I was a healthy 50 year old male, a carpenter by trade. I started getting severe groin and knee pain, and in March 2005, I was told i would have to have both my hips replaced.
In December 2005, i underwent a bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure, using Smith&Nephew implants. After a few months, i developed an audible clicking sound coming from my right hip, and similar pain as before.
Since this time i have developed severe tinnitus,blurred vision, severe depression, anxiety, spontaneous anger issues, short term memory problems, heart palpitations, raised blood pressure, loss of 10kg in weight, the list goes on.
I can no longer work as a carpenter, and my business is virtually non existent.
I have had complete revision surgery on both my hips, where the surgeon had to remove substantial pseudo tumors, cysts, and other inflamed and discolored tissue.
At it’s highest, i had a serum Cobalt level of 564 nmol/L, and serum chromium of 335nmol/L. These levels have now returned to normal since the removal of both metal on metal implants.
Unfortunately because my implants were Smith & Nephew, and not DePuy, nobody see’s fit to help me.
I even had to pay for my own revision surgery, although my orthopedic surgeon did not charge me the gap in my health cover.
My health is ruined, my business is ruined, and I am pissed because there is not a thing i can do.
Are there others out there with Smith & Nephew failures? One more thing, i have in my possession the damaged Acetabular Cup taken out of me during my first revision surgery, it would amaze you to see it and leave you in no doubt about the damage it has done to me.
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Reading this-bought tears to my eyes, for your plight, the many others on Earls Blog, and my own symptoms identical to yours, with my story Jills 7 years of hell,and other comments on this site. No one wants to know of Metal toxicity, and hypersensitivity.
Likewise my implant is a zimmer, not an ASR And sustained multiple nerve damage, nerve palsy and complications, Burning,,TMJ,, constant sweating, skin changes,
muscle atrophy, and Total hair loss,tissue damage, which ultimately caused systemic damage,crpps2 with neuropathis pain, tingling, burning, and loss of body temperature,
(Kidneys) from healthy to ESR in space of few months with dialysis or transplant talked of, and loss of long term relationship,Intermittent depression and GRIEF at the loss of a lifestyle overnight.-.ZIMMER did not want to know, as I also
have a Medical malpractice long standing Claim, against the surgical team, as they did make appaling mistakes,that rendered me partially disabled and STILL being investigated, with high toxicology results (attempted to be kept fromme) as Orthpoedic world in NZ still have deals with ZIMMER.. At FDA level-they are still in denial.
Our stories and plight WILL be added to global registry,and I have now devoted my life
to Medical malpractice, and Medical Ethics research..This is the biggest disaster of the last decade.and our voices and stories are getting out there.Keep positive and with more and more speaking out, we will be heard. Orthopaedic world cannot remain in denial forever, I Thank a Pain Clinic Team, for my
assistance, help, and standing behind me, and Earl for finding me, and wordpress for publication. Jill.NZ
I received my BHR when I was 55, and I have mentioned before it hasn’t lasted even three years. I have little hope of returning to work now, my savings are dwindling and I have a 20% co-pay — again — on what will be some $40k in surgery and hospitalization costs. (Add physical rehab on top of that). The surgeon who did the work advised revision on my very first visit in January — as if he knew something I did not. That’s when I found Earl’s view, (revealing why he was in a hurry to get it out) and a forum that let me why and that I was not alone. My X-rays show loosening of the Acetabular cup, and MRI show excess pools of (unidentifiable) liquid around the implant. My doctor had my blood tested immediately and my cobalt and chromium are within the normal range, which makes sense now that I have learned my MOM hip is comprised of — wait for it — the incredibly new and improved, unbelievably wear resistant Oxidized Zirconium! What a great product it’s proving to be! Carefully designed for the active, athletic and muscular person! Unfortunately, all of the activity I engage in at present is reading books in a chair stacked with pillows and legs extended — or sleeping on my back or left side (opposite the THA, which has the aforementioned fluid surrounding it in various ‘pockets . But what an incredibly active lifestyle these purveyors of poisonous part have provided me! This touted cure-all for guys like me is total BS, and while I might not be as bad off as those with cobalt and chromium side effects, I am in worse pain that I was before the hip, and of course would never have agreed to it had I known of the inherent dangers of metal ion contamination, though my MD now insists he thoroughly covered this topic (though neither my wife or I recall any such warning, the hospital is happy they have my signed consent. I will have some of the fluid aspirated Wednesday next, to rule out, ahem, infection, but I know in my gut this is metalosis, as I have every symptom I have read other BHR victims are suffering worldwide.
