Good Morning Earl,
I have been battling my Biomet Magnum M2A hip since it was implanted some eight years ago.. On August 28, 2013 I had that hip replaced with a ceramic device. The relief has been INCREDIBLE!
During the past eight years I have dealt with pain 24/7 and tried everything imaginable (including more than 40 outpatient pain blocks!) all to no avail. I’ve spent countless hours in doctor’s offices, doing various types of physical therapy, filling out forms, waiting for prescriptions to be filled…… you name it. I’ve lost my career, and have not earned one dime of income during this time. Most of my life was spent sitting atop the bed with my leg elevated. That-plus pain medication-was my only way of obtaining any relief. Even then the pain never stopped.
I want to describe this pain in detail. Any number of sensations appeared in various order with no real rhyme or reason. The worst was the sensation of my femur throbbing-just like a toothache inside of the bone. I also experienced stinging and burning in my thigh and buttock on that side. Often, my thigh would feel three times the normal size-as if were going to burst like a water balloon. I had pain behind my knee, pain in my calf muscle, pain in my shin…. even my toes! (Every single symptom is gone and yet only the articulation was revised; my surgeon found the implant in my femur to be solid and therefore he did not replace that part. I still have some surgical pain which is normal at this stage.)
In recovery, my surgeon was beaming as he explained what he found during my replacement surgery: The Biomet hip was covered with scar tissue (and a lot of fluid) so thick that he described it as a “rind” while cutting his way through. The scar tissue was so extensive that he repeatedly lengthened my incision for additional access. Apparently this scar tissue had entrapped many nerves, thus causing the misery I had endured for so long. Most importantly: this scar tissue and accompanying fluid did not appear on any x-ray, bone scan, MRI, CAT scan, etc. I was evaluated by four different Orthopedic surgeons over the years, yet the results were always the same: My implant was perfectly aligned, there was no apparent loosening, no cysts, no infection, etc. Obviously no surgeon would commit to operating on a patient who had no apparent problems. Finally I found a surgeon who listened carefully and took a more aggressive course of action. Thanks to a simple hip aspiration, within a few weeks I was on my way to an end of eight painful years. I would be happy to share additional details with anyone else that might benefit from my experience.
Regards
Scott
Time: September 26, 2013 at 12:38 am
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Earl's View 
Hi Scott, so pleased to hear you have had a favourable outcome from your revision. I had an MOM, but was fine for 15 years then the remaining 3 were a nightmare.i also during that time went to every Dr Physio etc under the sun. No one would listen in a way that was the hardest part. Then finally I found a surgeon who was listening to what I was saying, and when he took the hip out the cup was full of metal shards. Nothing like what you have described, but it was enough to give me many kidney and bladder infections. Visual disturbance insomnia etc.
I have a friend that is going through this very thing you have described and when they took her first hip out she had an infection which never showed up, so she had nearly 8 months without a hip, and soon she will have the other done.thanks for sharing and I hope you continue to improve. I hope you have taken some legal action, for your loss of income etc.
Thank you for your kind remarks Mary. I wish you and your friend the best going forward.
Scott….so glad to hear you found the right doctor and have had so much improvement! I didn’t have a MOM during TLHR 7 months ago, but ever since then I’ve had exactly the same symptoms and constant pain you’ve described…..and exactly the same results from X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, etc. A couple of weeks ago I had a T99 bone scan which also showed nothing wrong…..but the femur still throbs, there’s still significant pain when I have to get in or out of a car, etc. The OS sent me a letter that pretty much wrote me off, so I got a referral to a well-known hospital in St. Louis. Dr. there said to go back to the same OS who keeps telling me there’s nothing wrong! I’m about at the end of my rope…….how did you find somebody who finally listened and then DID SOMETHING about it??
After almost eight years I had basically given up J.K. By coincidence an OBGYN heard about my issues and actually became angry about the whole debacle. Thank goodness she kept encouraging me to try clinics in Colorado and Chicago. I had an appointment in Chicago, yet again coincidentally, kept hearing about Dr. Taunton. I managed to get an appointment prior to my trip to Chicago and I knew immediately that I had the right man for the job! Please don’t give up, and don’t let go of that rope! If I can help you in any way, please feel free to ask. God Bless,
Scott
Scott, thank you for sharing your story. I would appreciate knowing and supporting (with referrals!) this rare and gifted surgeon who provided validation and relief to a harmed patient! Google “Failed Implant Device Alliance” Joleen Chambers
Joleen,
My pleasure to recommend Dr. O. David Taunton of Bedford, Texas. (Bedford is a suburb of Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas.) Dr. Taunton is very well known for fixing just about every orthopedic issue imagineable. Better yet-he has a very calm, confident way of dealing with patients.
