Re: TKR - Allergic to surgical cement, titanium and cobalt

[Guest guest]

Hi Brent,

The only thing I read was this guy I think he was in 30's he had both of his knees done at the same time well I don't know if he had Allergic but after the operations he couldn't bend his knees right and was afraid to have another operation done I never read anything more about him . Well you wife was lucky to find out before the operation . Well all I can say is my Hip didn't turn out that great and I think knee operation turn out better I had my right side done when I was 57 I'll be 63 next month. Well I wish you wife the best of luck and both of you have a Happy New Year.

Susie

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "brent_merlin" <brent_merlin@...> Ever heard of someone being allergic to the metals and cement involved in total knee replacement?My wife was supposed to have both knees replaced a few months ago. Because of an insurance issue with the surgeon we had to switch surgeons. During the office visit with new surgeon the subject of allergies came up. My wife is allergic to several things including nickle (she can't wear metal eyeglass frames). He contacted the company that makes the replacement knee and they sent him samples of the material and he referred her to an allergist for testing. The allergist did a full allergy screening and found she was mildly allergic to the replacement metals and greatly allergic to surgical cement. It's almost 8 weeks since the tests and she still has red welts on her back from the cement test! As a result, the surgeon won't take a chance on operating. We've been to two other surgeons that do cementless replacement but they won't operate either. None of them have ever encountered this before. All of the doctors agree that they don't know if the bone and/or interior flesh will react to the cement or metals the way her skin did. Any info related to this will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Have you all considered consulting with an allergy clinic (that's

what it would be here). I am very allergic to lots of antibiotics so

before any are used, the allergy clinic people (specialists) are

brought in to consult and even to manage.

They may well have some ideas/help/knowledge from a different

perspective to bring to the situation.

Kathy

--

[Guest guest]

That's unbelievable. Some of these doctors just amaze me with their

insensitivity. Where do you live?

From: b-gcoffey [mailto: b-gcoffey@...]

Joint Replacement

Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2005 17:48:32 -0500 (Eastern Standard Time)

Subject: Re: TKR - Allergic to surgical cement,

titanium and cobalt

i have fairly bad allergies and i wondered if some of my problems, with the hip,

could be caused by sensitivity to the metal. the dr.s that put it in didn't even

want to test but i forced them to at least draw the blood. they sent an intern

in to draw the blood and he was so new he had never done it before. he tried

three or four times and was greener than i was by the time any blood made it in

the tube. when i went back in for the results they could never find them so i'm

sure the sample went in the trash. i requested a sample of the base metal so my

allergy dr could do the test. the hip dr had never heard of such a thing and

said it was not available. i contacted the company and they referred me back to

the surgeon so i just gave up !

[Guest guest]

judy,

i live in southeast michigan and had my surgery at hutzel hospital in detroit

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all who have responded so far.

We were blessed with a surgeon who:

1. recognized there might be a problem with allergies.

2. didn't hesitate to request samples from the manufacturer and gave them

directly to us to take to the allergist for testing.

3. recommended us to other TKR specialists for second opinions.

And an allergy doctor who looked for any and all possible problems.

Doesn't it make you wonder how many TKR/THR's have gone sour because of allergic

reactions?

>

> i have fairly bad allergies and i wondered if some of my problems, with the

hip, could be caused by sensitivity to the metal. the dr.s that put it in didn't

even want to test but i forced them to at least draw the blood. they sent an

intern in to draw the blood and he was so new he had never done it before. he

tried three or four times and was greener than i was by the time any blood made

it in the tube. when i went back in for the results they could never find them

so i'm sure the sample went in the trash. i requested a sample of the base metal

so my allergy dr could do the test. the hip dr had never heard of such a thing

and said it was not available. i contacted the company and they referred me back

to the surgeon so i just gave up !

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Brent,

I thought that was my problem and posted a message last year with

almost no response. I did some research and found this website:

http://www.totaljoints.info/orthopaedic_metal_alloys.htm

Later I found out that mine was due to swelling in my lower spine.

