u/Technical_Maybe_5925

I suffered with my primary total hip replacement for 19 months before it was revised. I retained the parts. What I saw was both rotational and rocking wear on the liner. Surgical notes said there was a significant amount green-black fluid between the cup and the metal liner. From what Dr. Google says and my surgeon, and my PA, the only way for the liner to disassociate from the shell is through a traumatic event, or the liner never have been seated correctly during surgery.

I found a Stryker document that in my mind acknowledges that there is a issue with proper seating of the liner https://www.stryker.com/content/dam/stryker/no-index/training-and-education/jr45/season-3/march/resources/MDM_Surgical_protocol_JR_GSNPS_SURGP_1003536_EN_US.pdf page 14 in text under the caution in the box.

So Sryker in my mind has said this is a know problem, look out. So is Styker at fault for creating a joint that is difficult to install correctly in surgery, or is it surgical error and was my doctor just being careless in surgery?

At the end of the day I had a failed hip due to metallosis, I lost my job because of my ongoing pain and from what I now realize was cobalt poisoning. I am amazed at how fast post op the symptoms of the constant headaches, nausea, itching, changes in vision, ability to speak, ability to think have improved. One of my friends was telling me about the Iron Man 2 and Palladium Poisoning

While Metal Man (2008) ignores metal toxicity, Iron Man 2 (2010) centers its plot around palladium poisoning.  

My friend said my face looked like the Iron man character's makeup - he was surprised at how accurately the movie created the look of metal poisoning - which he saw in my face.

Thoughts - again I know I obsessing, but I think most people would want to know why a really bad thing happened to them. Thank you for your kindness

My revision was 17 days ago. This morning before I moved out of the bed I noticed something that I've not had for a long time. While lying still I was actually pain free. I'm so thankful for this pain free moment. It's such a relief after suffering near 20 months with 7-8/10 constant pain that would wake me up at night.

I had my revision done last week and was told by my lawyer to request the parts. I've learned a few things.

1. nuclear bone scans are terrible for showing loosening.
2. Side effect from metallosis can happen pretty early on - I thing my cobalt levels were on the low end of the scale, but I was having pain, and neurological symptoms, I was also have terrible nausea starting around 10 months, before my 1 year post op mark, and by 16 months I was experiencing significant neurological issues. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4750564/
3. I am completely blown away how quickly I felt better after the bad parts were removed - I was thinking this has got to be a placebo effect , but family members are noticing that I now can string words together into a sentence. My pain is greatly reduced, even early ROM is better than before the surgery. I'm not had a headache since the surgery (before it was nearly daily), I still have the flashing lights that I see in my eyes, while not gone are affecting a much smaller area. I started seeing changes 1 day after the surgery.
4. Even when images and doctors keep saying everything looks good and placement is normal, and cobalt levels are in the safe zone, and as sure as the doctors think they are until they cut you open there is no way to know what really is wrong.
5. I can see the gray material on my liner, I can see the wear on the liner, telling me that the liner was moving around in my cup, I was told that the inclination of my cup was creating a impingement condition - which is most likely why I could not flex beyond 90 degrees. So metallosis can happen in a ceramic on poly MDM hip.
6. My first indication that something was not right increasing pain that did not resolve with rest. Within the first 6 weeks I was already complaining that it was not right, by 3 month post op I was going to Immediate care because of 8/10 pain. I pretty on aware of the neurological symptoms until the 10-12 month mark.

By the books this is really rare, but it 100% happened too me. If you or a family member has increased pain, rising cobalt levels (even if the levels are low) and generally they or you don't feel good keep pushing for the cause. I was repeatedly told, It's just scar tissue. Knowing what I know now I would never allow anything with cobalt or chrome back into my body

https://preview.redd.it/gykk32ke31yg1.png?width=3332&format=png&auto=webp&s=f285cd75086c47b6a7939a47cedfb77ac31ad1de

this is the image my parts the liner is the silver dome - wear can be seen on the side facing us