QUESTION

What are Symptoms of Metallosis or Hip Replacement Metal Toxicity from Cobalt, Chromium in the Blood?

127 ADD YOUR COMMENTS

ANSWER

Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems, like the recalled DePuy ASR hip, Depuy Pinnacle hip, Biomet M2A-Magnum hip, Wright Conserve hip and others, have been linked to a risk of metal poisoning or metallosis from particles of cobalt and chromium that are released into the blood as the metal components rub against each other.

Please note that the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer taking on new cases involving DePuy ASR Hip Replacements. The content on this page is provided for informational purposes only.

The metal ions may lead to a reaction around the joint, cause deterioration of the tissue, loosen the artificial hip and result in other serious complications. In addition, as the metal enters the blood stream, it may cause a number of other health problems, potentially impacting the nervous system, heart and thyroid glands.

Some common symptoms of hip replacement metal poisoning may include:

  • Hip or Groin Pain
  • Difficulty Walking or Standing
  • Inflammation or Swelling
  • Loosening or Failure of the Metal Hip Replacement
  • Development of Tumors

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing financial compensation through a metal hip replacement poisoning lawsuit after experiencing problems caused by the defective and dangerous design of the all-metal artificial hip systems.

New cases are no longer being accepted by Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. This page is maintained for informational purposes only.

HIP REPLACEMENT METALLOSIS FROM METAL IN BLOOD

Design problems with metal-on-metal hip implants, can cause dangerous levels of cobalt and chromium metal particles to enter the body. This can lead to metallosis, a type of blood poisoning, and genotoxicity, which can lead to genetic damage. Chromium and cobalt have also been linked to cancer, and could lead to the development of tumors. It can lead to aseptic fibrosis, local necrosis or even help to cause metallic corrosion and increase the chances of hip replacement failure.

In recent years, many types of metal-on-metal artificial hip systems have been linked to a high failure rate, which may result in the need for risky revision hip revision surgery. Although the manufacturers promoted these implants as stronger and more durable, it appears that they failed to adequately research the impact of metal ions entering the body from the artificial hip.

The metal hip replacement lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. began investigating potential lawsuits for individuals with elevated cobalt and chromium levels in early 2010. Since that time, the risk of toxicity from metal-on-metal hip replacement systems has gained substantial attention among the medical community and national media.

In August 2010, a hip replacement recall was issued for the DePuy ASR system, after the manufacturer acknowledged that about one out of every 8 patients may experience problems with the hip within five years after receiving the implant. Since that time, estimates suggest that the DePuy ASR hip failure rate may be substantially higher.

In May 2011, the FDA asked manufacturers of all metal-on-metal hip systems to obtain more information about the levels at which metal in the blood from hip replacements become dangerous and how much metal the devices actually shed. The agency also now provides substantial information about the risk of metal toxicity for individuals who have a metal-on-metal hip implant.

More recently, the FDA has announced that the concerns about metal hip replacement toxicity will be discussed at a June 2012 meeting of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Orthopedic Devices Panel. At that time, the committee will review the failure rates, testing for metal ion blood poisoning, imaging methods, local and systemic complications, patient risk factors and considerations for follow-up after surgery.

New cases are no longer being accepted by Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. This page is maintained for informational purposes only.

Austin Kirk

Last Updated September 18, 2011
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127 Comments

127 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • john says:

    What is the ‘NORMAL’ level of chromium and cobalt in the body.
    Ihave had a blood test for Cobalt and it came back st 17nmol/l Is this considered high ?Would I also have a test for Chromium levels?

    Posted on December 19, 2010 at 9:27 am

  • Rita says:

    I had a Depuy pinnacle hip replacement and had a fracture hip and weak muscles in hip and had to go to PT and metal in blood. Any One esle with same problems and know of a lawyer handling these cases

    Posted on December 31, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    • Austin Kirk says:

      @Rita – Our metal-on-metal hip replacement lawyers are investigating potential DePuy Pinnacle lawsuits. If you have not already spoken with us, please call toll free at (800) 522-0102 or submit a request for a consultation

      Posted on January 1, 2011 at 2:41 pm

  • isabella says:

    Deau Rita I am from Australia I am not an elderly person but i to had the hip replacement by DePuy. I now have to get it taken out after 4 years not to mention I have Cobalt poisong as well as some other health issues directly from the DePuy hipreplacement.

    Posted on February 7, 2011 at 3:34 am

  • JIM says:

    RITA, I HAVE BEEN A PA FOR 30 YEARS, 12 OF THOSE IN ORTHO SURGERY. I HAVE BILATERAL HIP REPLACEMENTS WITH PINNACLE SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD ONE REVISION, THEN TWO MORE FOR INFECTION THAT NONE OF THE DOCS COULD DIAGNOSIS PROPERLY, WELL IT IS METALLOSIS, IT IS RARE AND MOST DOC’S ARE NOT AWARE OF IT. SO EDUCATE YOURSELF AND ASK YOUR DOCTOR QUESTIONS. AND SPECK TO A PRIVATE ATTORNEY AND STAY AWAY FROM JOHSON AND JOHNSON AND DEPUY PEOPLE, THEY WILL ENTRAP YOU AND YOU WILL LOSE THE COMPENSATION THAT IS RIGHTFULLY DUE YOU. GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

    Posted on February 7, 2011 at 4:56 pm

  • louis says:

    I have not had any problems installed 6/4/2010

    Posted on February 28, 2011 at 2:09 pm

  • Judy says:

    I just had a revision of my left hip 2 weeks ago. I had a pinnacle implant that failed after 2 years causing extremely high levels of cobalt and chromium in my blood. I also had a lot of metal debris all around the hip joint which the surgeon had to spend an extra hour in surgery scraping out. I don’t know what the long term effects of the metal might be yet.

    Posted on April 12, 2011 at 12:35 pm

  • Marie says:

    i have had a depuy asr metal on metal hip replacement almost 7yrs ago, every thing went well, until the re call, no ache no pain,at first had xray and blood test, blood test showed high levels of cobailt and chrome, i so so shocked i didnt know what question to ask. surgeon advised me to have another blood test also MRI, after another worrying wait had another appointment with my surgeon, said mri was fine. this time i asked about the blood tests, chrome 7.7 cobailt 21,25. surgeon said he would change it but i had to make the decesion myself if i am woried about the high level of chrome and cobailt in my blood. he was by no means helpful or showed any sympathy to my plight. the levels could keep rising . i am strong and feel fit at the moment, but am also very worried, my surgeon wants me back again in 6 months,WHY i ask. will he do revision 2yrs down the road , i seem to be in limbo at the minute.

    Posted on April 24, 2011 at 12:52 pm

  • SUSIE says:

    i had a hip replacement in oct 2000 it was the versi system even after all these years i have pain in the middle of the night it like a terrible charlies horse the hip stays sore all the time the doctor says it bursis i still walk with a limp and no longer can lift my legs with out hrlp i dont know if it the hip or the spinal fusion i had in 2008 i afraid there might be metal in my blood i developed a bad rash on my legs that wont heal they say is serisosis nothing seems to help the doctor act like im crazty whem i ask them about it

    Posted on August 17, 2011 at 4:37 pm

  • Monika says:

    I have had a Depuy ASR hip resurfacing done in Nov. 2007 and started having problems in March of this year (2011) begininng with creaking of the implant to severe pain in my leg and groin and much difficulty walking. After seeing my chiro practor and massage therapist for a month I decided to see an Orthopaedic Surgeon who diagnosed me with implant failure. I have seen a total of 3 specialist and only one told me that it was the DePuy implant which is being recalled. Had my the blood test done yesterday for the chromium and cobalt. I am totally shocked and very concerned be cause of the health implications. I am waiting to be scheduled for the revision surgery which is risky I was told.

    Posted on September 2, 2011 at 2:24 pm

  • Nelson says:

    Do any of the people having problems mention chronic nausea?

    Posted on October 3, 2011 at 9:41 am

  • Heidi says:

    Just want to tell Susie I have the same unbearable charlie horse from groin to feet from m on m implant and tons of pain since surgery 2 years ago, can’t walk or stand without pain. getting blood checked now

    Posted on October 12, 2011 at 8:48 pm

  • jim says:

    I had hip replacement surgery (DePuy) in June 2008. About six months later starting having problems. The orthopedic surgeon dismissed it saying, the pain was normal. After receiving cortisone shots, I knew something wasn’t right. Then he gave me a precription for a “patch” to wear over the incision. Finally I found a orthopedic doctor, that determined I had a infection, cobalt and chronium leverls very high, and the DePuy device had to come out. In December of 2010, I had the surgery. Then in May I had to have surgery on my other hip (left) because of the “wear and tear” from butting weight on the left side to compensate for the surgeries to the right side. Now my orthopedic doctor tells me my right and left hip are not even because of the sugeries. He had me put a “lift’ in my left shoe, put indicated that I will experience pain, for the rest of my life. I would like to hear from a experienced, aggresive attorney, because of the the problems I have had happened. No person should had to go thru with what I did.

    Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:11 pm

  • JAMES/ VET USMC says:

    HAD REPLACEMENT 2008 METAL ON METAL, SOME OF ALL THE PROBLEMS I’VE READ HERE, DONE AT THE VA WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE

    Posted on October 22, 2011 at 1:56 pm

  • Penny says:

    I had total hip replacement 4 yrs ago, which failed 2 weeks past surgery. Hip was replaced second time a week ltr. 2 yrs ago I had A Depuy Metal on metal replacement on the left side. I had a blood test 1 yr ago and xray. My levels were fine in Oct 2010. I have had nausea, fatigue, joint pain and chronic pain in that hip, even skin is sometimes sore to the touch. I have lab slip to havd blood levels retested, and my surgeon is replacing on the head of the implant and leaving the femur shaft intact. Anyone had this suregery and do the symptoms subside after surgery?

    Posted on October 22, 2011 at 2:48 pm

  • Mark says:

    I had bi lateral hip inplants on 07-07 with the ASR Depuy hips. In August of 2010 I was told they had both failed. November 1st I had severe pain in right side and on 12/04/11 I had my first revision. They found a tumor caused by the metal the size of a babies head. I lost 2000 cc of blood, had transfusion, and the list goes on. Had the second revision at the end of January. I had a second tumor that was smaller, but it just shows the metal causes big problems with your body. So far I have lost my thyroid, they thought I had lymphoma, which was negative. I have a enlarged spleen, joint pain, but my new hips feel great. The bad new is that I am very young and I have no bone left if I ever required a total revision again. I am in my early 40’s, so who know what the future holds. Not sure of the long term problems the metal will have on all of my organs, but I am hoping for the best. I have heard that two people have lost limbs, so get them out if you have them. Good luck to all, this has been a horrible year, but hoping for good times ahead. I think it is important for people to share the symptoms and any problems so we can all educate each other. I have a feeling it is going to be a tuff few years before we know all of the consequences these horrible implants have caused. The good news is that Depuy made billions so it is a win for them. I have a great Lawyer and I can only hope everyone else does as well. My lawyer has been through this a few years ago and knows the whole process.

    Posted on November 2, 2011 at 10:30 pm

  • Matthew says:

    Yeah, @all of you, Depuy really, really f’d all of us…I am only 33, had a pinnacle implanted in 06, had , mmm, 70+ dislocations but tolerated it as nothing short of my leg feeling it was falling off, is gettin me under GA again…

    Well, this morning, aftter the last two months of KNOWING that my hip suddenly, “changed”, and became wary of every step fearful that my entire femur would shatter, but still didnt go…Well today, i am very aware, thaat i have had metallosis for about the last two months , when whatever happended, without “cause” happened, and my leg, literally feels as though it may “fall off” and the symptoms have now,,during this posting, reach me heart which is pounding as though trying to spit out whatever ————okayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy i cant believe this but “the end” cause I have to call an ambulance, this is very much not normal, anymore

    Posted on November 8, 2011 at 12:27 pm

  • stacy says:

    I am getting ready for hip replacement number 4, i am 35 years old, and I received 2 of the depuy recalled hips, my cobalt level is 1.8
    just wondering, what other peoples cobalt levels are and any side effects your having.

    Thanks,
    Stacy
    p.s. I called depuy(johnson & Johnson) they said if I wanted to settle out of court, I would have to wait until the court case was over, how stupid, the point of settling out of court is to get your settlement sooner.
    ALso, they are willing to pay for my next surgery, and travel, but they want a signed medical release, I don’t feel comfortable about this, has anyone elses done this.

    Posted on November 15, 2011 at 10:01 am

  • Jane says:

    Stacy, I would not sign anything untill you get some legal advice. I had a resurface about 7 years ago and for the last 12 months had pain, unexplained and stabbing as well as a dull ached. I have also been really unwell and the symptoms seems to fit exactly with what we have read here about metal poisoning but I am told my blood levels are ok so now feeling very confused and still in pain and unwell though, they have found inflammation around the hip joint by way of untra sound scan. Good luck to you – you seem to have have a tough time.

    Posted on December 11, 2011 at 12:51 pm

  • nancy says:

    I had a smith and nephew metal on metal hip resurfacing in May 2008. In the meantime I developed renal cell carcinoma and had my left kidney removed. Shortly after ,my resurfaced hip began to hurt. My left leg and ankle swelled up and felt numb and tingled…went to my surgeon and he took out some joint fluid which should have been yellowy clear and mine was a crimson color….yup, metallosis. My revision is on Dec 30th. He said that with one kidney the metal pieces can’t leave my body quickly enough and they built up and that caused the swollen leg. He says he sees this 3-4 times a week…people with lessened kidney function and metal implants that need revisions….

    Posted on December 17, 2011 at 2:54 am

  • Dawn says:

    I had metal on metal hip resurfacing in January 2007. And after reading all the reports I’m feeling very concerned. I was wondering what my next steps would be, can anyone advise please.

    Posted on January 29, 2012 at 8:18 am

  • Jan, uk says:

    Does anyone suffer with diarrhea, cramps, swollen abdomen in addition to pain in sides? I’m wondering if this is metallosis. Need to get tested fast.

    Posted on January 29, 2012 at 10:04 am

  • carol says:

    I had a hip replacement 7 years ago and have had pain ever since,I dont know what type it was,must have been metal,how do i find out.