Scott,
Thank you for sharing your story.
I too had Biomet Magnum M2A bilateral hip implants in May 2009.
About 1 1/2 – 2 years ago I began randomly, intermittently and unexplainably experiencing physical and systemic “issues”.
After that my story almost exactly mimics yours to T. It has been physically, emotionally and at times mentally paralizing.
This past May 2013 I began my “quest” to figure out what was going on with me as it was becoming undeniably apparent I could no longer avoid symptoms or be in denial.
After an array of testings as you described with outcomes exactly as you described I too finally found one surgeon that was willing to go further and open me up to see what was or was not going on inside my hips. As you… the needle aspiration indicated something unusual but yet still undetermined. Although my physical symptoms were increasing and worsening.
On July 24, 2013 I had my right hip revised. It was a 6 hr surgery which 1/2 of the time was
consumed with clearing out the extensive massive scar tissue.
Like you… no stem or cup loosening. AND My ball joints were replaced with a new dual mobility head… a small metal ball encapsulated in a larger poly head that fit into the larger metal sockets implant I have. I rehabbed for 6 weeks and a week ago,
Sept 23, 2013 I returned to have my left hip revised. I am home now and going through the ups and downs of recovery.
I was told my left hip presented w extensive scar tissue as my right hip had and the ball joint was changed out also.
I am so disheartend and even angry at my original surgeon and all the others who
“nay sayed” me and pushed me off.
Not forgetting to mention my ill feelings twords Biomet.
I’m so exhausted and tired of the “fight” that we have been forced to live, and I’m even quite demoralized from having countless Doctors and nurses doubt, dismiss and even suggest that it was all in our head or mind.
I’m hopeful for a 100 % recovery and to be able to return to my 20 year career as a
Flight Attendant.
Thank you for sharing!
All my best to you,
Michelle Hagen
Michelle,
I read your e-mail twice and I’m still agape…… I know EXACTLY how you feel both physically and mentally. Up until May of 2013 my original Orthopedic surgeon continued to boast about what an “excellent hip” I had and how I “wasn’t shedding any metal” while I (having done extensive research) KNEW otherwise! My anger and frustration are off the scale…. and renewed as I read your story.
I have a great deal to share, particularly since we work in the same field. I am a Captain for a major airline in my 29th year. Since my response is lengthy, please feel free to email me directly at winslow97@att.net
Until then I wish you the very best for a total, successful recovery.
Scott Abram
Hello again…
I am just reading your reply to my email today as the first 2 weeks post 2nd revision were rough… Tomorrow marks 3 weeks post op. I am doing better bit by bit every day now and I began PT last Thursday.
I hope this finds all well on your end and that you are doing well in your recovery too.
Thank you for responding to my email and including your email address… I will keep in touch!
Take care.
Michelle
Scott, do you have any idea about how long a wait there’d be in order to get an appointment with Dr. Taunton?
In my case it was about 5 weeks…..but well worth it! I can’t stress enough how much relief I have thanks to this terrific surgeon. My surgery was five weeks ago today and I’m like brand new!
Best of luck going forward!
I too had a biomet hip. I was never pain free but no where near as bad as what you describe. Given excuses by my doctor, who openly criticizes the recall suits of others as lawyers out for money. This past year it got worse and I started with episodes of numbness too and weird symptoms in other parts of my body. Again, brushed off by doctor. Told me xray showed an excellent hip. I started trying to look online and found the FDA statement to doctors and patients. Two days later I received phone call from a different doc who had done blood work for the other symptoms. Labs showed decline in kidney function. I took the FDA statement to her and then to my family physician nurse practioner, who ordered metal testing for me. No surprise…..Elevated levels of cobalt and chromium. I managed to find an ortho who specializes in revisions, never used MoM himself but has revised many. He too told me xrays showed a good hip but based on blood work kidney function he agreed to revise. When he went, there was a great deal of softening of the bone behind the cup. Lucky for me the shaft was still stable. He replaced the cup and ball. 8 weeks post surgery and already I have less pain than I ever did with the Magnum. Now to hope that my body can clear the metal without too much more kidney damage. I have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease from this hip, and there is no expectation of repair of kidney function, just hope to stop the progression. The surgeon who did the revision has been awesome to work with. He said he never used MoM because he didn’t believe that they were safe. I just wish I’d had him for the initial thr. He is in Baton Rouge LA.
