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Ann Morrison, femur, Femur head, Hip Replacement, joint replacement, NEW YORK, New York TImes, Patient, surgery, UNited States
A few days ago this article was published in the New York Times:
Hip Implant Complaints Surge, Even as the Dangers Are Studied
By BARRY MEIER and JANET ROBERTS Source: The New York TImes
Published: August 22, 2011 Tim Shaffer for The New York Times
Ann Morrison experienced pain, rashes and inflammation soon after receiving all-metal replacements for each of her hips.
The federal government has received a surge in complaints in recent months about failed hip replacements, suggesting that serious problems persist with some types of artificial hips even as researchers scramble to evaluate the health dangers. Read more….
Here is one Patient’s horror story, in response…
Mr. Meier,I read your article regarding ‘HIP REPLACEMENT DANGERS STUDIED AS COMPLAINTS RISE”.
I was a young woman when I slipped and fell doing the splits at work. After several doctors appointments with several doctors, one finally found the problem that being the femur head had necroses requiring a hip replacement.
The first doctor put my device in, after 4 months I told the doctor that my pain was worse than it was before the surgery.
He said every thing was fine.
He stood up gave me a 90 day prescription for Ibuprofen walked over to me shook my hand and told me to take care of my stomach and have a good life then he left the room, he walked away from me.
I went to my main doctor told him that the hip was still bad, we went rounds a bit but I was given another doctor, after a bone scan and MRI I presented at the new office, this doctor came into the room and said “its no one’s fault but you have to have another replacement”.
Just under one year and my hip is being replaced again.
In the doctor reports from the operation states that the devise holding the femur head just fell out, the prosthesis had already grown-in bone (my doctor said that was not to happen) it took the new doctor 5.5 hours remove the first device, during the surgery the doctor tried everything to remove the prosthesis, my femur was fractured, they cut the femur in half to hammer out the device.
Once it was removed they put bands around my femur in 4 or 5 places to hold the bone together.
With in 3 months I was back in getting a new third hip, I then had to have my scar (now at least a foot long) got infected so I had another surgery. because the FIRST DOCTOR made my right leg 3/4 inch long, thus causing back issues.
My doctors keep blaming each other, by that I am saying the hip doctor states my hip pain is due to the back, my back doctor states that my back pain is causing my hip pain.
I have been going around and around with doctors who will not take responsiblety for their work. I am seeing a head doctor and a counselor, back to PT, it’s like I am starting all over again because of the doctor and the bad hip that is in my body.
I did save each of my hip’s and currently waiting for someone to fix me.
Thank you for writing that article.
Terri
Related articles
- Hip Replacement Loosening (earlsview.com)
- Should I Be Concerned if My Hip Replacement Squeaks? (earlsview.com)
- Complaints Surge About Crumbling Artificial Hips (earlsview.com)
- How to Choose a Hip Or Knee Replacement Surgeon & Prosthesis (earlsview.com)
- Arthritis New Zealand urges calm over replacement hip withdrawal (earlsview.com)
- Hip Implant Complaints Surge, Even as the Dangers Are Studied (earlsview.com)
- Hip Implants – from American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (earlsview.com)
- UK – Answers to commonly asked questions from patients with metal-on-metal hip replacements / resurfacings (earlsview.com)
- How To Choose A Hip Replacement Surgeon (earlsview.com)
- Total Hip Replacement (earlsview.com)
- Hip Implant Complaints Surge, Even as the Dangers Are Studied (nytimes.com)
- FOI At Work: Metal Hip Implants Generate Massive Complaints (theartofaccess.com)
- Parker McDonald: One Year Milestone of DePuy ASR Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant System Recall Approaching (earlsview.com)
- Squeaky Ceramic Hip Implants… (earlsview.com)
- Hips and Hip Replacements: What you need to know (earlsview.com)
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Jill, Barry Meier of the Times writes some great articles on the medical device world.
After reading your story my jaw dropped downwood; words of dismay came to my mind, I can offer words of encouragement to you, and the obstacle you face, there is something inside of you that is greater. These are words of another but I am passing them on to you, my prayers are with you. Let me know when you are walking without pain and more like times of the past.