    Posted on February 3, 2012 at 4:09 am

  • kathleen says:

    I had a hip replacement 5 yrs ago ,,i recieved a letter from the hospital were i had it done to go have it checked ,so i did ,but it was just a xray,nothing else ,im wondering should i have a blood test too ,,as im experiencing a lot of heavy feeling in my hip now ,,also the xray came back ok i dont know waat sort of hip replacement i had apart from it being a metal on metal one,docs said to have another review in another yr ,but the pain is getting worse now,

    Posted on February 5, 2012 at 8:11 am

  • carol says:

    .to any one whos reading in 209 i had a metal on metal hip replacement a year gone by still getting a lot of pain hospital didnt know what was wrong in 2011 the hip started grinding clicking it was really bad thats when the hosptal told me the lineing of the cup had come out and needing another hip replacement on the 8 i2 2011 it took three hour to and i was told my tissue was completley black i had to stay in bed for two weeks because the pelvis was crack and dislocated when nurses turned me over. a month on and i still feel really fatgued all the time

    Posted on February 5, 2012 at 1:42 pm

  • susie says:

    i had a metal on metal hip replacement 2007, was left with a huge dent that was larger than fist size & showed through my clothes, bupa would not take responsabilty although they admited it was a direct result of surgery. had tpo pay to have it put right although it looks better its still not right . shortly after hip replacement my feet & legs kept burning up then turning black. have told i have a rare condition called erythmagalemia. which is caused by the blood vessels opening to much.wonder if this is a direct cause of hip replacment, there is not much that can be given to help, was prescribed antidepressant for it or asprin? still have terrible groin pain and can feel & hear hip rolling, have burstisis at moment which is really painful..dr has sent me to physio????? get constant abssesses, going to request a blood test. be interesting to know if anybody else has similar symptoms….

    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:15 pm

  • Anne says:

    I would like to reply to Jan of UK. I had a DuPuy metal on metal hip fitted in Feb 2010. Fine for 6 months and when I started to increase my walking it was really painful. I reported this when to my surgeon when recalled and had an x ray, MRI, ultra sound scan and blood tests.
    All were normal except there was a small amount of fluid around the hip.This was at the 1 year stage. I was told that the problem was more likely muscular. I am a fit 61 year old. A year later and I am still getting pain on walking and now at night it has started to ache.
    I do not feel well but not sure if the bloating and diarroeah are anything to do with it. My vision is not good and I am extremely forgetful and feel like I am in a bit of a haze. Who can say.
    But I am now waiting to have a second blood test. I am not happy because when I had this fitted there were already warnings that all was not well with this implant.

    Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:08 pm

  • Susan says:

    I had Dupay metal on metal hips fitted Nov 2007 and May 2008, My Iron levels were high and after having MRI Scan in February 2011 showed fluid around both hips. Started getting groin pains and aching. I have had both replaced one in July 2011 and other January 2012. What a nightmare but getting there yet again. My surgeon was fantastic and has been a great support to me.
    Anne you need to get you hip removed and get rid of the Metal on Metal.
    I have now had ceramic fitted. I was getting a taste of metal in my mouth which is still there but not as bad.

    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:35 pm

  • marilyn says:

    I had a Dupay Pinnacle replacement in 2005. I suffered fracture in 2006 but was told it was not due to replacement. My hip creaks and has since the beginning but the doctor said the exray looks good, I am also having great pain in my shoulder. My hip was replaced due to infection…a septic joint, so I do not have arthritis. I also began about a year after the implant, to have severe itching on one arm…derm. said sounds nerve related…could this have anything to do with metal in blook?

    Posted on April 15, 2012 at 9:51 am

  • Eileen says:

    I had a hip resurfacing done 2/6/09. It went very well, I am 65 and extremely active, yoga, tennis almost everyday, hiking. I have had 2 chromium and cobalt tests, the first showed it being in the high 20″s and 6 months later it is in the high 40″s. I feel good and my hip feels good and my yearly blood test showed, healthy. It is so hard to have the hip redone when it is working so well. Isn’t there anyway to remove the metals from your body, without the removal of the implant?

    Posted on April 21, 2012 at 11:21 am

  • ann says:

    I have asr hip put in 5 years ago both xray and mri say it is ok although I have constant pain on walking. I have lymph gland blockage in both legs and i am sure it is down to metal debris but doc says my metal ions are below gov guidelines cobalt is 33 is he right ps he says he will take it out and put a new one in if I want which I find strange if nothing wrong with it why is he willing to do revision

    Posted on May 2, 2012 at 6:39 pm

  • Joe says:

    I had Two Zimmer implants done in August and November of 2010. Since the First hip, I have had Many Health Problems that No-One seem to be able to solve. I went to several doctors and they had No Clue what was wrong with me, then in march, I read an article online about MoM hips, in the 5 minutes it took me to read it, All my questions were answered. I then called my surgeon for a blood test and he had No Idea, he had to look up what blood test I would need and set it up. I went and got tested for Cobalt and Chromium, The Cobalt was 2.4 and the Chromium was at 1.7. When I went to see him, he told me that my levels weren’t that High. He Practically Shoved me out the door and told me to call Mayo clinic on my own. Since my First THR I’ve had Almost All of the signs of Metallosis. I Recently had a second opinion and he sent me for an ultrasound, Currently I’m waiting on the results. I Pray Everyday that someone will Help me…

    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 4:11 pm

  • Barb says:

    I have a bilateral DePuy Pinnacle hip replacements. I had one revision which has been a nightmare. I’m in pain worse then I was before I had any hip replacement. The doctor that did the revision had an obgyn assist him and also a DePuy rep in the or without my consent. I am NOT happy with all of this. I was not made aware of any risk factors before any of my hips were replaced. I do have high levels of metal in my blood too.

    Posted on May 15, 2012 at 3:37 pm

  • Mike says:

    In the UK my wife is about to have a revision to her Birmingham hip – not a DePuy. She had the first hip replaced in 2004 and due to psuedo tumours around the joint found by ultrasound she is to have this joint replaced. Her Cobalt levels were 1357.9 and her chrome level 1325.5. These readings are approx 10 times higher than the max acceptable range of up to 96. Her other hip has been replaced 3 times, on the last one 18 months ago they replaced the head with a smaller ball and put a plastic liner in the cup. At this revision large amounts of dead tissue around the joint were removed and we expect this one to be the similar. Our concern is the long term effect of these high levels of metal in the blood to the other organs. It affects other makes as well and there does not appear to be the same litigation available to these other makes – or is there?

    Posted on June 6, 2012 at 12:45 pm

  • susan says:

    Reading these stories was very helpful!!
    Cobalt and chromium poisoning by hip replacement is recent and spans about six years. Is that right? Maybe we could help, by tracking our deterioration, since we are already, unwittingly, guinea pigs. Not ‘collaborating’ with DePuy and Johnson and Johnson was a really good suggestion. So is getting an MRI.
    There is also a problem in that nobody uses the same way to measure Cobalt and Chromium levels in blood serum

    Posted on June 11, 2012 at 10:51 pm

  • Steve says:

    I had hip replacement surgery 10 weeks ago. For the past 7 weeks I have had constant headaches, nausea and fatigue. I feel like I’m in a fog. Has anyone else had these symptoms?

    Posted on July 3, 2012 at 12:11 am

  • sue says:

    I sympathise with everyone on here who is or has gone through so much pain, I had a full hip replacement 5 years ago, thought great finally better quality of life, told it was going to last 15 years, after 4 years the metal joint corroded and i was in so much pain, i then went and had a revision, two years on i am still in alot of pain, have to walk with a walking stick, i have never had any blood tests and any xrays except one straight after op, it has took my solicitor to tell me to go to doctors and demand xrays and blood tests, i am really worried

    Posted on July 7, 2012 at 4:37 pm

  • Debbie says:

    Hi to everyone on here, my heart goes out to all.I am from QLD I had a full hip replacement 5 years ago, I am 53 now. I thought at last I finally will have better quality of life,I was told it was going to last 15 years or maybe 20 yrs. If I didn’t have the op in Sept 2007 my doc said I would be in a wheel chair by December. In the last 6 months I have had chronic pain in my hip, groin and knee, I use to be able to do my shoe laces up and put my shoes on finally but now I can’t bend enough to put my left sock, shoe on or do laces up. I have to walk up stairs holding onto a bannister and all my muscles are so tight, I get blur vision and sometimes the ground feels like it is moving, I feel nausea and contiued headaches. I have had my x ray and blood test and was told today they have confirmed I have Cobalt and the Chromium
    I do not know how much yet, they have to make an appointment with me within the next week and I will find out all then. Please keep me in touch with all your progress.

    Posted on July 20, 2012 at 9:17 am

  • michael says:

    my name is mick from burnley lancashire uk recently been t suffering symptoms of metallosis though unconfirmed as yet awaiting results of blood test feel like doctors and hospital are holding out on me any one else experiance this

    Posted on July 26, 2012 at 12:04 pm

  • Tate says:

    Greeting fellow lab rats. I am one who received the now newly recalled Stryker Hip replacement 2010, At age 45. I was informed that Karate and my constant pivoting in my career sped up this hip replacement need by many years. Hip replacements are supposed to be easy to recover from and duration from the latest and greatest approx 20 years of usage. I knew things weren’t right soon after surgery. Clicking …Periods of improvement followed by set backs etc… This is what you all need to know.
    1. Self advocate: If your doctor won’t listen find one who will that still has a good reputation.
    2. More than X-Rays are a must. Get blood work labs and a compression MRI. These 2 tell the real story. I went in 4 or 5 times in my 2 yrs with my concern and each time they took x-rays. The x-rays showed that every thing looked great, my symptoms although unfortunate not uncommon and will improve with time…After the lab work and MRI, I am now set for revision surgery in August(1 month from results being know..They are concerned the sooner the better people) and my doctor is now an advocate to get things fixed.
    3.Metal in blood: My Doctor stated the first thing is to get the problem removed so the metal count in the blood isn’t still being added to. what is already there? The kidneys should remove much of it with-in 6 to 12 months after surgery. However, he said long term implications are unknown at this time. So after my surgery I will still look at something to assist to clean my blood…be it a transfusion, dialysis, certain blood injection (name/ process escapes me) designed to attract metal and help remove it from the system…even herbs should be taken seriously(I’m talking them now) such at milk thistle (liver improvement) Green powder(spirulina based) drinks for in health stores good for kidney function, liver and blood health. etc…Just do something.
    4. Revision will be more painful and a much longer recovery. estimated 4 weeks on crunches/ walker as apposed to 1 to 2 weeks for first operation.
    5. Legal Representation: (A)You can join a class action suit such as you see on TV or Wed ads (easiest to do but usually you have no say in process or results. and you have no idea what they will take from it)
    (B) Get a good local laywer..more work on your part but more say and usually better compensation…Your doctor may even know of local firms that have several like clients.
    (C) Inform your hip manufacture of the problem ( creates a record or paper trail so to speak0…but get legal advice before agreeing to anything!
    6. Start logging your history. Please take the time to go back and make clear records symptoms and find any records of your doctor visits.

    I hope this is helpful the advise is based on what my doctor said, a nurse friend has learned and extensive internet research. If you know more or feel something is in error above…please make note of it here for the rest of us. We are all in this together.

    PS. the vultures; (The bad lawyers, physicians, which doctors..etc are on the prowl looking for us) theylive off our fears…So don’t panic, do your research, and have a plan of action…Like Treebeard stated in the movie Lord of the rings..”Don’t be hasty”

    Posted on July 30, 2012 at 1:14 pm

  • Mary says:

    I had a THR in 1995…when I was 43 years old. After seventeen years I am experiencing pain in the hip. Does it need to be revised and after 17 years….am I likely to be ill from the metal on metal filings?

    Posted on August 6, 2012 at 11:07 am

  • Merri says:

    I am U.S. citizen, had first DuPuy hip replacement in Dec. 2010, second one Stryker in Jan 2012. I have been on heavy meds which I am going off of gradually. I have had nearly every symptom you all have talked about. Biggest concern was loss of memory. Now I have a “Rash” which Dermotologist, Internist, and Infectious Disease Doc’s cannot put a name to. I have had high metal scores, but none outrageous. I cannot find a Doc who knows what this looks like. If anyone can describe it, pls do so. If pics can be put here, it would be terrific.

    Posted on August 8, 2012 at 6:05 pm

  • Mike says:

    I am a 54 year old male and had a left total hip replacement done in 2006 and my right the following year. They are both Biomet metal on metal. I started having severe naseau, cramps, vision problems, headaches, pain in both legs that radiates from hip down to knees, fatigue, and problems with becoming severly out of breath real fast when doing any type of labor or mearly even walking. I first started noticing some of these symptoms 3-4 years ago and the breathlessnes the past year. After seeing Depuy commercials on TV I had thought maybe it was time to begin to find out what and the world is going on, so I blood tests done and found that the Cobalt level in my systm was 104 mcg L and the Chromium 108.8 ! Gee I’m being poisoned from a companies negligence of testing what would happen several years after sticking these MoM Hips inside of people. Any Cobalt level of 5 mcg/L is considered Toxic and mine is 104! I guess I should be nearly dead with levels I have? My Dr. is scheduling tests for me to see what has been affected. Please , if you have had any Metal on Metal Hip replacenents get your Dr. to write an order for blood tests for Cobalt and Chromium levels. Good luck to all, God Bless.

    Posted on August 11, 2012 at 3:21 pm

  • Lori says:

    I had the DePuy hip implant 4 yrs ago and have had my blood checked for the colbalt/chromium and i am at 1.2 which I understand is okay…I now have been going for therapy asmy groin/hip is painful…what should iI do as I have heard the replacement operation is very difficult with recovery ? I don’t know if another dr. will do the operation as the original doctor is arrogant and too “godly”…

    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 10:28 am

  • michael says:

    had.,asr full hip replacement 2005 now suffering what i think are symptoms of metallosis hip pain,numbness in my groin,buttocks,feet,also secreting fluid from my stomach,bloated cramps etc.and many other symptoms dermititis included would like to hear your stories.