Earl has posted information lately indicating that regulatory agencies in the UK and US are asking anyone with any metal hip problems to file a report, and this is of paramount importance in gaining the necessary recognition as to the extent of the problem and to apply subsequent pressure on all of the manufacturers, including the very smug Smith and Nephew. Tell anyone you know with a MOM hip to report their problems as soon as possible.
While I am very depressed, I am somewhat empowered by this thought: I will not let these people get away with ruining my life, and the truth will out!
Pingback: Stuart’s Advice – Warnings to all metal on metal implant recipients! Don’t miss this! « Earl's View
Hi Michael,
As always I am sorry to hear your story as the bastards have robbed you of so much!! Firstly, is your current health situation being treated by a doctor, I mean are you having follow up for the things you describe? Please do this as you will need all of your strength and health in the years to come. I believe that in light of the many recent reports aroung ALL companies that are using MOM implants, and the potential money to be made, there are a number of Australian law firms looking at acting on behalf of Smith and Nephew patients and others as well. (I had a Johnson and Johnson ASR, which was replaced with a Smith and Nephew which snapped in half inside a year!!). If I can find out who is doing this I will let you know, are you in Australia? Please let me know and I will pass on what I can. Good on you for speaking out, unfortunately I do believe the ASR ‘is the tip of the iceberg’ and it will be good for the patients who received Smith and Nephew or any other companies dodgy products to be able to claim the sort of restitution they are entitled too!
Stuart Cain
Pingback: Steve’s Smith & Nephew BHR nightmare « Earl's View
Sorry to hear you are suffering so much. I am 39 and had a BHResurf as well in 2008. You are not the only one who has been injured and who has suffered physically, emotionally and financially. I posted my story here as well under “Katie’s Story”. I am now recovering from my revision to a total hip. Dealing with this hip and the failure of this device has taken years from me. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
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Hi, my name is Marianna I am 55 years old, I had a Birmingham Hip Replacement/Smith & Nephew in 2009 (51 years old) in my left hip, all went well for about 1 3/4 years until I started needing cortisone injections which as time passed I was receiving more and more regularly, for what I was told was an inflamed Bursa, this continued up till early December 2012. My specialist recommended that my Bursa be removed because he said that it was likely to be the problem causing my pain. Prior to having the Bursa removed the bottom part of my original incision approx. 125mm started to discolour and go a dark grey colour and started getting extremely painful. Then he recommended removing the Bursa as he thought this was the problem. When he operated he found that the BHR was causing metalosis (the levels of metal did not show high levels in the blood test)and causing the disolouration of a grey colour inside which had to be cleaned out thoroughly, and organised another time for the new Metal on Poly Hip Replacement, which was to follow in 2 months time after the Bursa was removed.
Since this new hip replacement things have not gone well, 6 weeks after the operation I am in a lot of pain still, and still having to use my crutches and have no quality of life whatsoever. I am very limited in what I can do, the Doctor says that my problem is that I have a very low pain threshold. I have given natural birth to 4 children, and this pain that I am suffering now, without strong medication its getting up there, and if you have pain that continues just about all the time you feel so debilitated, it gets you feeling really down, because it never stops, it keeps going, wakes me at night, I have poor sleep, continued pain killers. So life seems miserable and depressing. If anyone has got any information about what recourse we can take could you please contact me. Thanks Marianna
Hi Marianna
You have had a dreadful time and of course S&N will just say tough shit.
6 weeks after a major operation to revise the hip is not long. It took me a good 5 months to start to function normally. I had nerve damage too and so it about 7 months to walk properly.
What country are you in and what pain killers are you on. I was on strong ones for nearly 4 months.
There is a lot of damage that has to heal plus there is scar tissue from all your operations.
Don’t despair. It is early days and I suggest you discuss your pain meds with your GP. Your surgeon has nothing to add by suggesting it is in your head. Low pain threshold. I’d love to see how he handled it if it was him personally. Might be a bit more sympathetic then!!!!
Earl