Hips certainly keep you humble.
As I have mentioned to a few readers, I am fast approaching the need for my left hip to be replaced. Down to about 30% cartilage left. At least the pain is no surprise since I have had plenty of experience from early days when the right hip originally failed.
However, the revised right hip is literally a pain in the ass at the moment. Coming up 2 years since it was revised and until about 2 months ago was as close to perfect as I could have hoped for.
However, not perfect at present!
A lot of pain which seems to be associated with a non-specific inflammation of the tissue surrounding the hip. Two steroid injections and no relief. Actually worse.
Who knows why? As I keep telling others, “all part of life’s rich tapestry”!!!
Earl
If your revision appliance has ceramics, your pain may be from chromium. I’ve had 2, and pain persists. My cobolt is zero now, but chromium back to toxic level from the ceramic in the revisions.
That is interesting. Will have to get a blood test.
Thanks
Earl
oh my, this is upsetting to hear. I thought it was just the metal on metal hips that were killing us! No wonder why my doctor didn’t want to bother with testing my levels after the revision surgery!
Hi Connie
I am a little dubious about this being the case. The Cobalt Chrome used does not typically leach metal ions unless it is rubbed against a hard surface so I don’t think the chrome will come from the stem and cup used in the ceramic on ceramic devices. I think it is more likely that it is residual metal ions from the previous metal on metal hip damage.
Earl
After my
After my revisions, both cobalt and chromium decreased, but as the cobalt decreased to zero, the chromium began to again rise, and is now again at a toxic level. I researched the chemical makeup of the ceramics in the revision appliances and found that the ceramic has chromium as a major component. My Surgeon stated that the rising level is likely from the ceramic. He feels that it probably will remain between 4 to 5 ug/L and plans to retest yearly.
Hi Judith,
That is scary. I need to have a closer look at ceramics. I understood they are metal oxides but didn’t think they would leach metal ions. Very scary if they do.
Earl
I had my revision of an 18 year old MOM hip on April 16 th, so exactly 12 weeks ago. I was told the top of the femur cracked getting the stem out and it’s wired. At 8 weeks I was told I could ditch the crutches, but for the last 2 weeks I have had excruciating front thigh pain, it’s so bad I can’t weight bare at all. When it’s okay I can. I can’t get back to see the surgeon for another 3 weeks which I am not happy about. I have only had one post op X-ray and that was the day after surgery. I am at a total loss as to what this could be, it doesn’t feel muscular, and I have never experienced this in the other 5 hips done.Really fed up with it all.
Earl···I wish you well· Your posts and blogs have been a Godsend to me. I had my first replacement in 2008 and shortly thereafter started having several medical problems. No one could connect the dots until last June when my cobalt and chromium levels were checked. They were in the 70s… Based on one being normal. I had a revision in October but still have major problems and now need a knee replacement.
Please know your insite and connections are valuable beyond words. Please know we are all pulling for you and we all need to combine our efforts and stories to draw attention to this problem.Keep us posted but more importantly…Take care.
Thanks Jan,
Much appreciated. It is a battle forever I think once the hips and knees give up!
Earl
I wish I never had my car accident,that hip was so good I dance and walk on the beech.And no one on the south coast know that I had a hip replacement.Untill my accident