    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:29 pm

  • Anthony says:

    I had right hip replacment in may 2010 and started itching and having pain 7 months later and was told by my Dr. that I was having a reaction to the metal and needed a revision. I had revision in feb 2011 and started itching again in dec 2011 and am still itching and having some pain in hip…Has anyone else experienced itching after hip replacement I have no had blood test but am going to check into it. I have been to an alergist and dermatologist and the only thing they determined was I had a reaction to nickle…which is what first hip had in it…my hip is a Biomed…any help would be appreciated…thanks to everyone who has commented here it has been big help

    Posted on September 18, 2012 at 9:40 pm

  • sandra says:

    in 2009 i had a stryker hip replacement at 47– when i woke up from the surgery i told my doctor something was wrong;;i felt like i had come only half way out of the antestesia (msp) i felt like i had a stroke;;it has become somewhat better but i am still very lightheaded all the time;;i also had nausea all the time;;i read another person said they had a big caved in area where the hip was implanted;;me too. i had to go to a nursing home for a month where i was dragging my leg and it felt like a brick;;the pt staff said they sure did a job on you;;we’ll i am now disabled and had to have extensive back surgery also;; i noticed that i have pain in hip area and buttocks area like sciatic nerve and am now having groin pain again and severe charlie horse like muscle spasms going from my groin to my feet something like ms symptoms;;did any one else have severe lightheadedness that has lasted three years now;;also i heard about the metal toxicity and am going to my dr. to see if he will test me;;could use any feedback;;i also developed diabetes ;2 thanks and God Bless

    Posted on September 20, 2012 at 3:58 pm

  • Joanne says:

    Several months after I had a THR with DePuy parts (Pinnacle/Summit combination), my doctor put me on a potassium supplement. Later, she doubled the prescription. Eventually, the level was increased to triple the original prescription. I began to suspect that I might be having issues with high metal levels. She did order Cr and Co testing. I had found some information that Cr might interfere with K absorption, so I asked if I should stay off the K for a time before the test. She said that I should stay on all of my supplements, especially the K. Later, I found some information that supplements should be avoided before testing for Cr. Does anyone have any information that K specifically be avoided before testing for Cr? I think it is possible that Cr from the implant may be causing hypokalemia.

    Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:35 pm

  • Joanne says:

    I’ve noticed a lot of the symptoms different individuals have been mentioning. Many of them are symptoms of different deficiencies, including potassium deficiency (hypokalemia). It might be wise to be tested for deficiencies. Supplements might help relieve the symptoms, but if the deficiencies are the result of cobalt or chromium toxicity, the supplements cannot cure the problem.

    Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:43 pm

  • Sommer says:

    My father just had a hip replacement in July 2012, within two weeks he started having all kinds of complications, the doctor who did the surgery knew something was wrong the day he last evaluated him when he took his staples out and viewed the xrays, he told dad to go home and do no more therapy, and to take it easy. Within, hours my father was rushed to the ER, and flown to the closest larger Medical Center, where he spent 13 days, he had a potassium deficiency, iron deficiency, swelling, chroic pain, renal faliure, and many more complications. He came home for 3 days, then WINGS flew him back to the same medical center this time he spent 12 days, as complications but worse, it was like he was a test rat, his veins were beinging to collaspe because of all the blood drawn and testing done….then he came home for 4 days, before he was sent to a different facility for 4 days, when I picked him up this time he looked much better, seemed like things were looking up. He was home for a week, when things got worse again, went back to the last medical center, the toxicity from the metal had really took a toll. We begged and begged everytime, to take the hip out, it’s the hip, he was perfectly healthy 56 year old male, they thought we were crazy. Until, in fact it was the hip, and by then it was too late, they tried putting him on a vent to give him some more time so maybe they could take the hip out, within 24 hours after the vent went in, my father was on full blown life support and all major organs had shut down….end result, my father died, and shouldn’t have, he had his surgery on July 3rd, 2012 and passed away on Sept.7th, 2012….now my 9 month old little girl will never know one of her grandfathers because of the medical profession…there will be a lawsuit filed once I have all the documents I need to proceed

    Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:55 pm

  • Tina says:

    I had the Stryker implant in 2011. My cobalt level is 9.0 and my chromium is 1.0. I have discomfort in my thigh area but I force myself to get around. I am constantly tired, my blood pressure is high now and I have constant headaches. I was told I will need to get the hip replaced. I trust my doctor to do the right thing by me. I dread going through this procedure again but hopefully the outcome will be a success. I never liked the idea of having something foreign in my body and now I know why. I am a 50 year old woman but I feel like I am 100

    Posted on October 4, 2012 at 8:48 am

  • Vickie says:

    I had a hip replacement in March 2012. In May and in October I had grand mal seizures. I am going to have tests done to determine if I have metal poisoning from the implant. I am only 40 and have no history of seizures..

    Posted on October 8, 2012 at 11:54 am

  • Gaby says:

    I had a hip replacement in Aug 2010, anterior method, metal on plastic (not MOM). Seem to have all the symptoms of metal poisoning, including severe pain, loss of appetite, other joint paint, headaches, trouble breathing, declining kidney function.vision impairment, etc. Was in excellent shape before implant. So far only allergy testing has been done (shows high sensitivity to cobalt and nickel).
    This is destroying my life. I can no longer think clearly and will have to stop working if no solution can be found. Doctors rules out infection and other stuff, but every day pain keeps getting worse. Lawsuits are all about the MOM hips, but I do see reports of similar issues with metal on plastic hips. Why is testing for metal allergies not REQUIRED before any metal implants by the FDA?

    Posted on October 16, 2012 at 1:38 am

  • Ingrid says:

    I had both hips done in 2008 both are metal on metal was recalled back had my blood done metal levels 27 chromium is 52.have pain in both hips burning feeling now have breathing problems always tired in constent pain wee for england headace cant sleep legs swell ever now and then pain in my groin .Just want pain to stop went back clinc today and they want me to have mri scan to do with the levels and see if the pain caused by the metal they also found fluid in my right hip.iam also now on inhalers only since feb this year.its very worrying i think

    Posted on October 16, 2012 at 3:34 pm

  • Steve says:

    Within 2 years I have had to have a hip resurfacing and hip replacement both on the same hip due to pain and lack of mobility. Now I am looking at a 3rd due to high levels of Cobalt, Chromium, and Creatinine. It is so high, that as a regular blood donor of rare O Negative blood, the Canadian Blood Service no longer wants my blood due to my metal levels, so I can no longer help those in need of blood. So now it hurts at so many levels and it is now hurting others as well. FYI

    Posted on October 17, 2012 at 5:48 pm

  • Shari says:

    I’ve had back issues most of my life . . . scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, sciatic pain. Was finally diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis as well at 58 years of age. Hip pain started early in my teenage years . . finally needing to be replaced at age 58. After one year of intense pain, I was so happy with my new hip. 4 years later I was still happy with it. But little did I know that nerve pain medication I was taking for my spine was “masking” the developing nerve pain in my hip and right leg. Skipped doses of the medications finally revealed the true condition of my metal-on-metal hip.

    I was finally called in by the orthopedic surgeon’s office to come in for X-rays and blood tests for chromium and cobalt. The X-rays showed a well-positioned hip replacement with “no problems”. Labs tests for metal showed normal chromium levels but High Cobalt levels.

    I had had other health issues that were out of the ordinary for me for the previous 7 months. I had experienced a “chest pain” episode that felt like a heart attack. The chest pain never completely went away. I felt it on a daily basis along with left arm pain. EKG’s and echocardiograms given 4-6 weeks later could not definitively say what had happened or was still going on. One test showed some apparently temporary problem with one of the chambers of the heart. CK and AST levels rose way above normal indicating possible heart muscle or liver damage.

    7 months after the original episode, my primary care doctor diagnosed me as having a form of CARDIOMYOPATHY. A beta blocker was prescribed and relieved my ongoing symptoms.

    I also started losing lots of weight, and could not jump start my normally good appetite. I started wondering what effect high levels of Cobalt was having on my body. I found out that even with farm animals who get excessive levels of cobalt in their feed, appetite suppression, excessive weight loss, lethargy, and muscle-wasting are common occurances.

    Further research from scientific studies showed that very specifically high cobalt levels in humans can result in heart muscle and liver damage as evidenced by very high CK and AST levels.

    My high cobalt levels are about 1/2 the “industry standards” for determining a hip revision surgery. But I know and experience daily the negative efforts my high Cobalt levels have had and continue to have on my body. We all react differently to increased levels of toxicity. We are each individual human beings with unique physiologies and accompanying medical conditions. “Industry Standards” do not address the pain and suffering individual human beings have and are enduring due to these defective metal-on-metal hips and toxic levels of cobalt, chromium and perhaps other metals in their bodies.

    After reading all your stories, I feel that, up to this point in time, I am one of the “lucky” ones. My heart and prayers are with ALL of you and with your families.

    Posted on October 17, 2012 at 7:28 pm

  • Carol says:

    I just had my check up for my hip. Surgery was September 2008. I do not have pain but it does hurt after I walk for awhile. Nothing was said to me about a blood test. In fact, my surgeon did mention the words cobalt and chromium but did not request a blood test. I will call tomorrow for a script for a blood test. I was unaware until now that there could be a problem with metal levels in my blood. I am single and really do not know who to talk to about this. II the surgeon will not order a blood test for me I will ask the doctor who takes car of my RA because I do get a blood test every 3 months. God bless everyone. Prayers will be said for all. If my blood tests come back bad I will let you know.

    Posted on October 21, 2012 at 9:45 am

  • cathy says:

    I had hip surgery may 2 2005 had pain on side of leg was told it was bursitis.they gave me cortisone shots i was put on arthritis medicine several times helped with some of the pain for about three months and they would try something different. i had heard about some of the recalls and ask my hip doctor if i had any of them was told no. i hurt so bad went to my family doctor he was giving me pain pills, i also tried massage and acupuncture nothing helped,the more i would walk the more it would hurt. then it started popping high pitch whistling sound was limping really bad,my family doctor sent me to a different orthopedic doctor he done x-rays and blood work that my other doctor had not done,had high levels of metal in my body,had revised surgery on april 2 2012 still have pain metal levels have gone down but still a little high.have had thyroid problems the muscles in my heart don’t wont to relax i take medicine for them heart rate really fast, have also had cyst on right ovary removed, mass of tissue removed on stomach,and a hernia repaired,also had back surgery three times,two before my first hip replacement and fusion after it.I feel tired all the time have no energy,have gained weight.Some times the leg hurts when i touch it very lightly, it swells feels heavy and numbness in leg and butt this is all on the right side.I had a wright socket and ball and zimmer stem .My doctor left the stem in said it looked good but if not better after a year will replace it to.Just cant believe i have had all this happen i am just 49 have always been active and worked and then when i turned 40 i went down hill so tired of being in pain all the time, any one have any advice for me that might help.I also don’t no what will happen later on down the road, will i have more problems that will pop up,i just hope we all will have answers soon.

    Posted on October 31, 2012 at 2:47 am

  • Lonnie says:

    I had a bilateral pinnacle hip replacement done when I was 46, I am 50 now and have been tested and have elevated levels of cobalt and chromium in my blood. I am part of a lawsuit and am wondering if I will live to see it go to court. My hips are killing me, I can’t work have had to apply for disability just to make ends meet. I’m only 50 no insurance because I can’t work so no doctors will see me. All my joints hurt ,trouble walking and get confused and lose my train of thought very easily now. Burning sensations in both legs, and now I even get swelling.g in my wrists and my elbows hurt. I was told by the one doctor I saw that I most likely have Metalosis. I have an 19 year old boy I would love to play ball with and thanks to Johnson and johnson and Depuy, I will probably never get to do it again… Depressed on no meds and just wonder what my future holds. Good luck to all who are dealing with this mess and god bless…

    Posted on November 16, 2012 at 1:02 am

  • Maureen says:

    The burning in my thighs makes me writhe in pain and pain in my legs makes me cry. Surgery should have made me better. I have has both hips and both knees replaced and a second pacemaker installed. I get very hot several times a day with no fever, sweat, nausea, hip and back pain. Lots of confusion and I can’t remember what I plan to say sometimes or where things are. I get scared. I’ve recently has cataracts removed and see better, but recently it seems fuzzy again. I do not know the kind of hip replacement, etc., I have. I was given a steroid shot in hip and back but have worn off now. It was planned for another one, but this thing about the meningitis came up and I am waiting on that. The groin and right hip, the burning and back pain are keeping me incapacitated most of the time. Oh, and the splotches on my back are of concerned, itch and a skin disease doctor has taken a biopsy. These things are growing and I have an itchy rash on both shins from the ankle to the knee.

    Posted on December 6, 2012 at 3:46 am

  • Kelly says:

    Maureen….I can feel your pain and frustration. Your memory issues, vision problems can be caused from the cobalt and chromium deposits in your blood. I’m 51 had a L knee replaced in 2005, R hip 6/2006. Knee is doing fantatic hip has NEVER EVER been right. So I’ve had 3 DX tests done in the past month to try and troubleshoot this darn hip, extensive Ultra Sound, blood work specific to inflammation and metal deposits and a MRI. So far all tests are positive for the Metal-On-Metal mess. Here is another tidbit… The COBALT AND CHROMIUM CROSS THE BLOOD-BRAIN barrier. Please get answers and don’t stop until you do!! Your surgeon should have given you a card with make-model-surgeons name and date of
    implant.

    Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:02 am

  • Cheryl says:

    I had the DePuy ASR total hip replacement in November 2007. I was 55. Everything has been fine. All X-rays show the hip looking good. I get a little achy once in a while, but nothing horrible. Then I was asked to be a part of a Yale University research study on the DePuy hip. Xrays still look good, but for the first time they did the blood work too. Normal range for cobalt for most people is below 1.9, I am at 13.8. Chromium levels should be below 1.3. I am at 5.7. I will be 60 this year and they just called me with the blood test results so I am a little panicky right now. All of these stories are horrible and not the way I wanted to spend the last years of my life. Scared silly right now.