I got a cortisone injection in my SI joint in September of 2005 and

the swelling went down within 2 days. I felt it was a miracle! The

doctors at the pain clinic don't quite understand it. I asked them

just to remember what they did so they can do it again if

necessary. I also see an allergist on a regular basis and this was

all new to him.

Hope this helps.

> >

> > Have you all considered consulting with an allergy clinic

(that's

> > what it would be here). I am very allergic to lots of

antibiotics

> so

> > before any are used, the allergy clinic people (specialists) are

> > brought in to consult and even to manage.

> >

> > They may well have some ideas/help/knowledge from a different

> > perspective to bring to the situation.

> >

> > Kathy

> >

> > --

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, this is interesting information. My mother has a TKR done back in April. She has re-occuring low-grade fevers and areas of sensitivity. A bone scan revealed that indeed there is inflammation around the entire prosthesis. I wonder "if" there is some type of allergy going on with her particular case. Could you tell me "what" type of testing we should inquire about? Thanks! Becky Mc

Re: TKR - Allergic to surgical cement, titanium and cobalt

Thanks to all who have responded so far. We were blessed with a surgeon who: 1. recognized there might be a problem with allergies. 2. didn't hesitate to request samples from the manufacturer and gave them directly to us to take to the allergist for testing. 3. recommended us to other TKR specialists for second opinions. And an allergy doctor who looked for any and all possible problems. Doesn't it make you wonder how many TKR/THR's have gone sour because of allergic reactions? >> i have fairly bad allergies and i wondered if some of my problems, with the hip, could be caused by sensitivity to the metal. the dr.s that put it in didn't even want to test but i forced them to at least draw the blood. they sent an intern in to draw the blood and he was so new he had never done it before. he tried three or four times and was greener than i was by the time any blood made it in the tube. when i went back in for the results they could never find them so i'm sure the sample went in the trash. i requested a sample of the base metal so my allergy dr could do the test. the hip dr had never heard of such a thing and said it was not available. i contacted the company and they referred me back to the surgeon so i just gave up !>

[Guest guest]

I'm allergic to nickel and asked my OS about it before my surgery in August. He assured me I'd be ok, and so far so good at 5 months out now. I love my new knee. brent_merlin <brent_merlin@...> wrote: Unfortunately, no one seems to know of anyone encountering this situation. All of the surgeons and the allegist are looking further however hoping to find someone who has done research on it. >> Have you all considered consulting with an allergy clinic (that's > what it would be here). I am very allergic to lots of antibiotics so > before any are used, the allergy clinic people (specialists) are > brought in to consult and even to

manage.> > They may well have some ideas/help/knowledge from a different > perspective to bring to the situation.> > Kathy> > --> God bless you!

DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

[Guest guest]

-

Thanks for your reply. As for allergy testing, my wifes allergist

gave her a 'full battery of allergy tests including the metals used in

the replacement knee (samples provided by the surgeon who got them

from the manufacturer).

[Guest guest]

It appears that there may be some correlation between allergies to

metals, cements, etc. and TKR/THR according to an

allergist/immunologist in Southern California we heard from. She

suggested we contact Rush Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago.

Apparently they are doing some studies there on the problem.

>

> -

> Thanks for your reply. As for allergy testing, my wifes allergist

> gave her a 'full battery of allergy tests including the metals used

in

> the replacement knee (samples provided by the surgeon who got them

> from the manufacturer).

>

[Guest guest]

I had a full battery of tests to see if I was allergic to whatever would be implanted as well. My problem with the tests though is that the tests were done on top of the skin and not where the prosthesis was going to be. I have had allergic reaction when I had metal inserted in my jaw, to the point where the metal had to be taken out and something like concrete was replaced. It was a horrible experience for my jaw I just can't imagine having to have a prosthesis taken out after being put it just for that reason. Has anyone had to have this done? Val

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