My gosh, you’ve been through heck and back again. In response to your doctor’s criticisms of “Lawyers out for money”……. I wonder if he might be willing to comment on the millions of dollars these manufacturers spend to promote their products? (I’ve done a lot of digging, and asked a lot of questions for years now. Have you had the opportunity to read up on this?)
Meanwhile, I wish you the very best going forward. Thank God you kept pursuing this issue until your current doctor “stepped up to the plate” instead of making excuses like so many others! Let me know if I can be of help in any way. As you can tell, this issue has turned my life upside down. My “therapy” comes from helping others.
Scott Abram
How and where can I find out how the different hip’s look like.I know how the DEPuy looks but not the Biomet.I had my 5th one this year,with the last one they took out they had to cut away scar tissue and the cut he made was a long one.I went in 10 o’clock the morning and They pushed me out 10:15 that night,Still can’t walk with out crutches.
Hi Susanna,
I couldn’t begin to tell you what the various designs look like-particularly to the untrained eye. Did your surgeon give you the information which details your implant? That has always been my experience. Sorry that I cannot be of further help and I wish you all the best going forward,
Scott
Thanks! I consider myself very lucky to have had a family physician willing to work with me and having been able to find a surgeon willing to look beyond what showed or did not show on the xray, and it was removed in time to spare total kidney failure. I can tell from this site that others have been left much worse off. I did leave my job. I couldn’t manage my health issues ad the stress of the job. I appreciate a chance to share…..if I had waited for my first ortho I’d might have ended up on dialysis with him still denying any problems. I also want a way to encourage others to keep looking until they find someone to take them seriously. I was in total shock when I realized it all went back to the hip. I went to my doc in 2009 when I heard about the first recalls to find out what type I had…….he told me “we only use biomet products. They are excellent and you have nothing to be concerned about.” I believed him until this spring. In have found only a little about “incentives” to doctors, I suspect he has benefitted greatly from his use of biomet products. To any others reading the blog and comments, you know your body and you know when something is off. Don’t give up! I imagine that the metal causes problems that we don’t even suspect yet. Thank you for sharing your experience….I haven’t found much from others with the biomet hip
Andrew,
Thank you for sharing. My original Orthopedic Surgeon stopped looking me in the eye completely. All he could do was look at the x-rays (again, they appeared perfect) and almost repititiously say “You have a great product here. If this thing was shedding metal, believe me…..we would know it”!! Even better-when the subject of chromium and cobalt in MY blood was discussed, he would remind me that these were only “parts per billions” and absolutely nothing to worry about! You are absolutely correct when you say how we all know our bodies, and if something feels wrong, keep insisting! I think sometimes patients are reluctant to challenge doctors because we tend to regard them with esteem, but a patient must be their own advocate!
Sorry that I mistakenly addressed you as “Andrew”!
🙂
Hello Scott – thank you for sharing your story. I have many of your symptoms (I have posted a couple of times on this superb blog before). My question is: what is a ‘hip aspiration’ as you describe it. I glean you had the cup revised but not the stem – is that correct and if so with what material? Like you every mri scan, ct scan etc says everything is perfect yet it is so far from perfect it’s not funny. I am scared to death of having a revision to a porcelain because the first one hurt like hell. I have a a Mitch Stryker cobalt chrome resurfacing but it is not the modular style the subject of the recall. Thanks and Regards
Andrew Archer
Andrew,
A hip aspiration involves drawing a small sample of fluid from your hip and evaluating the content for signs of infection and other issues. You are correct that the stem in my femur was NOT replaced, and my new hip is ceramic. My previous hip was chromium and cobalt as you describe but obviously of different design. Have you had your blood tested for heavy metals? I’m curious about your surgery involving the ceramic replacement and why it was more painful? I wish you the very best going forward Andrew.
I need a total hip replacement end of Sept 2012 and Doctor plans to use Biomet plastic total hip replaceent for my left hip. Anyone know if this has problems too?
Haven’t heard of issues. Ceramic on plastic seems to be the best combination.
thank you .
mistake on date of expected hip replacement. Sb 2014