    Posted on January 14, 2013 at 8:15 pm

  • Tina says:

    I had a stryker trident… Alumina on alumina replacement in Jan 2008 at age 40, with osteotomy due to deformed femur. Born with late diagnosed left hip dysplasia. I’ve had neurological problems for the last 4 years. Started 1 year after onset, I’ve read of people having problems with metal stem and liner backing. I have been to numerous neurologists, get B12 jabs, and infectious disease consultant for lyme test, have regular cortisone jabs in back too…. I had always thought these problems could only happen with MOM until I did a bit more research. I’m going to see my Consultant next week. He has always been very good, He will hopefully do some blood tests. I can’t say I’ve had major hip pain, just the norm for me really, though pain consultant thought a bursitis cos I can’t lie on side. I have regular nerve root jabs. They help hip and back. It’s never been perfect all my life. The neurological stuff has everyone stumped. Twitching, spasms, blurred vision, slurred speech, shooting pains, severe fatigue, arythmias, chest pain, legs like iron etc… It’s driven me to insanity because I know it’s not normal and no one can find anything, all I can do is take nerve tablets. I’ve dropped hours at work and if they hadn’t let me work from home I’d probably have stopped working. Anyone with similar symptoms and not a MOM implant? I think I will be relieved if metal levels are raised as I will have an answer at last, on the other hand I’m dreading what needs doing to resolve it!

    Posted on January 21, 2013 at 3:43 pm

  • Joanne says:

    My potassium supplement was just raised to 4 per day. Before the THA, I wasn’t on a K supplement. Now I take 4 prescription tablets per day.

    Posted on February 9, 2013 at 12:20 am

  • Clare says:

    I had a Zimmer Durom left hip resurfacing in January 2010. It lasted all of 18 months and following a real push to have my ions tested my results were excessively high (cobalt 196 ug/ls and chromium 157 ug/ls) and I had a revision within weeks. I was in fact fairly pain free but my leg clunked,felt week and was dysfunctional and I was getting very breathless on exertion.My vision deteriorated and I was very irritable and tearful. People have to realise that all MOM components are risky if implanted into the wrong patient.Implantation has to near perfect and Surgeons have to take some responsibility for this scandal. Surgeons make a choice on the patient’s behalf.It is their business to know ALL of the latest research and cannot blame procurement for these components being on the shelves .

    Posted on February 12, 2013 at 2:32 pm

  • nan says:

    My heart goes out to all of you. I can relate to almost everyone posted here. I had bilateral hip replacements in 2009 – Pinnacle-Johnson and Johnson. My chromium and cobalt levels were high- but not too far over the normal limits. I have experienced so many symptoms— diarrhea- weight loss- headaches- dizziness – fatty pancress – cardiac effusion- etc.
    I decided to get both hips revised and found an excellent surgeon in Orlando FL. I just was so afraid of the long term consequences of heavy metal poisoning that revision surgery seemed like the only option. Right now I have had one revised and will have the other one done in three weeks. The surgery and recovery have not been that bad and I am glad I am having these metals taken out.
    I am in litigation against DePuy.
    The stress has been over the top in dealing with all this.
    My prayers go out to all of you.

    Posted on February 18, 2013 at 9:53 am

  • Patricia says:

    Feb, 2010 I had right hip replacment surgery……… after a few months, noticed severe rash and itching, year of seeing Dematoligist, cortizone shots………… nothing helped. finally I saw a alergist, tested for all alergies, only COLBALT AND NICHOL showed up. asked about surgeries, I thought mine was Titanium. NO COLBALT…….. ALSO DENTAL PARTIAL BAR HAS COLBALT. Had that removed, . finally after two years of comstant rashes and itching, allover my body, several creams , Predizone meds, nothing helped, orginal orthopedic dr .said to have the hip replaced…………. said he never heard of any problems, also DePuy rep, had not heard of problems……. Dec 20, 2012 had rvision surgery, itching stopped in a week or two. finally can rest and sleep…………. Also all the cortizone a nd ;redizone meds caused me severe breathin prjoblems. was iin hospital, heart cath, foound all well, reading the information pjhamplet with med, says can cause breathing problems. stopped that and much better now…….
    thinking of seeing a lawyer after hearingof metal on metal law suits……

    Posted on February 20, 2013 at 10:18 am

  • Marshall says:

    I started over a year ago when i noticed a black spot in my left eye while watching tv. I have gone to five optomologist nothing wrong with my eyes, I kept asking are you sure it’s not my Biomet Magnum hip replacement which i had put in 2008.after many many test MRI, bone density test, neurologist(brain) specialist, our family physician upon our request FINALLY tested chromium and colbalt levels guess what they were elevated. Jan 2013 had hip revision surgery and the surgeon could not get the implement apart to take and replace with plastic, after 1.5 hr of pounding the hell out me, so here i am back to square one, the worse of all I am going blind, i can not see through my central vision, only preferal vision which is not much at all, I can take pain of any kind but try to loose your vision Is hard to deal with, we just went to a toxicologist and they said there is nothing we can do and are not sure its metallosis that is causing your vision to go. Wonderful. just wondering if any of you patients have vision loss such as mine? We have a law suit in process but with my luck, they will find some reason that I do not have medical evidence!

    Posted on March 7, 2013 at 2:00 pm

  • Robin says:

    I have had the revisions from the Sulzer fiasco, last in 2000. After reading these other notes, it is as if I write them. I have been piling up symptoms of pain, nausea, vertigo, bursitis type pain, bladder issues, falling, and to top it off. My nervous system started shutting down from sleep deprivation! Also, vision requires glasses, thyroid meds change, breathing issues and temperature regulation issues. Anyone have profuse sweating, ESP head and face, with minimal exertion! I agree with the person who said to track our symptoms, get the lab work, and get a good attorney.

    Posted on March 16, 2013 at 12:14 am

  • Kay says:

    All the above information sounds so familiar. Had a left hip resurfacing in 2006. Then had a resurfacing on right hip in Sept. 2010. A month later it fractured and had a Wright metal on metal put in. Started having pain in right hip in 2012 with a lot of noise when walking. My doctor said nothing was wrong after he took an x-ray. Pain continued to get worse and now can hardly walk without terrible pain. Finally found another dr. who did MRI and metal testing. Confirmed I had metal fragments from my hip. Cobalt test was 35 and Cromium was 175. Am scheduled for an aspiration of the hip next month with replacement scheduled in May. The left hip is now starting to hurt I think because I have been favoring the other hip. I have had light headaches and metal taste in my mouth and light diarahea. Sure hope the surgery relieves the pain but have heard so many stories I just don’t know.

    Posted on March 17, 2013 at 6:04 pm

  • Lynne says:

    I received Stryker MitchhowMedica (J&J) metal on metal bilateral THJR in NZ 2007. Got my life back…for a few years into 2009 then I started with metal taste in my mouth, very loose bowels, blistering headaches, my world lost colour, I got very loud tinnitus and a hearing aid for my left ear. My urine stained the bowl requiring toilet cleaning daily, it almost looked like it was black sheen to it. I lost my mind, my daughters and myself were considering I had early dementia. I lost teaching jobs as I couldn’t string 2 words together let alone 2 thoughts, I lost my business, and had to step down from service rolls as our association treasurer and registrar again as nothing made sense. I didn’t have a lot of pain compared to life pre hip replacement. The recall in April 2012 saw perfect ex rays, but ultra sound showed bulging effusion in one hip and metal levels of nearly 400 nml/l. Revision of symptomatic hip saw levels drop to 100 after 2 months. 7 weeks later I stared dislocating. 4 months later re revision but still the joint is unstable. Waiting to get the other hip revised and the original stable enough to have this done. With 8 months relying on the other hip it is now totally painful. We have a health system that doesn’t allow us to sue, and a government who doesn’t acknowledge the problem. I live on govt support of $250/ week. good luck you all

    Posted on March 27, 2013 at 6:17 am

  • Barbara says:

    I had an accident and broke my left femur. The orthopedic surgeon threatened to throw me out of the hospital if I did not have the THR he thought I should have when I simply tried to ask him about my options. This was in December 2012. Now 4 months later I itch like crazy am not taking any meds at all no pain killers I had a Biomet replacement Sometimes I get extremely hot – worse than any hot flashes. One day I felt like some type of fluid was dripping over the left side of my head and I touched my head but it was not wet so it must have been an internal sensation caused by what I dont know All the orthopedic assistant wants to do – I have never seen the surgeon again – is for it to be a success and ignores my questions and comments about itching and burning and has never once mentioned metal poisoning which I just found out about from this page Thank you ALL They only take Xrays every other time and always say it is fine. I fell something is wrong bc common sense I did not have these sensations BEFORE this surgery. I think they said that the metal was titanium but it may be a combination. The doctors office refused to release my medical records to a government agency I was attempting to get help from (disability) and have refused to give them to me too. Something is wrong – very wrong I know it is. So far I have been able to walk but if I walk very far (I have been walking a mile to work) my leg hurts. I am a massage therapist and felt that it would be next to impossible to go back to that occupation and even asked the doctor but they were not very specific about restrictions and one of the main things they said was just do activities as tolerated. I can see I am in for trouble in the future and God help all of us. So many of your stories are so much worse than mine and I feel for all of you. I will heed to advice I have heard. I dont think there are any materials for hip replacement that are really perfected. I am not even sure I had to have a total hip replacement. My friends husband went to a fantastic orthopedic surgeon and I am going to go to him for a second opinion. Yes after reading all of this sharing today I know the right thing to do is to go o to that other doctor and get a second opinion now before things get worse. I fear being out somewhere or even in the middle of a massage and my leg just buckling or collapsing on me or going into severe pain.

    Posted on March 27, 2013 at 7:15 pm

  • Rich H. says:

    March 29, 5:00 am. I am a 56 year old male that had a smith and nephews hip resurfacing done in Feb. 2011. It failed immediately and had to wait for a smith and nephews total hip replacement in August 2011. I have had chronic hip pain [right hip] since day one that many sessions of therapy only seem to make worse. My leg is now 5/8 of an inch too short and have to have my right shoe lifted. I have severe chronic pain in my groin and my kidneys ache all the time. I have requested the blood tests for chromium and cobalt levels but I’m getting stonewalled by my very arrorgant “GOD” like orthopedic surgeon. I suffer from tremors, a constant pounding heart, sleeplessness and night sweats now. I live on pain killers which I hate and they don’t help. I walk in pain and with a limp. The implant constantly clicks, pops and squeaks very loudly. Other people look at me funny when I walk by because the implant makes so much noise and I can’t stand the vibration sensations from it. I am very scared. I am in the beginning stages of developing a patient attorney relationship. I just found out that my model of smith and nephews implant has been recalled. Right now, my only recourse is to pray to GOD I survive this .My best wishes to all of you out there that are going thru the same thing that all will turn out ok for you. EVERYONE should get yourselves a good team of attorneys.

    Posted on March 30, 2013 at 6:31 am

  • J a lock. Frm uk says:

    I’m a 51 yr old female, I had a bi lateral hip replacements 2007, a few weeks ago I was asked to go to hospital for what I thought was a check up, only to be told my metal on metal hips are being recalled, I sat there for a while, oh ok what dose that mean I said very puzzled.
    Well so far I’ve had blood tests and a x.ray and I’m waiting for a scan, my hips have always been painful and I get very painful back pain , also my scares have always been tender, my heart dose go into a gallop from time to time and I suffer from tiredness, is this what others are suffering from? It’s a very scary time.

    Posted on April 25, 2013 at 1:27 pm

  • Melissa says:

    I had my right THR in July 2012 and a right THR in December 2012. I am trying to find out what prostheses were used. I had few problems with the right hip. Not so with left hip. When staples were removed I developed a huge seroma on anterior incision the size of a grapefruit. Otherwise I was improving as expected. After 2 months I developed intense pain and have been getting progressively worse the past 2.5 months. Bone scan inconclusive but loosening could not be ruled out. Now the seroma has gradually spread out throughout my thigh. That is just too odd. Has anyone else had a seroma complication. Anyway, the tissue in thigh is significantly swollen, intensely painful to touch and the psoas is tight. I started PT which feels good but no improvement and she also believes that something is wrong. There are just so many problems. My surgeon is not taking this as seriously as he should. I am getting a 2nd opinion soon.
    I just found out about the metal toxicity and am trying to educate myself. It is really scary. Do problems often show up right away? If I had metal toxicity, should that have appeared on the bone scan? I hope to have an MRI soon to find out what the swelling is about.
    I was happy to read shared comments and no longer feel completely alone. Has anyone had a similar experience?

    Posted on May 2, 2013 at 1:36 pm

  • Dawn says:

    After I became bedridden in 2009 and after getting brand-new doctors because the old ones could not or would not and did not diagnose me properly I was finally given extensive x-rays and MRIs which led to the conclusion that I had avascular necrosis in both hips at the same time which medically is very very rare. It was like winning the lottery Only with a very bad thing. April 24, 2009 and July 15, 2009 both hips were replaced with depuy pinnacle replacements. I never did get off the pain pills. But was great for the first year. Then I had an ache in both legs where the scars are which kept me taking pain pills. In April 2012 I was sitting at my desk at work and up popped a random article on the hip replacement recall situation. I was shocked and stunned. I called my surgeon and my surgeon said I did not have the one that was recalled and I had great relief until I talk to somebody on my floor where I work that is a lawyer and he had tons of information about cobalt chromium poisoning and the whole hip replacement things in general. He gave me a list of things to ask my surgeon and when I did that he told me I had to get to the doctor ASAP and get a blood test for cobalt and chromium. I did that and my levels are high. And then went to my internist and gave him a copy of the blood test and he could only shake his head and say I am so sorry. My surgeon denied there was anything wrong with me he told me my problem was my back until an MRI proved that to be a lie. Fast forward to August 14, 2012 and then again February 19, 2013 the hips were one more time replaced this time with plastic. I live in the Los Angeles area and I have one hell of an attorney. I have been to hell and back and even after three months after the second surgery now my metal levels are still high and we don’t know why. You have to be your own advocate people because your doctors are not going to help you out with this. But I guarantee a good lawyer will. There is no excuse for any of this and I feel all of your pain because I have it too. If you know someone who has had a hip replacement ask them if they know what kind they have and if they have metal on metal tell them to get to a doctor immediately to get the blood tested for cobalt and chromium. We need to band together and we need to help each other. The first verdict came down a couple of months ago here In Los Angeles and some guy that just had one hip replaced was awarded $8.3 million. That doesn’t help get your life back but it’s the very least Johnson & Johnson could do.

