! Should you find out the Long term side effects from these two chemicals I would be interested. We even tried connecting with a VA orthopedic surgeon because they deal almost daily…..they do the repair work not so up on the chemical side effects. Just an fYI! There are some implants that have been called back and a class action law suit; should you know the name of your implant you could look it up. This doesn’t help with the immediate issue but I suggest you should check it out before any follow up surgeries!

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rogersmith | @rogersmith | Feb 12 11:19am
In reply to @dannyandebbie "@rogersmith my wife had the Stryker implants. Any elevated levels of Cobalt / Chromium I would..." + (show)
Profile picture for dannyandebbie @dannyandebbie

@rogersmith my wife had the Stryker implants. Any elevated levels of Cobalt / Chromium I would say is an issue. My wife had titanium / Crome and ended up with 17.6 Cobalt and 9.7 Chroumin, both Toxic! Should you find out the Long term side effects from these two chemicals I would be interested. We even tried connecting with a VA orthopedic surgeon because they deal almost daily…..they do the repair work not so up on the chemical side effects. Just an fYI! There are some implants that have been called back and a class action law suit; should you know the name of your implant you could look it up. This doesn’t help with the immediate issue but I suggest you should check it out before any follow up surgeries!

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@dannyandebbie

Both of my hips had the replacements from Stryker in 2015 and 2016 and the surgeon of both thinks that manufacturer has the best products on the market and has almost guaranteed that my elevated Cobalt level will not be coming from these joints.
We will be looking tomorrow at the left knee replacement and the right ankle fusion and will probably have a MAARS-MRI and another blood test and discussion of which of these two should be examined more. I want to understand the levels of Cobalt which look not to have a general agreement on the effects of different levels. Will update over the weekend. roger smith

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dannyandebbie | @dannyandebbie | Feb 12 3:24pm
In reply to @rogersmith "@dannyandebbie Both of my hips had the replacements from Stryker in 2015 and 2016 and the..." + (show)
Profile picture for rogersmith @rogersmith

@dannyandebbie

Both of my hips had the replacements from Stryker in 2015 and 2016 and the surgeon of both thinks that manufacturer has the best products on the market and has almost guaranteed that my elevated Cobalt level will not be coming from these joints.
We will be looking tomorrow at the left knee replacement and the right ankle fusion and will probably have a MAARS-MRI and another blood test and discussion of which of these two should be examined more. I want to understand the levels of Cobalt which look not to have a general agreement on the effects of different levels. Will update over the weekend. roger smith

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@rogersmith unless you have ceramic coated ball in the joint area I would request a second opinion! My wife had 4 Stryker implants and all 4 failed until they placed a ceramic ball in the joint area! There is a class action case currently

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 12 3:35pm
In reply to @rogersmith "@dannyandebbie Both of my hips had the replacements from Stryker in 2015 and 2016 and the..." + (show)
Profile picture for rogersmith @rogersmith

@dannyandebbie

Both of my hips had the replacements from Stryker in 2015 and 2016 and the surgeon of both thinks that manufacturer has the best products on the market and has almost guaranteed that my elevated Cobalt level will not be coming from these joints.
We will be looking tomorrow at the left knee replacement and the right ankle fusion and will probably have a MAARS-MRI and another blood test and discussion of which of these two should be examined more. I want to understand the levels of Cobalt which look not to have a general agreement on the effects of different levels. Will update over the weekend. roger smith

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@rogersmith Were the 2015/2016 Stryker implants, or were they the improved ones that came out around 2011/2012 which already had the ceramic ball and/or the polymer acetabular cup liner. Your surgeon has this information in your surgical records. If you do not already have a copy of the report, please ask for one.

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dannyandebbie | @dannyandebbie | Feb 14 7:07am
In reply to @sueinmn "@rogersmith Were the 2015/2016 Stryker implants, or were they the improved ones that came out around..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@rogersmith Were the 2015/2016 Stryker implants, or were they the improved ones that came out around 2011/2012 which already had the ceramic ball and/or the polymer acetabular cup liner. Your surgeon has this information in your surgical records. If you do not already have a copy of the report, please ask for one.

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@sueinmn most medical records are in an electronic form today and one should be able to access it online! My wife did not get the ceramic Stryker until 2018. The original and revisions prior were not with the ceramic coating; leaving her levels in the toxic levels until the final revision in 2022. Her original bilateral was in 2011 and her levels never dropped and stayed down until 2022.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Feb 14 10:33am

My Orthopedic practice didn't use electronic records until 2015, after both my original surgeries and revisions. So I had to get EVERYTHING in paper format. I just shredded everything last year in a massive purge of my old paperwork.
My replacements in 2011 were Stryker with a cross-linked polymer acetabular cup liner. The first had a titanium head, the second was ceramic. My metal levels dropped in the first six months, were normal by one year. Like many other medical issues, everyone is different.

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