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Acetabulum, Biomet, Earl, Hip Replacement, pain, Smith, Smith & Nephew, Zimmer Holdings
Comment received on Earlsview Blog this morning
I’m not sure if i am posting this in the right place but here goes.
I have a Biomet metal on metal LHR, I got this done in march, 2009 and have been having lots of problems like grinding feeling when I try to bend my leg a tiny bit, and my cobalt level is 6.4 and chromium is 3.6 which is elevated.
About 2 weeks ago I started feeling a dull ache in my hip that is very bothersome and then over the holiday while at home, the ache got worse, and I starting having a stabbing pain in my hip socket area, it hurt so bad and i was so scared that I could not breath.
I stood by my bed and changed into my PJ’s and laid down, on my good side and cried myself to sleep. I really thought I would end up in the ER, but the next morning I felt better as far as the stabbing pain, its still light and the ache is still there but i have been staying off of it.
What is going on?? Has anyone had this problem?
My new ortho specialist is aware of all but what happen with the dull ache and stabbing pain.
I was better before my surgery…..I’m only 46, 44 when I had the surgery and I am lost.
If you have any knowledge or thoughts to share please do………..maybe it will help me not be so stressed and scared
My View:
your story is very like mine except I had a Smith and Nephew RHR (THR) metal on metal. I was 50 and 53 years old when I had my hip done and then revised.
Your body is telling you that it is being damaged – the elevated chromium and cobalt is evidence for a blind man that suggests that your hip prosthesis has been out of alignment and wearing and producing metal wear particles – which will be destroying your bone and surrounding tissue – hence the pain. Possibly one part of it is loose if you have the grinding?
These sort of problems occur with all types of metal on metal when they don’t fit properly. In my case, my hips are slightly displaysic and so the surgeon did not compensate when he fitted the hip, I suspect.
You are right – it feels worse than the arthritis before you had the hip replaced. Exactly what I though.
The only way to fix this is to get a hip revision – I can happily testify to the effectiveness of a Zimmer revision system – ceramic on ceramic – my bone grafts have taken well and I have lots of new bone growth – instead of the bone and tissue death I was getting with the S&N Birmingham Spectron MoM THR.
If your current surgeon won’t do anything, ditch him and find an honest one who will admit to the problems everyone is having – and get it replaced.
For some reason, many surgeons seem to think “holding rank” and not criticizing their colleagues is more important than patient health. Check whether he is receiving payments from the orthopaedic device companies and is morally compromised.
Whatever you do – don’t worry, there is a very simple solution and the relief you will feel when you get it out is fantastic! I know!
Earl
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- New report highlights metal hip implant problems | Reuters (earlsview.com)
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- Further Patient Problems – in response to NY Times Article (earlsview.com)
- Total hip replacement for high dislocated hips without femoral shortening osteotomy: (earlsview.com)
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Who was your surgeon? Do you know if he had done many resurfacings before he did yours? Have you gotten any other opinions on the placement of your device? Have you had your metal levels checked yet, very important to do. Where do you live?
I see this happening a lot with patients that have misplaced components and yet of course their own docs won’t admit to it. I’d be more than happy to help you get some other opinions anonymously from some world class surgeons if you can get your x-rays to me via email, I can explain all the details and how to do all of that if you are interested. Right now, we need to find out the root of your problem and get you out of pain. I can be contacted at vicky @vmarlow,com just delete the space. I am more than happy to help if I can.
Vicky Marlow
Volunteer Patient Advocate
http://hipresurfacingsite.com/
http://tophipsurgeons.com/
Join the new Hip Resurfacing Site Patient message board!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hipresurfacingsite/
Hi Vicky
Jackie’s Cobalt and Chromium levels have been measured – see article. Not sure it was a resurfacing – do Biomet do resurfacings? Sounds more like a THR MoM problem out of alignment.
Thanks for offering to help Jackie.
Earl
Hi Earl,
Yes, Biomet makes a resurfacing device called a Recap, they come in both cemented and cementless. I posted a second post that said I missed the metal levels.
Vicky Marlow
Volunteer Patient Advocate
http://hipresurfacingsite.com/
http://tophipsurgeons.com/
Join the new Hip Resurfacing Site Patient message board!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hipresurfacingsite/
Hi Vicky
Oh – seems everyone has a resurfacing product. Totally missed that Biomet had one. They don’t seem to figure much in the current vitriol against resurfacing! Which is as good thing.
I wonder why surgeons, like my first one, don’t pay more attention to alignment considering there is so much hip displaysia at the root of the original arthritis?
Earl
One other thing Jackie, did you get a cemented or a cementless Biomet Recap device? This resurfacing device is designed the most different than any other hip resurfacing device out there and takes a lot of care to place correctly. Oh and sorry, I see that you did get your metals tested, that’s what I get for trying to read a post without my glasses on. The levels are high but not extremely high so you should at least feel somewhat good about that, but the pain and grinding, etc. is worrysome and you should definitely get some other opinions which I can help you do for free from some of the world’s top surgeons. I just need to know where you live and email me so I can give you the detailed instructions on how to do that and all that needs to be included for the docs to review your case
Vicky Marlow
Volunteer Patient Advocate
http://hipresurfacingsite.com/
http://tophipsurgeons.com/
Join the new Hip Resurfacing Site Patient message board!
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hipresurfacingsite/
Suggestion, find a surgeon that specializes in hip or knee problems. They may suggest having an mri. I had multiple x-rays and the same result knee looked fine, hip looked fine.
Don’t second guess, if your body is telling you something is not right, search until you get satisfaction and hopefully relief.
I can only share pass experience, metal on metal is not necessarily man’s or women’s best friend don’t wait.
Respectfully
Howard Sadwin
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