Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand there is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on-metal abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related disease? How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I need my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for your input. Yours, Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Meredith---Good for you, make an informed choice. I did. I weighed the possibility of bits of plastic or ceramic floating around setting my immune system berserk. I weighed that against the possibility of metal ions in great concentrations, starting some cancer or something else like a timebomb ticking inside me. I know that the Osteolysis is a " gimmee " . With metal ions, there is the unknown...we don't know (that's why they call it " unknown " . What I do know is once you lose the femoral neck, it won't grow back. The stress shielding factor is a big issue also... I got resurfed. Capt A > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand there > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on-metal > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > disease? > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I need > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > your input. > > Yours, > Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Meredith---Good for you, make an informed choice. I did. I weighed the possibility of bits of plastic or ceramic floating around setting my immune system berserk. I weighed that against the possibility of metal ions in great concentrations, starting some cancer or something else like a timebomb ticking inside me. I know that the Osteolysis is a " gimmee " . With metal ions, there is the unknown...we don't know (that's why they call it " unknown " . What I do know is once you lose the femoral neck, it won't grow back. The stress shielding factor is a big issue also... I got resurfed. Capt A > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand there > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on-metal > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > disease? > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I need > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > your input. > > Yours, > Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Meredith, Do a site search for metal ions here and on TH. TH may have lost the best since it was cleaned but try anyway. There is a wealth of postings about this subject. I asked various docs and OS about it and non were concerned in my case. There are people with resurf who are participating in studies on this issue who post to this site. From my understanding during the " wear in " period the metal ion blood concentration does go up but it is in amounts comparable to what foundry workers deal with. The " wear in " period has been thought to last anywhere from one, two to four years until a steady state is reached and the wear is then minimal if at all. This is most likely an individual thing. Also, read 's metal defense protocol. If you are concerned and go with surfing this may help with your worries. I'm following it " just because " . It can't hurt and might help if there is an issue. One person I've corresponded with about this who is following his blood concentration is not at all concerned- " Ya pee it out. " This is all anecdotal, I know but it is an " unknown " . I personally am losing no sleep over this issue. Trudy > > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand > there > > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on- metal > > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > > disease? > > > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I > need > > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > > your input. > > > > Yours, > > Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 Meredith, Do a site search for metal ions here and on TH. TH may have lost the best since it was cleaned but try anyway. There is a wealth of postings about this subject. I asked various docs and OS about it and non were concerned in my case. There are people with resurf who are participating in studies on this issue who post to this site. From my understanding during the " wear in " period the metal ion blood concentration does go up but it is in amounts comparable to what foundry workers deal with. The " wear in " period has been thought to last anywhere from one, two to four years until a steady state is reached and the wear is then minimal if at all. This is most likely an individual thing. Also, read 's metal defense protocol. If you are concerned and go with surfing this may help with your worries. I'm following it " just because " . It can't hurt and might help if there is an issue. One person I've corresponded with about this who is following his blood concentration is not at all concerned- " Ya pee it out. " This is all anecdotal, I know but it is an " unknown " . I personally am losing no sleep over this issue. Trudy > > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand > there > > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on- metal > > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > > disease? > > > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I > need > > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > > your input. > > > > Yours, > > Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 aren't thr's metal on metal also? the birmingham hip replacement is made with the same metal that thr's have been made with for the last 30 years, with good result. as far as i know. thanks for listening, steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 aren't thr's metal on metal also? the birmingham hip replacement is made with the same metal that thr's have been made with for the last 30 years, with good result. as far as i know. thanks for listening, steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2003 Report Share Posted March 8, 2003 aren't thr's metal on metal also? the birmingham hip replacement is made with the same metal that thr's have been made with for the last 30 years, with good result. as far as i know. thanks for listening, steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2003 Report Share Posted March 9, 2003 Hi Deb, I think you have just highlighted something well overlooked.......... some of the other things we do in our lives pose far more danger than the ions from our hip joints.......... I often wonder if the same people who do the setting up of making ions an issue happily smoke, drink excess and do other health risk things without too much thought........ As I understand it just living in some cities is highly dangerous pollution wise and scientists will tell that oxygen is corrosive as well as life giving............ Edith > Hi Meredith! I have a somewhat cynical outlook...at the tender age > of 50, I have survived nuclear-test fallout, DDT, rampant pollution, > and God only knows what else. Nobody has offered definite ties > between metal ions and something scary. Therefore - the amount of > worry it gives me wouldn't cover a pimple on a gnat's > backside.....LOL! > > It HAS occured to me that my hobby of working with stained glass > puts me in contact with lead and that I ought to wear gloves to > lessen the exposure to more metal in my body.... I'll work on that. > > Best wishes! > > Deb C+ 5-2-02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2003 Report Share Posted March 9, 2003 Edith I enjoy reading your posts. You make a lot of sense in most of what you say. Thanks for bringing the smile to my face and may you long keep it up. Metal Ions?? > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand there > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on-metal > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > disease? > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I need > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > your input. > > Yours, > Meredith > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 9, 2003 Report Share Posted March 9, 2003 Edith I enjoy reading your posts. You make a lot of sense in most of what you say. Thanks for bringing the smile to my face and may you long keep it up. Metal Ions?? > I am trying to decide re hip resurfacing or THR. I understand there > is some concern about metal ions resulting from the metal-on-metal > abrasion. Am I to understand that the risk associated with this is > unknown and that cancer might be a result, if not kidney-related > disease? > > How does this risk compare with risks of other alternatives? > Plastic particles and ceramic fragments? > > Your thoughts as I try to come to terms with the risks and the best > choice for me would be appreciated. I am 43 years old with three > active children, having had OA of the right hip for 5 years. I need > my life back...but I need to make an informed choice. Thanks for > your input. > > Yours, > Meredith > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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