    Posted on May 19, 2013 at 6:45 pm

  • Mary says:

    My experience with the Depuy Pinnacle hip is very similar to what I have read here. In 2011, my surgeon sent me for all kind of tests – anything except for my hips which were replaced in Nov.2007 & March, 2008. The pain in my second hip started within 9 months of surgery. My doctor diagnosed it as busitis, gave me a cortisone shot from which I got relief. The relief didn’t last and the pain didn’t go away after 2 more shots. I would lay in bed at night and rub the side of my thighs. The pain was constant. After continuing to suffer the pain in my legs for all of 2012, I had given up every getting relief from the constant pain and had a severe limp. After receiving a notice from my doctor for a “follow-up”, I went to see him in Jan 2013 & FINALLY he sent me for blood tests & an MRI. My blood test showed that my cobalt was 88 & my chromium levels were 97! The MRI showed fluid collection around my hip. All are signs of metallosis. I had bi-lateral hip revision surgery in March, 2013. The doctor took photos of the incision which showed necrotic tissue around the implant. He expected the surgery to take 2 hours. It took 5 hours! Again, I had to go through the agony of post-surgical pain. Then I spent a week in acute rehab. After a month of home physical therapy and out patient PT, I am still experiencing some pain, including a week of spasm in my buttocks and around the incisions. Any kind of exercise makes me sore all over my body. I have signed with a lawyer in Philadelphia. The suit for the Pinnacle hip is scheduled for Sept. 2014 – just in time for my 69th birthday! Meanwhile I am left with huge co-pays for all the medical treatment. As Dawn said above, we do need to band together.
    The Pinnacle suit will be a Multi-District Litigation where all the case will be handled. This is because the cases being included are similar enough that the costs of litigation will end up being less. I am trying to stay active to build up the strength in my legs and to try to minimize my limp which after all the surgery and repair of a tear in my gluteus medius muscle still exists.

    Posted on June 23, 2013 at 9:28 pm

  • julie says:

    Uk Birmingham HIP. 2004. Brilliant. Then second 2009. 2011,start getting irritable, nervous, emotional. Put it down to life. 2001. bladder problems, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, headaches at night, throbbing head. Have metal blood tests. Chromium and cobalt come out HIGH. Doctor daughter says`get them out Mum`. Have MRI scan-ok. So scared of going through all that surgery again-BUT- cramps, lip numb feeling, hearing not right, mental confusion a little.
    Come back next year-THANKS ARE THERE ANY SPECIALISTS IN England to help.

    Posted on July 10, 2013 at 7:05 am

  • gina says:

    I have both types cobalt n chromosomes n my doc tells me not to worry because I will piss it out is that true

    Posted on July 21, 2013 at 9:54 am

  • martina says:

    I had left hip replaced in Oct of 2007.I had total loss of cartilage in the joint due to arthritis.
    Over the last 2 years I started not feeling well in general. Fatigue and numbness and tingling in both hands when walking. I started to notice the hair on my legs ,under my arms and my eyebrows was becoming less adn less. Then I began t wak eup mornings with the shakes. I started to totally lose my appitite.I was having to force myself to eat. Just the thought of eating even my favorite foods caused nausea.
    I started to have worsening of mental problems..I would stand for hours and try to “draw” my eyebrows in where the hair had gone. By this time I hardly had any eyebrow hair. I would do this for 5 or more hours a day & simply could not stop. I obessed about going anywhere. All I could think about was my eyebrows. It was a nightmare.
    Over the last year I started to experience a weakness in my left hip/leg..then popping and a loud squeking noise on turning or bending. I was having muscle spasms in my legs so bad I would be screaming in pain and praying for them to stop. They happened every day. I also had swelling in my upper thighs with a weird muscle stiffness and haeviness. Walking became more difficult.
    The last few years my physical blood work for kidney function were coming back abnormal on one of the test but when I questioned my doctor about it he said it was comon to see when a patient fasted for blood lab work. I still thought it strange as I have always fasted for the tests. I am 61 years old and I had never had that result before the last three years and it was worse each year.
    During this time I had been going to the doctor not feeling well and having all of these leg problems..water on the knee and numb ,tight and heavy weak muscles in my legs. I went through testing with a nuerolory specialist and had abnormal numbers in ANA test results. But he thought my symptoms were due to fibromyalgia.
    Then my ulnar nerve in my right elbow failed and I had to have surgery on it. I went to fins out what was wrong when my right hand started to go numb and the muscle atrophied. My left had and elbow have similar symptoms but not as bad. I had to have cataract surgery and both eyes over this last two years have had large tears in the vitrious humor and even though my cataracts are corrected I still cannot see well around a floater in each eye that covers about 2/3rd of my vision.
    I kept thinking. Well maybe this is just the unfortunate way my body is going to age and tried not to let it depress me. I
    have always been very active and am a digital and watercolor artist. So now I can no longer go for my 3 mile walks I enjoyed each day and my artwork is very difficult to do and only makes me sad as it is a struggle to see. So it’s even more difficult not to become depressed.
    I saw my hip surgeon the 1st week of June 2013 and he had my hip ulta sounded and found large pockets of fluid around the implant. They also had taken blood work for cobalt and chromium which came back at 50! Seven days later I had surgery to remove the DuPuy Pinnacle metal on metal hip replaced. I am on my 7th week post surgery.
    After I came home from the hsopital I noticed I no longer had the urge to mess with my eyebrows, I have not done it once since the surgery and have had absolutely no compulsion to do it. I noticed my underarm and leg hair started to regrow and now also my eyebrows are beginning to grow in. I never plucked them ..the hair had just stopped growing. Some of my appitite has improved..I still turn away from foods I always loved..fresh fruits and veggies for instance. Still have nausea and fatigue. Leg spasms have stopped but I still have the swelling,heaviness,tightness and weakness in my upper thighs.

    I don’t know what is going to happen over time and of course am distressed and worried. My hip replacement so far seems to going through a normal healing process. It is taking longer to recover thanin my 1st surgery as this time my muscles were already comprimised and weak and I had not been feeling at all well for a year or more.
    I hope to continue to see improvements. I have contacted a lawyer also. I am going to insist on getting my blood levels checked every three months so I can find out if the levels are becoming within the normal range. I also intend on having an ultrasound periodically on my hip as the symptoms do not show up in an x-ray.My prayers go out to everyone experiencing the effects of this surgery.

    Posted on August 7, 2013 at 2:54 pm

  • Duane says:

    I am a 62 year old male. I had hip resurfacing (Birmingham) done on my left hip in August of 2011. It never seemed right. I went back to see my surgeon at my first post of check up and told him that I was in severe pain and that my hip was “clunking”. He told me he damaged my femoral nerve during surgery, no big deal to him, nevermi nd that I was going through something I would never wish on anyone. It felt like it was on fire at first then like I was being stung by a thousand bees! To make a long story short, it is now August, 2013 and I just found out from the Mayo clinic in Rochester that the metal levels in my blood are 173. This would explain all of the other medical issues I have been having that nobody couldn’t or didn’t want explore. I A scheduled for revision surgery at the end of the month. I have had two years of complete hell. My quality of life has greatly diminished. The pain is unbelievable. I am told it is also in crooked. One Dr. At the Mayo clinic said “it’s a mess in there”. I am currently looking for an attorney that would be willing to take my case, despite my arrogant surgeon is a star witness for the hip manufacturers. If anyone else has had a similar experience with a certain surgeon in Stillwater, MN. In closing I would like to say I feel for each and every one of you and will say a special prayer for you all. Thanks for taking the time to read my comment.

    Posted on August 17, 2013 at 4:29 pm

  • Duane says:

    If there is anyone that has had the Birmingham resurfacing unit put in and is having severe problems, I would be interested in speaking with you. I am also looking for references for a good attorney. Also, I am very sorry for you all and what you are going through. I will say a prayer for us all.

    Posted on August 17, 2013 at 4:57 pm

  • Ruth says:

    My husband had 2 Birmingham resurfacing hips, and he never recovered from the second surgery. He developed severe brain fog, systemic rashes, bone loss, hasn’t driven for over a year, and just had a revision. He has Metallosis and there was an enormous amount of fluid around the hip. I couldn’t get anyone to believe me that the metal was causing all his problems.

    Posted on October 5, 2013 at 6:10 am

  • Barry says:

    Both hips done Birmingham resurfacings, 2010 and 2011, late 40’s, male, having trouble with blurred vision, labored breathing, chest pain, hip pain, severe anxiety. Have seen many specialists and had complete physicals…no one can find anything wrong and the surgeon insists my issues can’t possibly be from the metal on metal hips…oh and my Cobalt and chromium levels are both about 5 times higher than acceptable levels. Dr. won’t even humor me with an MRI.

    Oh and i just got a questionnaire much more detailed than any before, even prior to surgery that he wants filled out and sent back, and my next appt. isn’t for 9 months. They have never done that before. It’s so obvious he’s trying to get all my health issues now so they can put the blame on other conditions.

    He’s going to be bringing on a lawsuit from me himself. I hate to sue, but if you are going to brush me off as some kind of idiot, you’re going to have to pay dearly for it.

    I’m not going to name the doctor, but leave it to say just because a doctor has done 4-5,000 resurfacings, at the rate of 8 every operating day, does NOT make his a better doctor. Quantity does not mean quality I learned!

    Posted on November 6, 2013 at 8:31 pm

  • Linda says:

    Hi,can anyone tell me what is considered normal cobalt/chromium levels in nmol/l .test .
    Thanks

    Posted on November 29, 2013 at 12:33 pm

  • Virginia says:

    After years of martial arts teaching, I had my first hip replacement at age 50, in July 2008. It was a Dupuy Pinnacle and I was so happy to just move without constant pain that I didn’t think much about the rash that showed up several months later. Last year I had my left hip replaced with a Stryker Accolade. While the first surgery went without a hitch, this later one resulted in internal bleeding and an additional stay in the hospital. However, within 24 hours of the second surgery I developed multiple rash spots on my left leg at the joint sites as well as a host of other symptoms such as pain, swelling and heat at the sites. In addition, I’m experiencing symptoms like brain fog, constant headaches, vertigo, nausea, GI problems, dizziness, and fatigue. Tomorrow I have my annual check up with my orthopedic surgeon…I’m hoping that he works with me on this since my PCP and I have researched my symptoms and believe that I have metallosis.

    Posted on December 2, 2013 at 12:30 pm

  • Sharon says:

    Since I had my THR in June 2011 I have been going down hill, bloating in stomach, weight gain and do not eat a lot, nausea, pain in thigh were device was pounded into center of thigh bone, pain is anywhere from 5 to 12, hard time standing a long time, but before never had a problem standing, acid reflux, vertigo, GI problems, Feel ill all the time feels like my body is acting up as if it is rejecting metal in body.

    Posted on December 15, 2013 at 12:36 pm

  • Mike says:

    I had a revision done in May of 2011 (Depuy) and I’m starting to have some real issues w/ looseness and pain. My understanding is the Depuy system was recalled in Fall of 2010. Surely there’s no way my doctor put in a recalled hip…right?

    I asked for his office to send me what equipment they put in me and they sent me the ops report. I stated that I had the DePuy system but had “XXX” typed before it; they can’t tell me what that means.

    I’m going to go get a blood test at the end of this week to check for cobalt/chromium in my blood. Anything else I can do? Thoughts?

    Posted on February 19, 2014 at 7:40 am

  • troy says:

    I had the primary total hip replacement in may, 2007. I will be getting the revision surgery in may, 2014. I can relate to some of the symptoms listed on this page; especially the clicking and squeaking, labored breathing, etc. I am only 46. I just want to testify to you guys that there is a God in heaven who is able to help you endure this and is even able to protect you from all of the potential damage that may be caused by the metal poisoning. may God bless you all, and may you find Him now.

    Posted on March 21, 2014 at 11:52 pm

  • Alida says:

    My boyfriend had his hip replacement about 4yrs ago. When he came out of hospital, he immediately felt sick. He started loosing his ability to walk. The hospital dismissed any fault on their side (South African government hospital). He is so bad now, that his whole right side seems to have lost nerve function. It is starting to affect his right arm now. His lawyer put in a claim last year January after we saw a report about the metallosis. Now the doctors refuse to do anything until they can sort out the ‘white masses’ that formed on his brain. We are not sure if this was caused by the metallosis. He is getting worse by the day and we need to get the recalled hip removed and replaced so that he can walk again. This seems to be a catch 22 situation. Has anybody experienced such deterioration of the body function? What should we do ? he is totally giving up on life. Lost 52kg and cannot take this 4years of suffering anymore. He’s only 48.

    Posted on March 25, 2014 at 10:22 am

  • Judith says:

    I had Du Puy ASR hip resurfacing 7years ago. Now very high cobalt levels in my blood, with fluid and soft tissue damage around y hip-booked in for full hip replaceent on 8th July-is this early enough? I signed soething when Du Puy wrote to e years ago will this stop me going to a lawyer to sue them? Thanks

    Posted on April 21, 2014 at 4:20 am

  • marty says:

    Marty/VETERAN– I am a 66 y/o Vet who had bilateral Depuy Pinnacle metal-on-metal implants installed at Bay Pines Fla VA hospital in 2007 and 2009. Recently, I had to undergo revision surgery to replace the 09 implant.

    Diagnosis was severe pain, adverse local tissue reaction, high metal ion levels. The pathology report confirmed Metallosis. Another blood test Metal-LTT done by Rush Univ.(Orthopedics Analysis) confirmed metal hypersensitivity resulting in an immunological disorder. I recommend everybody have this blood test done, especially before revision surgery, so the surgeon avoids using any metal, which may result in additional surgeries. Medicare does cover this test, even though I was told by the VA that it didn’t.

    VETERANS- I was implanted with a 40mm metal femoral component (ball) and a 40mm metal liner was used. This bearing combination was NEVER cleared/approved by the FDA, nor did Depuy file a submission for approval. Only the metal-on-plastic 40mm combination was submitted and approved. MOP has been, and remains the Gold Standard for nearly 5 decades, used by most surgeons. I would like to hear from other Vets if you received any combinations other than Depuy Pinnacle 28mm metal ball with 28mm metal liner, OR 36mm metal ball with 36mm metal liner. Check your VA surgical reports, each component is listed.