Respectfully
Howard Sadwin
Thank you for your ‘thoughts and concern’The day that Earl saw my article on Medical Misdaventure (as it is terned in NZ) Was the day I have prayed for. His initial approach to me-and offer to publish my story-was what I had been waiting for after 7 years of Living Hell on Earth-Combination od Surgical Team grave errors-couple with ALL orthopaedic specialists-denying there is any problem with their proceedure-OR the impants. Two days ago-after my last conult, was told go home-learn to live with the pain-and ushered me out asap-insisting as I had, a plastic liner to buffer any side effects, from escaping metal toxins? Earl has published excellent information-on thes Plastic liners disintegration There is NO DOUBT, that I was disbelieved and hurried out-I know the truth-backed by SOME hospital specialists that have given expert and comprehensive examinations. The day Earl found me-and comments received from his blog, on Facebook and Linkendin-was the best day of my life-of the past 7 years.I Thank him openly
and publicly for the assistance he has given me-and many many others.Thoughts and Prayers are with Earl facing his revision. He is fortunate NOT to be living in New Zealand now, as this country is ruled by a ruthless and scandalous ACC system, who protect the huge money making Orthopaedic fraternity. Yes I am blessed to be strong in the face of such opposition, I Will walk again, enjoy my grandchildre, and go on helping others. Thank you Earl-Thank You Howard Sadwin.
Hi Jill & Howard
It is amazing how the medical mob stick together. In my story you will see I was treated for nearly a year for a “bad back” even though I couldn’t walk because of the pain in my groin. It was only after they poisoned me with salazapyrin (for rheumatoid arthritis), out me in hospital with liver failure, that they bothered to do an MRI – and found my right hip joint had a 2.5 cm cyst in it – and inch of bone on bone!
No wonder it hurt!
And unfortunately I got a surgeon who didn’t apparently know stainless steel from cobalt chrome (strange) and did a bad job to boot.
Now 3 years and 2 weeks later I get to try on a new ceramic on ceramic hip in place of the metal on metal.
And being really lucky I will get a new ceramic on ceramic for the left hip early next year.
What fun – I can hardly wait!!!
:)
Earl
Thanks again Earl-and Howard Sadwin’ Seems every country has its ‘scrupulous Medico’s- where the dollar sign-is FAR GREATER than Human Life, pain and suffering. In NZ we have the ‘absurd ACC System’ based on American Law, where after Years of assesments and reports (Lab Rat Syndrome)the final outcome to Medical Misadventure Claims comes down to ONE MAN (The Peer Reviwer) who does not even sight the claimant, reads the latest reports-makes his decision as a third party, ALWAYS devalues the injuries sustained from surgical Proceedures, to such a minumium-that no one gets paid ‘diddly swat’ and how ACC legal Beavers love him. He along with MOST of the Orthopaedic world RUNS this country, and what is worse, has total endorsement at Govt level.YES some fortunate people of all age and financial brackets-hace thus far been fortunate in ‘Having a new lease of life’ from their implant (whatever brand name) for the unfortunate-like myself, we are simply nuisance value-that keep on keeping on-inspiring others to ‘come forward; and tell their story.The Law of Natural Justice will prevail ONE DAY-I hope it is in my life time. Best wishes Earl,and Howard Sadwin-combined we MAY prick a conscience here and there-or am I just being ludicrously naive in thinking so?
Hi Jill, I know you are feeling a bit better, just by reading your comments. Words seem to soothe the mind, and help the soul. Sometimes, words of encouragement from one to another are a great means of heeling, like a pat on the back, telling someone nice job, well done,good going, you can do it.
These words are needed in all of our lives, especially now, going through this tough passage in our lives. It only takes a moment of your time to offer words of encouragement.
In order to maintain our constitutional rights, we must stand up and demand justification for the wrong we are going through. These actions don’t constitute trouble making, taking action is the only way to correct systems.
What is so difficult in shelving metal on metal hip devices ? Aren’t there enough people with problems from these devices. What the hell is wrong, in one breath the FDA is approving devices untested in the USA, and in another breath the FDA insures protection for the well being and safety of us human beings. Our we living in total Bullsh-t. This isn’t just going on in the USA; until more folks, that are having hip problems, step up to the plate and speak up, our rights as human beings will only change if Market Share and Finance permits it to change!!!
This is not going to be an easy task, the medical device companies think nothing of my comments, I am only one of their Lab Rats that suffered from their negligence, but together we will be responsible for change.
Respectfully
Howard Sadwin
Hi Jill
I have less problems with the doc’s – more with the health administration in each country. There is an incredibly large number of administrators and accountants who deal with numbers and not people. Doctors can only do so much with the money they are given. In the case of the ACC – they make the employer’s life hell with the level of contributions and then the accident or medical victim’s life hell by hell by paying as little as possible as slow as possible.
It is only by having private medical insurance that most of us survive the system.
Unfortunately bureaucracy and legislation do not engender justice – just a process – and the processes we have in the western world are much better than in many other countries. That is why we have so many asylum seekers.
We have to make our own justice – but in NZ the government legislation makes this impossible – the best you can do is have private health insurance, be incredibly wealthy OR move out of the country.
Earl