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High metal ion levels post revision

Posted , 4 users are following.

Ollieboo
Ollieboo

I'm new to this forum, so apologies if this is the wrong place on the forum, but was just hoping for some advice.

It's a long story, but in brief, I had bi-lateral resurfacing in 2004, my left hip failed in 2012 - very high metal ion levels (1035 nmol/L chromium & 2647 nmol/L cobalt), which resulted in pseudo tumours. I had a revision in Sept 2012 - since then my cobalt levels have dropped down until almost zero, but while my chromium levels dropped straight after surgery, down to 178 nmol/L by Jan 2013 (5 months post revision), they then started to go back up and are currently at 255 nmol/L or 13ppb at 18 months post revision.

My surgeon doesn't know whether the chromium is leftover from the left hip or is coming the right hip - if it's the latter, I'd like to have it revised before it causes all the damage I have to deal with in the left and also before my health gets worse (I have lots of problems from the high metal such as severe fatigue, other weird immune reactions like skin rashes and swollen joints).

Has anyone else had experience of really high metal ions and how fast did they come down post surgery? I'd really appreciate any extra info I can take to my surgeon to help make a decision.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • delina01269
    delina01269

    Posted

    I noticed you didn't have any replies, so I think nobody has had the same problem. I can't help you either, but it must be a terrible worry especially if it's affecting your general health. Good luck in finding the answers. There is a forum on Facebook, if you aren't on Facebook it might be worth joining but you might be more likely to get the answers you need there. Just look for total hip replacement forum request to join and wait, you will start getting posts. Good luck and blessings.
  • crissy_wissy
    crissy_wissy

    Posted

    Hi Olliboo...I responded yesterday but as iI included a website link it has to be approved..

    Chris

  • linnett1906
    linnett1906

    Posted

    I had this problem following a metal BHR in 2001 which was revised in 2007. My metal ions came down

    eventually after several years, now my problem is a staph infection so still need further surgery

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