    During pre-op consults, my wife and I were never told metal implants were being used (never knew they existed-I was an Army medic). We were simply told of the risks applicable to any surgery-i.e. blood clots, infection, complications from anesthesia, etc. I was handed an electronic device and told my signature was required for this elective surgery. I never saw any outlined risks/benefits, with a notation that a Depuy rep is present during surgery to offer technical support, personal identifiable info will be given, AND MEDICAL RECORDS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE REP. This consent form is NOT included in your medical records when you request them. You must ask for the SCANNED electronic consent form. This is IMPORTANT because the VA uses your consent form to deny you disability benefits. What you will read will boggle your mind. If you had had the opportunity to read it, you would NEVER have consented, and red flags would have arose. You would have realized that once again, we were being used for research.

    In 2011, I became totally disabled, homebound, no longer able to work, requiring a walker and wheelchair. I asked my VA primary physician for an orthopedic referral who ordered an x-ray, and subsequently told me my hip was fine, I have arthritis. Four other treating VA specialists from 2011 to 2013 noted patient has severe hip pain, has great difficulty walking, etc WITH NO REFERRAL back to orthopedics. In fact, I never saw orthopedics again folowing my initial surgery, not even for followup.

    Prior to MY first learning in 2013 that I had received these devices, I had been hospitalized 5 days for TIA, 8 days for Vertigo, an audiogram confirming severe tinnitus, confirmed near blindness in my left eye (never wore glasses), diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy (not diabetic), chronic Leukocytosis (high WBC) since being implanted, which is a sign of chronic inflammation (infection had been ruled out), many other symptoms of metal blood poisoning, including rashes all over my body.

    Upon learning I had received these implants, I contacted my VA primary physician and demanded cobalt/chromium labwork and the metal artifact reduction MRI as recommended by the FDA and American Academy of Orthopedics Surgeons. I was told the VA didn’t test for cobalt and chromium, and didn’t do this MRI. A month later, another VA physician treating my alleged arthritis told my wife and I that an Ultrasound would not show any soft tissue damage, again contrary to FDA,AAOS , and worldwide regulatory agencies’ recommendations.

    In February 2013, I arranged for a local private lab (at my expense) to have my cobalt/chromium levels checked which returned Toxic. Chromium was 6.7 mg/L and cobalt 7.5 mg/L.

    It wasn’t until late May that I first met with the VA surgeon at Bay Pines VA hospital (St. Pete, Fl), who ordered BOTH labwork and MRI’s of both hips DONE by the VA.

    Arrangements for revision surgery were completed, all necessary tests completed by July. When I e-mailed the surgeon asking what components would be used in my upcoming surgery, I was told only the 40mm metal liner would be changed out to polyethylene and another metal Depuy 40mm ball would be used. The metal cup would remain.

    After having done extensive research, I asked for a Metal-LTT blood test because I didn’t want to be on a revision merry-go-round if I had developed metal hypersensitivity. My previous bloodwork indicated this possibility. As a result of my request, the surgeon put in a request to Fee-Basis (non VA care) to outsource me locally (causing further delay), and told the department Cannot Timely Treat as a reason. Basically I was told to start all over and try to find a private surgeon who accepts VA payment (same as Medicare). While waiting for the May appointment, I had had no luck finding a local surgeon, and told to go back to whoever implanted me initially.

    Fortunately, in September 2013, I located one who told my wife and I: “we’ve got to get these out of you, they are poisoning you to death, people have died with your condition.” He had reviewed my medical records.

    Two weeks later I had my first revision surgery. Ceramic and polyethylene components were used. In his surgical report he noted the initial implant had been malpositioned: “acetabulum component highly abducted, retroverted.” This results in excessive metal debris being released into the tissues around the implant and into the bloodstream causing my toxic levels, and subsequent systemic illnesses (metal poisoning).For the past 7 months I have been in physical therapy due to the extensive soft tissue damage, caused by misdiagnosis and unnecessary delays in being treated.

    Early intervention is essential to prevent extensive damage which compromises the success of revision surgery. People with adverse reaction to metal debris have poorer outcomes than those who have revisions for other reasons. People with metal hypersensitivity develop a delayed type-IV autoimmune disorder which results in several other serious conditions.

    I must now undergo yet another revision of my right hip because of my acquired condition. My wife still helps me dress and I remain homebound.

    Worldwide medical device alerts first surfaced in 2009, including the FDA in 2011 alerting all medical personnel, and Depuy contacting all hospitals and orthopedic surgeons also in 2011, of signs/symptoms, how to follow-up and treat both asymptomatic and symptomatic implantees. Letters were sent to the heads of the VA, regional and facility directors, patient Safety/Recalls Director, of the need for blood tests/imaging and regular monitoring of those implanted.

    Despite this, there is NO information on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website called Patient Safety Alerts and Recalls. You can find out how in 2002 Kellogg’s had issues with PopTarts, or blood glucose monitoring kits sometimes giving erroneous readings, or vaginal mesh implant recalls, but there is NO mention of any problems, alerts, or recalls of metal-on-metal hip implants, which is considered the biggest medical device failure in history affecting tens of thousands’. WHY no transparency.

    I stumbled across the VHA Manual on Mandatory Reporting of Adverse Events to Patients which was amended 2 months following the June 2012 two day FDA meeting with worldwide experts looking for answers on how to treat a million patients worldwide who have been implanted. This manual is 1004.08 “Mandatory Reporting of Adverse Events to Patients” What you will read will sicken you.

    In August 2013, prior to my revision, my wife and I met with a VA Patient Advocate. We showed her recent FDA January 2013 alerts and recommendations to all medical personnel, worldwide alerts dating back years from Canada, Australia, and the UK. I showed her e-mails from two of my VA treating physicians dated July 2013 stating they had NEVER been notified by the Department of Veterans Affairs of alerts, signs and symptoms to be aware of, and how to treat and followup.

    I asked WHY patients and physicians haven’t been alerted, and we were told “The VA doesn’t have the manpower to address this issue”, and quickly excused herself and said she had a meeting to attend, and would get back to me (which never happened). I told her the VA has a contract with Depuy, has been using their products exclusively, and patients are being kept in the dark, being misdiagnosed, experimented on with unapproved devices (lab rats), and DENIED disability benefits by a consent form never seen.

    The decision to not inform patients (1004.08) is based on: “will their be delays to other veterans seeking treatment for other illnesses if we disclose; can the veteran and/or family gain monetarily (lawsuits); and what if the media, public, CONGRESS were to learn of our decision making. NOT ONE THING about concerns to those already suffering and allowing their condition to linger or worsen.

    THIS NEEDS TO GET OUT TO THE MEDIA AND CONGRESS in light of the recent deaths to 40 Veterans awaiting treatment in Phoenix.

    Check out the VA’s Product Safety Alerts/Recalls website, check out VHA Manual 1004.08 Reporting of Adverse Events—Draw Your Own Conclusions. I have many more documents and reports which has me IRATE, but attorneys only want to jump on the manufacturers’ design defect gravy train, which only involves some small filing fees for each client they represent for which they get a nice, but well deserved percentage. I wish I could find one who had the balls to expose this CRIMINAL, IMMORAL, and UNETHICAL travesty to those who fought for their country. If this isn’t medical malpractice, then what is.

    For me, issues of malpositioning, use of devices unapproved by the FDA, misdiagnosis, failure to timely treat, etc etc should be enough for an attorney to want to represent me. The VA typically offers settlements to avoid further negative publicity.

    Posted on April 27, 2014 at 3:47 pm

  • m.t. says:

    Many issues with patients being used as (lab rats). DR AND HOSPITAL systems in Colorado have been paid by De Puy to use the Pinnacle going back a decade. Now this same hospital and orthopedic system has one man on the job doing revisions…for an area with a population over 250,000 people…and lg. Retired community. THEY BETTER BE SCARED! SOME FIRM will jump into it and eat them alive!

    Posted on May 18, 2014 at 6:04 pm

  • MW says:

    Had a birmingham hip installed in 2005 and another one in 2007 on the other side. The have worked fine for all the years I had then until……… Last November i had my yearly physical examination. I was very fit at this time except for an increasing pain in my left hip, so we x rayed the hip – which looked fine. The day after my physical examination – they called called me in immediately to take new blood test. My level of white cells and blood plates where critically low and the new test confirmed the findings. I was immediately submitted to the hospital for future examination. Since then my level of white cells and blood cells has stayed at the same critically low level and the doctors can not find a reason why. I have been through all possible tests (bone marrow, CT scan, any virus and bacteria test, been off blood pressure medications etc) and they have found no cause. My cobalt level in my blood has been measured to 11,5 and my chrome level at 6. Two weeks ago, they thought they found the reason, they discovered a large gland in my arm pit after the CT Scan which they thought was lymphoma. They removed the gland and it turned out that it was not cancer and that the have concluded that the lymph node is reacting on something else. My thinking through the start of this nightmare has been that through the whole process is that the wipe out of my immune system (white cells and blood plates – red are normal) is caused by my hips as a result of cobalt poisoning. I am scheduled for a MRS MRI in the near future.

    Has anyone else experienced or heard that the immune system has been wiped out du to high levels on cobalt in the blood?

    Posted on July 13, 2014 at 5:34 am

  • Jan says:

    My husband had a DePuy ASR implant in Feb. 2007. In early 2009 started noticing a splotchy rash all over his back.. a few months later had to go on thyroid meds. In Feb. 2011 he had a violent dizzy episode with vomiting and cold sweats, it was so bad we called 911. The next month he received letter from ortho surgeon notifying him about the recall of his implant. The rash has continued on and off and he has had 3 more very violent dizzy episodes resulting in ambulance trip to hospital. His cobalt levels have been consistent at 4.5 ppb and chromium 1.1 ppb. He has had complete ENT workups and cardiac monitoring… nothing showed up that would be causing these episodes. In April he suddenly lost 50% hearing in right ear… then shortly after that he had a very severe episode resulting in hosp. trip and MRI of brain that showed damage to myelin sheath that protects the nerves in his brain. He is waiting for neurologist appt. DePuy says cobalt levels of 7 ppb are toxic ..the FDA stated that some people can be very sensitive to even much lower levels that 7. Every doctor my husband has talked to said that doctors do NOT know much about metal toxins in blood because there isn’t enough data. Usually metal toxins are something you breathe in… it should NOT be constantly in your blood. The decision to have a toxic hip removed should be that of the patient and doctor. None of these hip manufacturers should have a say what levels are safe.

    Posted on July 17, 2014 at 7:21 am

  • Ella says:

    I had a total hip replacement in 1987. And have had nothing but pain since. I had a limp and could not walk without a cane, than a walker and now 2013 a power chair.as of July 2014, I have to have it removed its loose and breaking. There is so much pain I have to take painkillers. Orthopedic surgeon said I have metal grinding against metal so I suspect metallosis, nothing else was explained. Back in 1987 I was told I had One of the first uncemented hip replacements done on a young person at that hospital . I was not told what kind of system was implanted but I do know I have had nothing but pain since.is there anyone else who had had s hip replacement this old. The surgery was done in California. For the last ten years I have been crying and wailing and b——g and crying. I have had xrays,mri’ s,.cat scans, aspirations, I can’t count how many , I don’t know if I have any recourse.

    Posted on August 1, 2014 at 8:46 am

  • Bob says:

    Six years ago total hip replacement,cysts appeared over scare blood tests confirm COBOLT level 342normal

    Posted on August 19, 2014 at 1:54 am

  • kim says:

    i had a bipolar hip replacement 7/31/2014 the product they used was Zimmer i I still have some hip pain and groin pain. i feel fatigued all the time mouth ulcers and roaring in my ears. Could i have metal poisoning in my system. I had a blood test on the 6th of October 2014

    Posted on October 12, 2014 at 6:45 pm

  • sheri says:

    I had a MOM total hip in 2002 at the age of 34…over the last 2 months I have started to have groin, front thigh and deep butt pain..I spoke to drs nursre who said my xray looked good and if I wanted they would repeat my metal levels (they had been checked 1.5 year prior, with normal ranges) She called me back 3 weeks ago and said cobalt level was normal but chromium was 129 so they wanted to recheck..Spoke with her Tuesday and they were still in the hundreds and the dr. was supposed to look at them ..Today is Friday and still have not heard back and still having pain. .. I would appreciate any input.

    Posted on December 5, 2014 at 3:51 pm

  • Cynthia says:

    I have been an RN in the States for more than 30 years and just wanted to make a few comments: I too am dealing with a MOM hip with toxic cobalt/chromium levels so I get it. I’ve read every single posted comment here.
    To ELLA who wrote a comment in August…….GET A LAWYER NOW. I don’t consider lawsuits easily but sounds like you need to consider it. Try to find a lawyer who handles medical issues, one who is local, and is reputable. You also need 2nd opinion on your case-perhaps from an ortho surgeon not in your immediate area..Local MD’s do not like to counter each other’s care, esp in legal issues.
    To all of you who aren’t getting answers or who have felt disregarded, and continue to have real pain, toxic metals, etc…go to a different ortho surgeon-again perhaps not in your immediate area. Try to research who is best and has at least 10-15 years experience….you might try looking up the ‘best hospitals’ in the USA, and then get their list of hip surgeons on staff. Most of those facilities do not tolerate less than great care, but still do your research on the surgeon. If you are not treated with respect, listened to, and given answers, go elsewhere.
    IMPORTANT: Regular XRays show bone alignment but NOT fluid build up, cysts, etc., that are frequently seen with MOM toxicity. Also- MRI images are distorted by metal and you need to have an MRI under special protocol that minimizes that distortion.
    Also IMPORTANT: Giving raw numbers of metal levels, without the measurement criteria means nothing at all. Labs use different methods–my cobalt level measures 15ng/dl . ng/dl means nanograms of say cobalt, in each deciliter. A Nanogram is a billionth of a gram, and a deciliter is a tenth of a liter… The values have to be measured as how much is there in a specific amount of blood, with the lab also stating on the report what they consider acceptable in that same amount of blood. In my case, the lab stated that any value greater than 3ng/dl is considered unacceptable Hope that is clear to all.

