I have been advised I will need a TKR. My consultant has been putting it off due to my age, 53. However, the pain and restriction on my activities now is so debilitating and depressing that I really need to push for it.
But, apart from the usual qualms about surgery, worse pain ect, I am very concerned that the implant is made from nickel and cobolt. I have had NHS test patch tests done which show I have severe skin allergies to these metals and others. My consultant said it'll be no problem and any evidence of allergic reaction to implant surgery is anecdotal so not to be trusted.
I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has had implant surgery and is allergic to one or both of these metals to see whether it caused a problem.
Hi, I’m 46 and had a left tkr and patella on 12th December. I’m seeing my surgeon in two weeks to schedule the right tkr. My prosthesis is titanium and I didn’t have any allergy tests so assume all ok. Recovery has been great - 4 weeks on and I’m clocking up 10,000 steps a day, back at work, driving and looking forward to the next one so I can get my life back. Good luck
WOW i get really scared when i read things like this I had my TKR and Patella done in the 11-12-17.
I have really been strict and focused with my exercises but I am in so much pain still and keep feeling like the knee will dislocate and i’m still using 2 crutches does this mean there is something wrong, sometimes it’s so tick hard and stiff i feel like it is twice as heavy.
Also unbearable pain in my hip and thigh, even sore to th touch.And cannot lay with my leg flat and outstretched because of accute pain.The back if my knee always caused me the most discomfort and distress and i feel this pain and the issue has not been rectified despite having the surgery 😩😢
still only sleeping 1-2 Hours and very worried and tearful.
I know everyone is different
Hi. That’s very interesting. Are you in the uk? I was told by my consultant that titanium implants were rarely done and only on older patients as they were not as stable. However, I heard elsewhere this was not the case. Very confusing and just thinking maybe he doesn’t want to use one or know enough about them. Do you mind telling me where you had yours done and, most importantly, was it on the NHS? I don’t have private insurance.
Don't let one persons story make you feel like you are in trouble. I've been activally involved with tkr recipients for the last 15 years and my therapist has as doctorate. He nor I have ever heard of a recovery like loulou describes. There are many more at the recovery with difficulties than those he describes. Just be yourself and keep plugging along. Recovery isn't lineal, its up one day, down the next and Some days there isn't a change. I've always said that Frieda and families can be great allies but they can also be huge pains in the butt. When they start telling you about someone's fried who had a 3rd cousin who was friends with the guy next door who knew simeone that was trying for a marathon 2 weeks after surgery, just smile and say that's nice but don't let it mess up your psychic. Slow and steady. Keep working but don't beat up on yourself. You will heal as your body allows.
My TKR was titanium as I had it done at an early age and so it had to last longer. I didn’t have a patch test to see if I would be allergic before it was implanted and have never heard of that before. You do need to discuss the allergy with your surgeon and he may use titanium instead.
I have now now found out that my right TKR isfailing after just 13years!
Hi I've pain my groin/hip but working through it with stretches as ice been told it's the nerves they had to cut playing hell AND pain in my big toe so bad thought it was broken Any way 6 weeks post TKR I had the other leg done 12 months ago this one had ups and downs but defo sleeping better this time and can even turn iver and lie on my side this time so as they say every leg operation is different so keep going if will be soon over xxx
There has been a lot of discussion on the site concerning allergic reactions to metal. There are cases, and I per s finally know 2, of problems with hip replacement and the metal. Apparently the hip situation is very much different than the knee, even using the same metal. I haven't heard or seen any comments on here that indicate issues with knee replacement. Its interesting that you had the test because one individual in the UK said her hospital said there wasn't a reliable test and wouldn't do anything. I don't recall anyone in the US talking about testing. I suppose your surgeon is locked into one prosthesis and won't change. Personally, I've had 3 prosthesis in the same knee, 2 by one company and 1 by another and even thought they were different materials, I haven't had any concerns.
Hi Julie, I’m really sorry if my post upset you. That was never my intention - I just wanted to pass on my personal experience of tkr. Hope things improve for you soon. Louise
Hi,
My prosthesis is a cementless titanium triathlon which was used because of my age, good fitness levels and the fact that I will need at least one revision maybe more.
I had my operation done at the BMI Lincoln UK as an NHS patient and I cannot fault it from start to finish hence I am lining up the next one.
I had bone on bone both knees due to doing lots of high impact sports when I was younger and basically wearing them out!? Who knew exercise could be so flipping bad for us! Good luck
Hi, sorry you find my recovery hard to believe. I can only speak from my personal experience and am far too old and disinterested to bother about making up stories. I understand that everyone has a different recovery but that doesn’t make the positive ones any less valid than the difficult ones.
Good luck to all is my motto!
I totally get what your saying, I turned to this site for encouragement ,empathy and to listen to people with similarities,.
I have read a couple of stories and i’ve just sat and cried. how can these people be returning to work and doing so much ,each day I prey that there will be some kind of normality some days i feel i’ve even taken steps backward.
I am trying to stay positive and believe that it will improve,but there is this niggling feeling that something isn’t right.
My husband has told me to stop coming in to the forum because it is making me feel more anxious,but I need to know i’m not alone.
Thank you fir your encouraging words
Hi your post did not upset me,I have concerns that there is something wrong after my surgery.,and after reading your story got scared,but also very surprised at your recovery.
I hope your good progress continues but i’m sure you are a minority judging by others stories.
Good Luck
Hi I too had my replacement done on 12 Dec. Feeling great I do have a nickel allergy and had a special prosthetic ordered to cater for this. I’m 43 and am going back to work in two weeks. Can’t wait life is good! Good luck with yours!!!
Hi Tina,
Great to hear someone else is having a positive recovery! I was beginning to think I was going crazy and everything was about to go horribly wrong!!
You are right, life is good and I can’t wait to have my right knee done so I can continue enjoying it! I hope everything continues to go well for you and good luck with work!! Enjoy!
I have no reason to think you are making any statements other than the ones you made. My only history is that I've never personally ran into anyone in rehab, etc that had such a remarkable experience and that others shouldn't feel intimidated if they aren't fortunate enough to be close to you. This forum is made up of a lot of interesting folks with a myriad of experiences, most concerned about their recovery. People who have text book recoveries either aren't on here to begin with or don't stick around very long as they wish to get on with their lives. I congratulate you on your fantastic recovery but wouldn't want anyone to set you up as an average patient, its just to demoralizing to those having issues. Again, I wish I had been as fortunate as you.
Hi.
Good to hear that you're in the UK and also that you have had such a positive outcome. I'm in Worcestershire where the NHS is currently cancelling all hip and knee ops to save money. The consultants I have seen have been very dismissive about my concerns. My GP though is happy to refer me out of the area if I do my own research to find a more sympathetic consultant who would use titanium. Thing is, the consultant could be correct and nickel and cobalt would cause no problem. But if they are wrong it's me who would have to live with the resulting mess. Also, I think a major part of recovery is positive thinking, and having these extra worries doesn't make me feel positive at all!
Thank you. You have given me hope!
Hi Tina
Great to read about your recovery. Are you also in the UK and an NHS patient?
Hi
Thanks for your reply.
Youre right about my consultant, and I don't blame him for not wanting to operate with something he is not familiar with. I wish I could be confident that nickel and cobalt won't cause problems. Funny thing is, I have arthritis in my big toe and will soon also need a joint implant there, but when I mentioned allergies to that surgeon, he immediately said they had ceramic implants for patients with metal allergies!
Thanks Sharon.
Sorry to hear your TKR is failing now though and wish you well for a future replacement.
Are you in the UK and an NHS patient?