Hip recall

[Tom T]

In Feb05 I had my left hip replaced. I took a fall and destroyed it and my lower back. It never stopped hurting.It never grew into the Femur they replaced it with another it has not got any better. I called the Dr. and asked foe brand and type on booth implants and you guessed it they are on the recall list. I was better of with the old hip. Now have top find out what the health concerns are they said something about metal transfer in to the system. O well what the heck its just my leg. Tom T

[oiler]

I'm sorry to hear about all your trubles Tom I surely hope you are weel insured...
Are you willing to try again?
Best wishes from here.

[mobile_bob]

Tom

i am really sorry to hear of your ailment,
will keep you in our thoughts and prayers

hope they find an agreeable solution and a speedy recovery

bob g

[XYZER]

Tom,
My wife must have the same new and improved replacement joint. They have to monitor the chromium levels and are watching it closely. It is a metal to metal joint. My eyebrows raised when the doctor said that but I figured they had lots of data and it worked. Turns out the joint company had lots marketing angles. Pay attention to your eyebrows! They are in a holding pattern right now on what to do. I hope they come up with a good fix for everyone!
Dave

[mbryner]

Hi Tom,

Sorry to hear you got one of those hips.   Most people who get hip arthroplasties (replacements) are quite happy, so I'm sorry for all your troubles.

One of the ortho surgeons in our town has put in >200 of those recalled hips while another one has done 7.   There is a possible Chromium and Cobalt toxicity that wasn't anticipated.   Of course maybe the company knew about it and kept it under wraps for a while.   I don't know.   If you know me well enough, you'll know what I think of drug co's and medical equipment co's.   What a racket!   With all this talk about health care reform nobody ever talks about them.   (i.e. Think about markups of 100x what it costs to manufacture.)  So far the best plans the gov has are to make a national single payor system or throw more money at ins. co's. instead of look at the root problems.   Anyway, I digress.   Back to your hip: we are doing MRI's for those hips and there are certain things we are looking for on the MRI's.   Of course we have many patients who are milking the system and consider the recall a great get rich scheme.   That makes me sick, too.   

Anyway, I hope you feel better and have a speedy resolution.

Marcus

[Tom T]

Thanks to all for the good thoughts. I got it done first and formost to stop the pain. Am retierd becouse of the fall I took. Yes I have good ins. all I wont isfor it to be right. Dave hope things work out for you and your wife in this. I am to young to be this old:( Tom  T