    By the way-those of you in managed care plans or HMO plans that limit your ability to get 2nd opinions–I would try writing simply and clearly to the top administration (CEO, Director of Surgery, or Director of Medicine) to get permission for a paid-for second opinion and treatment as appropriate. If that doesn’t work, get an attorney. If you are a vet and use VA—same thing, but it may be harder. You might try your Senators or your Congressmen or go public in news papers.

    Hope this long comment is of help……I will keep following this site to see if there are any others that have questions I may be able to help with. Bear in mind that my statements are my opinion only and not intended to substitute for legal or medical advice.

    Posted on December 24, 2014 at 10:39 pm

  • eli says:

    62 male with kidney function-protein in urine. had depry hip replacement 2006. ocasional pain up/down stairs. no main issue on that. do have high cobalt level of 18-22. scheduled for hip revision in 2 weeks jan, 27, 2015. having second thoughts since no pain

    Posted on January 10, 2015 at 11:44 pm

  • Lianne says:

    Hi everyone,
    I have read your stories and I can sympathise with you all.
    There is a very informative blog site called Earl’s view, I highly recommend you read it and also join a Facebook page he has set up call Total Hip Replacement News, it is absolotely amazing, you’ll see your questions answered by all the research he has done. Also Stuart Cain has been an amazing support and has suffered greatly but these guys have dedicated their time to help people like us and to reassure us we need to fight and not give up.
    I had a Sulzer metal on metal hip replacement in 1999 by a Profeesor and have had problems ever since, originally had a fall and ended up with Avascular Necrosis, had a bone graft first not successful so had a left THR, since then had many illnesses including being in a coma in 2004, I now have chronic Vertigo, nausea, facial numbness since 2008, facial tremors. I’ve had 4 x spinal surgeries, chronic headaches, lots of Neuroligical problems. I started falling over as my left leg wouldn’t lift as I went to walk. I have an acoustic neuroma in my left ear and a small aneurism on the right side of my head, along with many other stupid things, I sweat with the toxicity In my body, I also have what started out as a fluid sack in my groin but has now turned solid and needs to be removed and the more I excercise the sicker I get. I spent 36 days in hospital last year not being able to walk then 3 weeks further at home in a hospital bed, a horrible experience, one as I’m only 51 yrs old and enjoy life, and 2 way too young to be experiencing these problems. Whilst I was in hospital my professor was an absolute pig towards me suggesting a Phyciatric assessment I just said bring it on, I even had an argument with him, then I got social workers involved and he quickly changed his tune.
    He did an Arthroscope and I also signed for a biopsy in which he failed to do, he told me my hip was fine. My husband asked him about the lump and he said i don’t know what everyone is talking about it’s the size of my thumbnail, we sat their absolutely dumbfounded as I’d had 4 ultrasounds in hospital and he had the results which clearly showed the size and wher it was. We also asked for a second opinion and he commented by saying when you’ve got the professor you’ve got the best. (HA) He never asked had I been sick or why was I seeing an infectious disease guy for 12 months with an undiagnosed condition and on an antibiotic. The only way I was finding out results from the hospital was I had to ring pathology and ask them to send reports to my local doctor and my husband would pick them up and a friend of ours who is a surgeon would read them and let us know the results, and he also saw me the whole time this was happening. My lower leg would change colour when I stood up and the nutty professor would say it was from lack of use, I was stunned, as I was on the treadmill most days and doing hydrotherapy once a week and other excercises to try and get better, obviously not realising that I was making myself sicker by doing this. I was also seeing a physio once a week.Ended up seeing another orthopaedic who told me I had a metal on metal hip replacement and that it was inflamed and I probably had cobalt poisoning that was July last year, said it needs to be removed and it should be done fairly soon. Had the test for Cobalt but where I had them done it was basically a simple urine test so it came back negative and the doctor said have a I seen a Phycologist, I thought here we go again you have all the paperwork showing inflamed hip and also 4 ultrasounds showing the sac to be 4.5cm x 6.2 cm and your telling me I need to have surgery but won’t listen to the other symptoms, also told me I had put him in a difficult position because he was going to be doing the surgery and not the nutty professor. Well folks I have a wonderful GP who knows me very well and also a pain manganement specialist along with an infectious diseases specialist and all these doctors know it’s not physiological, and after having more blood tests and not just a simple urine test, my Cobalt level has gone from 4.1 to now being 29, and am waiting latest tests results from December, through this pathology normal range is between 2-7, so I have answers and the lump in my groin they think is a pshydo tumour. So don’t give up find a good GP who will support you and find an Orthopedic who doesn’t care who’s toes he stands on, that’s still the hard part, as I’m still awaiting surgery and have been told already I have a high risk of dislocation, so not something to look forward to.
    Stay positive and fight the doctors, whatever happened to the patient being the one who’s important??
    I sincerely hope this helps some of you and I strongly advise that you look at the sites I suggested. There’s a whole support network out their.
    Good luck to you all and I apologise for the long story but it might help some of you, and you might be able to relate to the symptoms.
    Keep smiling, has to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

    Posted on January 15, 2015 at 9:59 pm

  • Lillian says:

    My mother had hip replacement surgery in Miami, Florida in 1974. Recently I started thinking about her deteriorating health after the implant. She had been relatively healthy prior to the surgery requiring no medication for any medical condition. Afterwards, she experienced thyroid malfunction, constant tinnitus, falling, nausea, swollen inflamed thighs, deafness and ultimately blindness. I am astounded to learn about the connection between my mother’s suffering throughout all these years and the side effects of this implant! I am horrified to think that her deterioration was never linked to this implant dating back to the 70’s her physician. Does anyone know what types of implants were performed during this time?

    Posted on January 31, 2015 at 10:25 am

  • Marty says:

    In response to which implants were being used in the 60’s and 70’s.

    Some of the earliest hip implants used during the 60’s and early 70’s were the SAME Cobalt/Chromium alloys that were reintroduced during the 2000’s without ANY clinical testing, nor proof of safety or efficacy required by the FDA. Manufacturers only had to state their new device was similiar to previous devices (“grandfathered in”).

    Metallosis was first described in the early 1970’s which prompted Sir (Dr) John Charnley to develop the metal-on-polyethylene components which has remained the Gold Standard. Patients implanted with these early all-metal devices were being poisoned then and suffering from the SAME adverse systemic effects due to high cobalt/chromium levels in their bloodstream.

    Posted on February 22, 2015 at 7:45 pm

  • elliott says:

    anyone experience foot problems after hip revision? I have after 2 weeks from having the Depuy revision done and foot DR can’t find problem. Would like to know if others having same issues.

    Posted on March 21, 2015 at 9:12 am

  • valerie says:

    I had a DePuy hp resurfacing done in 2008, last year i had a hernia op and during the procedure they found alot of necrotic tissue, which was removed. However i had complications due to haematomas and required more surgery, again necrotic tissue was found again. i developed a leak which would not stop and after mri scans and ct scan it was found to be coming from my hip. I had a biopsy of the hip in december and blood tests etc. The results were not good, i have infection in my hip, also in the mri scans they found a lot of soft tissue damage. And the blood tests showed that i have very high levels of colbalt. I am now waiting for revision surgery which requires two operations and loads of antibiotics.

    Posted on May 12, 2015 at 3:09 pm

  • tina says:

    So sad…so tragic for all the sick people.it takes to long to investigate recalls.The damage is usually done by then.The lawyers need to be focosed on every implant.not just knee or hip.I’m tired of hearing how safe titanium is.

    Posted on June 24, 2015 at 12:40 am

  • Shakira says:

    I Sommer, EXACTLY the same things happened to my dad after his hip Replacement. I am also looking to sue, but I don’t know how to go about this. Also how can I prove the metal poisoning caused these illnesses in him? Please give me an update on your case? Thank you.

    Posted on July 22, 2015 at 4:23 am

  • jacky says:

    I had a Birmingham hip replacement in 2004 have been seriously ill ever since. Eye sight problems, tremors,inflammation of the brain, digestive problems, fast heart beat, thyroid over activity, weak muscles, central nervous and anxiety and now after 11 years of hell my back and hip seem to be failing. I have been on strong anti oxidents for 10 years and these have kept my results normal and helped some of the problems but l want this metal out and cannot convince my surgeon that the metal is causing this. He also did 8 replacements daily and is making out he has not heard of these symptoms before. Managed to reduce my anti oxidants so that my blood results might show something and am awaiting the results.

    Posted on December 23, 2015 at 2:08 pm

  • Sol says:

    I had my MoM type hip replacement in 2008. If anyone is having groin pain, thigh or leg pain etc. tenderness around the incision point, do not wait! Do not listen to any doctor who says nothing is wrong, that you are searching for the Fountain of Youth, that you are just a wimp or drug addict when you need oxycontin just to survive another day, none of them understands what you are going through. Your pain is textbook typical of metallosis caused by a defective hip design and the companies that made the hips are hiding the info from the medical profession. The tenderness and pain at the incision point is caused by a sack or buildup of dead and dying tissue that has been killed by the microscopic cobalt and chromium poisons that your implant has shed. The symptoms mimic a severe infection, but your blood tests show that you don’t have an infection so your doctor dismisses you and never finds the dead tissue. the more you exercise and try to get healthy and work your way through the problem, the more wear you create on the MoM joint and the sicker you get. You have to find a doctor who is willing to take your word for it and replace you hip components with non-MoM components or this cursed device will either kill you or you will get tired of waking up every morning wishing you’d died in your sleep and take steps to achieve a “permanent solution” I personally had my suicide kit handy for years before I found a doctor who knew what was happening and fixed my hip. I took six months to get to a level whare the pain meds could control the pain and another six months to get to feeling pretty good. Also, the sick feeling that had plagued me for seven years went away fairly rapidly. Good Luck, Sol

    Posted on February 2, 2016 at 3:24 pm

  • Rosemary says:

    I understand your comments about feeling suicidal! I had the left hip replaced in 2006 after being kicked downstairs by thieves who I heard above me in the computer department while teaching an MA class and I went to investigate. I had to have the right hip replaced in 2008 because I was walking badly. I started having many symptoms which the Dr (who spoke poor English) suggested I was imagining. It was not until he left and a new one came who listened to me and referred me immediately to the hospital where I found out that I had one of the highest metal poisoning cases they had come across. Revision surgery meant that muscle had to be removed because of metal fragments and a nerve was damaged so suddenly my leg goes from under me at times when walking.

    I try to be positive and manage the condition and have contacted a lawyer which is a slow tedious business for them to investigate. When I had to get medical information I was told on at least 2 occasions that my records were missing! It has taught me to be reluctant to believe what I am told and to research everything well so that I am informed about the issues to do with hips! I have found that I have read more research articles than the doctors who I have seen! We live in a capitalist society and making money is the sole aim for many so product producers cut corners. A friend who is a consultant told me that the NHS bought in inferior prosthesis to save money. The research suggests that other countries abandoned metal-on-metal hip replacements many years ago because of the issues on health. It is disappointing that the UK wastes money in many ways and does not really people.

    Posted on February 8, 2016 at 6:04 pm

  • pat says:

    from just outside Toronto, in 2010 I cracked my right knee cap resulting in the need for a rebuild of right knee cap. early in 2013 I began to experience difficulty walking, I visited the emergency room at Mackenzie in Richmond hill I grabbed the knee and asked could this be the problem, in spite me requested no xrays or blood test were taken in june of 2013 I cant even recall what occurred but they told me the right leg needed to be removed, why did they not blood test, my view is that the emergency was promoting surgeries for this who also refused to blood test or xray. he told the governing body of our province he did not deem xrays of the implant area were needed, this guy does heart surgery a comforting thought, in Canada useless doctors are protected . I would appreciate any comments you may have I hate to admit I was stupid to go this hospital it has a very poor reputation in town. Richmond hill is about 15 miles north of Toronto.

    Posted on February 12, 2016 at 11:20 pm

  • Jo says:

    Hi there, I’ m looking staight down the surgeons knife to THR number 4. I contracted Perthese Disease at age 12 in 1965 & since have had R Hip problems. 1st THR was 1978. 2nd 1986 & 3rd 2009. The last was a reno job still leaving me with the previous Chanley femoral stem & head was replaced with a Styler skirted ball. The cup that was destroyed was replaced with a Biomet mollary-head with ringlock top. I now have severe groin, calf, thigh pain, swelling around implant, unable to walk on grass & touch my R leg below the chin. vision problems & also feel that the earth is moving under my feet. My colbolt/chromium levels at thru the roof. 189 & 22 respectively. I’m from Australia & at this stage their in no law cases being carried out here.
    I will be seeing the surgeon in mid March to see what can be done. After getting 23 yrs out off hip number 2 I was confident that hip 3 would have lasted longer than 6 years. I’m presently living 40 miles north of Newcastle in NSW Australia.

    Posted on February 24, 2016 at 2:57 pm

  • Michele says:

    To all of you that have mentioned having muscle spasms in your hamstring you are not alone. I had both hips done with Depuy Pinnacle. The first one was Dec 2007, the second Jan, 2010. The second hip almost immediately after surgery while still in the hospital developed the worst cramping imaginable. I couldn’t even straighten my leg. After an Ultra Sound to rule out a blood clot, which was negative, and numerous massages, I wound up being discharged from the hospital stilll having the pain. Took about 9 days in total for pain to ease up. The pain kept coming back unexpectedly and without provocation. A couple of years after the surgery, the pain hit my left leg as I was walking into the chiropractor’s office. I had a deep tissue massage first. I told the man about the deep muscle pain I would get. During his massage, he got up on the massage table next to me and put his knee square in the middle of my hamstring and put all his weight down on it. It hurt like heck but finally I could feel a muscle deep in the hamstring area release. It was amazing. The pain has not returned in the last 4 years. Hope this helps.
    I too have suffered so many health issues from having my hips done that I am now disabled and getting things lined up to have both hips redone. I’m very stressed about this as one thing I’ve acquired since the hips is a compromised immune system. I know revisions run an increased risk of infections. But I really have no options. I have a huge fluid sac in the front of the left hip. They did needle biopsies of the fluid in both hips today to rule out infection. What came out was disgusting. It was dark yellow-brown with black specks among other particles of unknown origin. It is not clear at all. Kinda looks like the color and density of a corn taco shell. Thanks to everyone who has shared their stories.

