Tags
Australia, AVN, blood test, bone graft, Cobalt chrome, Cobalt poisoning, congenital hip dysplasia, Food & Drug Administration, Health, Hip Replacement, hip replacement failure, hip revision, Medicine, Mental Health, metal-on-metal hips, metallosis, Nephew, NephewSmith, Orthopedic surgery, Smith, Smith & Nephew, surgery, total hip replacements
Like all your readers I am very thankful for your informative site which I
have been looking at over the past 12 months but more so now as I am
recovering from hip revision surgery.
I was diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia in 2006 (aged 45) after many years of being told I was too young to have anything wrong with my hips and wasting a lot of time on a medical merry go round while all the time my condition deteriorated.
Owing to my age it was decided to perform osteotomies, the first on the left hip/pelvis in March 07 and the right hip/pelvis in March 08. These surgeries are gruelling and recovery challenging and unfortunately due to ongoing arthritis and AVN both these procedures failed and it was necessary for me to undergo bilateral total hip replacements in Feb 09.
After the intesity of the previous surgeries I opted to have simultaneous replacements and was overjoyed in the first few months when I was no longer in terrible pain. I was also happy at the thought of no more surgery for at least 30 years….the estimated longevity of my wonderful new strong hips.
Smith & Nephew implants were used – a spectron stem and a BHR cup.
Fast forward to 3 years later in Feb 2012 following an appointment with my specialist where I complained I was unable to walk more than 4 blocks without pain and my general health was failing – headaches, chronic fatigue, tinnitus, bowel problems & depression – I was advised to have a blood test to check the metal levels.
A blood test was done revealing low elevated levels of chromium & cobalt and I was advised to have another blood test in August. By this time the 2nd blood test revealed my levels had increased by 4 and I was experiencing ongoing pain in right hip and loud clunking/grinding/squeaking in left hip.
My specialist was very concerned and as a result I had hip revision surgery of the left hip on 16/10/12 and a new ceramic head was implanted but the original stem remained.
A bone graft was required and a lot of dead tissue was removed. I was informed there was also a psuedo tumor in the area.
I recovered well in hospital and came home 8 days later. In the early hours of my first night at home my hip dislocated while lying in bed. This was fixed under sedation at the local hospital and I returned home 2 days later.
3 days later the hip dislocated again while I was resting on my day bed. Back to hospital and sedated again. The hip dislocated a third time in x-ray. Under sedation for the 3rd time it was found that simply having my left leg straight out when lying down and my left foot turned outwards was all that was required for it to dislocate.
I underwent a 2nd revision surgery performed exactly 2 weeks after my first revision surgery.
I am now at home recovering and the fear of dislocating is slowly decreasing now I have made it to the 4 week post operative mark. I still have a lot of discomfort in the groin area of the operated hip and my right hip is suffering as all my weight goes on it. It frightens me already having 2 revisions done as how many of these can be done before they are unable to help you anymore.
A further blood test is due in a couple of months to see how the chromium & cobalt levels have responded to this surgery and a decision regarding the right hip revision is to be made. At this stage most of my symptoms remain except I have not had the terrible headaches. This could be due to the pain killers I have been on and only recently weaned off.
Sorry for such a long email but I wanted to share my situation and would like you to be aware of another victim of Smith & Nephew implants.
Again, thank you for the wealth of information you have made available and I am happy to hear back any comments from you.
Anna
Related articles
- David’s BHR Horror Story – Smith & Nephew Floodgate will open soon… (earlsview.com)
- Ed Confirms that S&N BHR MoM’s are Ticking Bombs… (earlsview.com)
- Smith and Nephew Issues Failure Warning on Metal Hip Implant – Florida Mass Tort Attorneys, Lawyers | Searcy Mass Torts (earlsview.com)
- UK – Gayle makes valuable discoveries about MoM hips post revision (earlsview.com)
- Growing metal-on-metal hip controversy threatens to swallow more device makers | MassDevice – Medical Device Industry News (earlsview.com)
- Birmingham Hip Modular Head (used in hip replacements) (earlsview.com)
- Smith & Nephew sued for BHR Defects – Cheryl and Ken elmore (plaintiffs) vs. Smith & Nephew (earlsview.com)
- In Wake of Smith & Nephew Hip Recall, Company Reports Third-Quarter Sales Drop, as Hip Replacement Sales Slide 4% (earlsview.com)
- In Wake of Smith & Nephew Hip Recall, Company Reports Third-Quarter Sales Drop, as Hip Replacement Sales Slide 4% (prweb.com)
- Howard Says – And We Agree – Come Clean Smith & Nephew (earlsview.com)
Earl's View 
Hi Anna, it’s nice to meet you! Like so many others here, who have been so injured by medical device manufacturers you have found a virtual home. I too am a Smith and Nephew patient who was poisoned by such a toxic device. Your experience sounds especially grueling what with your osteotomies, dislocations and near immediate revision nightmare.
Our numbers are increasing, more (fortunate) MOM victims are finding Earl’s View and we all have almost the same stories and symptoms. (Variations on a major theme). Here people like us can gain information and support, which frankly was invaluable for me and is why I often return.
Most importantly, more and more people are speaking of and/or learning about this horrible experiment gone wrong, where profits were placed before people, where true governmental regulation was replaced by a rubber stamp. It had never occurred to me before my own ordeal began just how much the profit comes before the person.
Please do take care of yourself, as it is now apparent we are the only ones involved in doing so. (My surgeon and his hospital have demonstrated through their total disregard that they couldn’t care less about my health. They would bill rather than heal me).
As more and more of us tell our stories, the sooner then they’ll find the light of day.
Hang in there.
Pingback: New Metal Hip Problems Website launched in UK « Earl's View
Hi Anna (and all of the fellow Hipsters!)
Thank you so much for sharing your story Anna, as soon as I think we have heard it all, along comes another person, I re-iterate PERSON, who has had to go through this hell! Whilst Howard, Brooks and I have racked up the surgeries, I don’t think we can match the speed of your revisions, definitely a race I don’t think any of us want to win!! I hope you are continuing to re-cover and all I can say is welcome to the family, we are here for you if we can be of any assistance at all and of course are always open to having a ‘discussion’ about mediacl device manufacturers, doctors, regulators and anyone else who has let us down!! Take Care, Stu Cain
Thank you so much for the warm welcome & support. Earl’s blog is a real life line to us all in this often overwhelming hip journey we all share in.
Anna
Anna,
Pity about the circumstances, but great to have you on-board!
Earl
Pingback: Come out front Smith & Nephew – we have had your medicine – time for yours… « Earl's View
Pingback: Anon. UK – Smith & Nephew BHR hip failure heartache… « Earl's View
Pingback: Howard Sadwin – Video of Howard’s battle with the damage from Smith & Nephew BHR hip « Earl's View
Pingback: San Diego Chargers team doctor sues Smith & Nephew over botched hip implant | MassDevice – Medical Device Industry News « Earl's View
Pingback: Laurel’s Story – Smith & Nephew BHR Hip Resurfacing Ruins Another Life « Earl's View
Pingback: Looks like BS, Smells like BS, Must be BS…. Hip Study: Smith & Nephew touts study results for new metal-on-metal implants | MassDevice – Medical Device Industry News « Earl's View
Pingback: Calling all Smith & Nephew victims « Earl's View
Pingback: Ed’s Smith & Nephew BHR hell gets worse before better… « Earl's View