    Posted on March 18, 2016 at 10:12 pm

  • Debbie says:

    Can any one tell me if the ASR XL has Nickel in them I know of cobolt chromium I was told they may have

    Posted on April 13, 2016 at 2:22 am

  • cathy says:

    after reading Tate’s comments: i am still using a walker after 5 months since my surgery and experience pain and swelling in my left leg and pain in my other leg from favoring the left (surgical) side. i only had to have 3 screws to “fix” my hip. also sometimes feel a pop in the groin area. now my knees also are stiff. doctors told me if i was going to break a hip i did it the right way. i disagree. there is no right way for that. now i’m wondering if one can get metallosis from only screws. anybody?

    Posted on April 28, 2016 at 6:28 am

  • Mary says:

    Hi All, I found out in my 50’s that I must have been born with hip dysplasia. Didn’t give me trouble until then. After trying more exercise, seeing a chiropractor and trying over the counter pain meds, ended up seeing a couple orthopedic surgeons / sports medicine drs.

    My husband and I just couldn’t handle the idea of a hip replacement and cutting off the ball of my femur. Sorry, that’s just the way we felt at the time. So he did much investigating for me and found the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (cobalt/chromium MoM hardware from Smith & Nephew). Seemed like a match made in heaven for me. Had the first (left) done in January of 2009. Went beautifully. So much less pain. So I was more than willing to have the other, less painful right side done in December of ’09. That surgery never seemed quite right. Long story, short: just had a Total Hip Revision of that right BHR in April of ’16—-2 weeks ago yesterday. I’m 63 now–small female.

    I can’t say that I had been in much terrible pain from that right BHR, just discomfort most of the time. Also must have had a limp, since co-workers would occasionally ask me if I was hurting—even when nothing seemed worse to me when they asked. That right BHR was noisy and creaky before the revision–even probably from a year out from its implant. What bothered me is that the surgeon (whom I think is great) who did both BHR’s never once mentioned having a blood test done, even tho’ I mentioned that I had the achiness and some swelling, as well as the noise. He did ask me in ~2012 or 2013 if I had been following the recalls, etc. When I said no, he just said see you in a year.

    We moved to another state in 2014 and I had to find another ortho dr. for my checkups. Had first check up in early 2015. Told him all the same stuff. He also said, see you in a year. Well, in February of this year, I saw him again, at which time he had my blood drawn for cobalt levels. By the method his reference lab uses, up to 3 (can’t remember the units) is ok. My level was 84! He said we must get that bad BHR out of there, as almost all others on this blog have heard.

    I now think some of my symptoms, although not nearly as bad as some people have experienced, are from the high cobalt in my blood and tissues. More fatigue, some mental fogginess and memory issues, diarrhea, heart beat irregularities (altho’ echocardiogram appeared normal). I’ve lost a few pounds (maybe because we’re eating a little better), and I think I may have some muscle wasting–not sure. Blood tests for thyroid and kidney came back normal, thankfully.

    I see my surgeon for the first post-op visit next week. I know he said I had some dead bone (which I know he had to repair with “bone-bondo”–ha!). I had dead muscle and a tendon which had partially torn loose from the bone (at the trochanter). Because I was a little loopy from the pain meds they gave me in the hospital, I didn’t ask him then all the questions I intended to ask. Will ask next week.

    I have to say that this has been such a nice surgery!! He used the anterior approach, so recovery so far has been great. Took meloxicam and Tylenol at home, that’s all. The 2 BHR surgeries were done using the posterior approach, which was much tougher. It cut through (or required the detachment and reattachment) of hip muscles. At that time, I couldn’t do much of anything for 2 weeks. Now, with the anterior approach surgery, I’ve had in-home PT, and I’m doing great so far. Will start OP PT in a week or so to get full range of motion back.

    The first (left) BHR doesn’t seem to be acting up, but may have to be revised later, IF my cobalt levels don’t drop down to near normal. I don’t know how long that should take. It’s very concerning, for all the things that high cobalt may cause (problems with heart, kidneys, thyroid, mental, vision, hearing, cancer, and probably more). And the THR I just had done will possibly have to be replaced sooner than normal because this surgeon had to “get creative” to do the bone and tissue repairs that were required.

    To my knowledge, there’s no class-action lawsuit about Smith and Nephew’s BHR. And I hate to go there. I have been so lucky.
    Praying for good health for us all.

    Posted on April 29, 2016 at 7:36 pm

  • Lesley says:

    I am about to have a right hip revision June because of elevated Cobalt 221.0 and Chromium 22.5. I am 68 and had this hip replaced in 2009. Luckily my Orthopedic P.A said I should have a blood test as I have a Pinacle Dupuy metal on metal. Have also now had an MRI and Scan. I had my left hip replaced as part of a study in 2002 and revised about a year later because of a loud clicking sound, then a revision again in 2015. The whole hip thing is extremely depressing especially not knowing if I really need to get this hip revised because of the metal levels, I just don’t want to wait until I’m older
    But I am very confused what if the metal is because of the other hip although that has some metal not metal on metal. This just makes me realize I’m not alone and hope this is helpful to other sufferers!!

    Posted on May 14, 2016 at 12:51 am

  • Esperança says:

    I think that the titanium hardware my little sister had on her ankle for 8 years (same side as breast ca) had a lot to do with the destruction of her liver…she ran everyday & the friction causes tiny metal particles to dislodge (CALLED FRETTING), enter the circulatory system and lodge themselves in the organs, such as the liver. All my ideals have become totally tangled after my youngest, super fit, athletic sister who led a super clean lifestyle & was ALWAYS careful about her (and her family’s) nutrition ended up with breast or liver ca…her liver was almost completely destroyed when her breast popped and she went to see a Dr. who insisted on doing a biopsy which she ended up doing even though it was against her principles. She lasted 7 weeks after visual diagnosis of the breast ca, and I know that her fear killed her much faster! Her army career, since the age of 18 & having spent several years in Bosnia & Croatia must have also screwed her over…so tragic! All the best & thanks for all the great info!

    Posted on May 16, 2016 at 4:26 pm

  • John says:

    Hello Sir
    My Mother died on 8/16/2012 from what we were told was stage 4 liver cancer, that also spread to the lungs. She had one of those hip surgeries performed about 4 to 8 years before her death. At this time I do not have any of her medical files in front of me, but I am going to obtain them so I can talk about this with the facts. After the procedure was done, she started having incidents such as dizziness, falling down, her leg joints popping out of place, poor apitite, weight loss, problems with balancing a checking account and quite possibly other problems that I am just not thinking about per this initial contact with anyone outside of the family. After what I have been learning about based upon many people talking about M.O.M. implants, it is a very reasonable thought that this is what my dear Mother might have been suffering from and in the end died from the complications of Metalosysis poisoning of her body. My Mother was the most amazing person and the best friend that a boy and then a man ( myself ) could ever have been. There needs to be Justice for everyone going through this morally and physically painful process. My sympathies and the most heartfelt prayers go out to all of you effected by this condition / disease.
    John L

    Posted on November 7, 2016 at 9:44 am

  • Jackie says:

    Reading your entry from several years ago, you describe my situation almost exactly. I am 71 and have had an ASR Depuy hip for almost 10 years. It has been nothing but wonderful and allows me to do yoga, spin, biking, tennis, and anything else just fine. However, my annual levels of cobalt and chromium are in the 20’s, and this concerns my doctor and me. MRI shows nothing too alarming but some inflammation. I, too, have sought a non-surgical method of eliminating the toxic metals but chlorella and milk thistle have not helped. In the elapsed time since you posted, have you found any solutions that helped your situation? Thanks.

    Posted on December 22, 2016 at 2:28 pm

  • Denise says:

    My Chromium and Cobalt levels are 71.5+ level. I have a cyst on my ovary they are doing an ultrasound soon. Did anyone else get cysts on ovaries from the MoM hip replacements? I had both done in 2007 and will go in to replace it soon. AM checking to see if model of MoM hips are on the recall.

    Posted on February 23, 2017 at 1:32 pm

  • Bernice says:

    I have had a total hip replacement in 1996 and had to get a revision in 1997 I was never told about having my cobolt levels checked and today my levels are 4.1 and I can’t seem to find a lawyer to represent me because it was done so long ago but now I have to have surgery for the third time on the same hip. Is there someone out there who can help me. I’m in constant pain every day

    Posted on July 24, 2017 at 3:16 am

  • Chloe says:

    Most upsetting – manufacturers very reluctant to provide package inserts of knee and hip replacement prosthesis. Both my mom and aunt and others in their retirement village have developed urticuria (acutely so) and they’re invariably too old and poorly to have revisional surgery done.
    WHY are people not tested for metal allergies before these major operations. My mom is now constantly on prednisone and antihistamines with lots of side effects within itself. Elderly need to be tested beforehand and thoroughly too. No dermatologists were interested in her story (one said old people tend to itch OMG) and until after 7 specialists we had extensive tests done to show mom allergic to both titanium and chromium. She now has to live with this after an exceptionally successful knee transplant.

    Posted on September 15, 2017 at 1:22 pm

  • Linda says:

    I have been crippled since first hip metal since 2002 went back 2004 for repair not a revision constant pain groin hip and back do have cobalt & chromium in blood stream it has taken . have to use walker has taken 15 years of my life

    Posted on November 10, 2017 at 3:10 pm

  • Deborah says:

    My husband had a Depuy hip implant in 2006. He had a good surgical recovery, but never got to the point where he could walk without pain in that hip. Initially the surgeon said that nothing was wrong. About the time we received the recall notice, my husband had developed allergies, itching sensations, and peripheral neuropathy. The pain sensations in his feet were excruciating. Massage seemed to help at first, but the numbness combined with burning, stabbing, shooting pains were almost unbearable, causing him to just scream from the pain at times. He found some relief by soaking his feet in ice water, but I worried that keeping his feet in ice water so much probably wasn’t good for his circulation. The allergies, rashes, and itching worsened. He also developed a tremor in his hands and complained of mental confusion.

    He was terrified of having the revision surgery as it is so risky. He was sure that he would die on the table or be crippled so much that his life condition would be even worse. Some changes in our insurance coverage made it impossible for him to have the surgeon of his choice perform the revision surgery.

    We were still exploring our options for the revision surgery when he became weak and anemic with intense swelling and pain in his wrist and shoulder. Shortly after that he was diagnosed with bone marrow failure. Because he was so weakened by then, he was not a good candidate for immediate bone marrow transplant which is considered to be the only cure for bone marrow failure. We tried a low dose chemotherapy that was intended to bring his general condition back up to the point where he could tolerate a bone marrow transplant. After one round (5 days) of the low dose chemotherapy, he fell at home and broke the hip with the transplant. He was in a care facility to recover from the break and regain his strength, but only worsened and died about a month later.

    I cannot explain how much grief and sadness I feel over the pain and suffering my husband endured. I am convinced that all of his symptoms, the rashes, the itchiness, the allergies, the peripheral neuropathy, the tremors, the mental confusion, and the bone marrow failure are due to the high levels of chromium and cobalt in his blood.

    He had been working with a company who was pursuing a lawsuit against the manufacturer, but the company told him that because he did not have the revision surgery within 10 years of the initial implant that he was excluded from the lawsuit. In this particular lawsuit, the court held that if you did not have the revision surgery, you were not harmed as metallosis was not considered to have been proven as a cause of harm.

    I think the fact that my husband did not have the revision surgery should not allow the manufacturer to be absolved of blame for what happened to him. I am just not sure whether I have a case or how I should pursue it.

    Posted on January 10, 2018 at 8:52 pm

  • Ben says:

    I had Depuy pinnacle metal on metal bilateral hip replacements back in2004. Nine months after my left hip replacement and started to experience groin pain. From 2006 till2012 complaining about the pain in my left Hip .my surgeon would take x-rays and tell me the bone looks fine the alignment looks fine and keep sending me home telling me that the implant was ok . By the way he also, worked for Biomet as a Biomechanical engineer , designing knee and hip implants. If , you have one of these types of devices you should go to your surgeon and get your blood tested I did that and my surgeon said not to worry about it my hip was fine they were having problems because some surgeons putting them in incorrectly . I wasn’t satisfied with that so I want to my family D.R. and he ordered a blood test and I had my blood test come back normal. later I find out that it was the wrong blood test. This was early part of December 2017 . On December 22 I was rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening septic infection of my left hip implant . My white blood cell count was over 30,000 . Due to the severe bone and tissue necrosis I’m permanently disabled because my femur bone was destroyed, also, they found a pseudo tumor that was 7 cm in diameter just adjacent to the implant The surgeon said that implant was black in color and they pulled 60cc of brown chocolate milk looking joint fluid out of my joint sac. Also the surgeon had to remove 30 pounds of dead soft tissue from my buttox, thigh, and hamstring region. While I was recovering I experienced a heart attack in the hospital and a blood clot in my right lung. I know have Stage 4 heart failure . From endocarditis from the metallosis. I was in the hospital for almost 4 months recovering from this and the pain from the pain is so severe l have threatened to cut my leg off with a chainsaw!it is now almost a year since my infection and now I am back in the hospital because I’m having several health complications with problems with lymph nodes problems breathing , I have to have oxygen turned up all the way or my oxygen levels drop too low . My heart is so week I’m having problems removing water from my body. I’ve been diagnosed with stage Four heart failure my ejection fraction is only 16% and I’m only 42 years old. Also I’ve been experiencing memory problems blurred vision lower back pain andpain where the implant was removed, my right leg is starting to do have same type of groin pain as my left . I’ve spent most of 2018 in the hospital dealing with this and I think it’s just beginning. I have four wonderful children And a beautiful wife but I’m afraid they’re gonna have to live without me because with the damage to my heart and now my D.R. think I may have pancreatic cancer I have all the signs of it and I’m getting ready to be tested for it this week . I’ve told loved ones and friends not to let my death be for nothing to go after the people like Depuy that is directly responsible. Futhermore, I was a very athletic fit healthy person before I had these implants installed please don’t wait get this taken care of if you suspect of been poisoned from these implants and get a second opinion if you do not like your surgeons diagnosis . It would of saved me!

    Posted on November 21, 2018 at 1:05 pm

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