Comments on: Knee Replacement Allergies – Nothing to Sneeze At?

By: Tori

Tori — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:07:16 +0000

I had my first TKR L KNEE in 2008. Horrible experience since day one. Uncontrollable pain due to my epidural falling out and the nurses refused to listen to me. They finally got my pain under control then got me into a CPM. I barely got to 40 degrees (It took me months just to get to 90) One yr later my knee was red, hot, extremely swollen, and gave out all the time, to the point of falling. I was referred to a specialist who told me that it wasnt the right fit. He did the 2nd surgery and seems that some of the problems have resolved. But one month before the second surgery, i started having rashes. Then huge hives all over my body. In fact i had a severe breakout the day of the surgery and noone put two and two together. Now its 4 months since the second surgery, (oh i should tell you ive had 3 maniplations as well), anyways, i am having severe rash/ hives all over, itching, fatigue and severe all over body pain. My insides feel like, you know when u have burnt yourself on the oven or something like that? Im burning on the inside out. My hands, face, arms, chest are bright red most of he time. I get hives even on my palms or the soles of m feet. I am walking with a limp again, unable to control it. The pain, hives, fatigue, weakness, and all of this is getting unbearable. I know i either have an allergy to the metal or the cement. I would tell anyone who is thinking of having this surgery, to have a metal allergy test first before doing it. I am only 48 but feel like i’m 90. Please think about it and talk to as many people a you can. If i had the choice to do it all overi definately wouldn’t.

By: Mr. John Joseph Sabrowski

Mr. John Joseph Sabrowski — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:34:55 +0000

Thank all the people who are in what seems to me to be the same boat that I am in with this rash thing goiong on much the same. as I did read all blogs so far on my screen. My wife says it follows the nurves. I am convinced, as I have had a lump on my left bicept for two weeks that hurt. Then the rash came out in that spot. It seem what ever this rash problem is, it is very serious. Amen

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 03:48:06 +0000

http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com

I used them and they found I was allergic to nickel in my TKR….Good Luck

By: Pam

Pam — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:48:52 +0000

PLEASE DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO GET THE LTT TEST.

I’ve heard somewhere in Chicago, but can’t get past that….
HELP!

By: PJ

PJ — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:26:37 +0000

I am sorry to hear of all the goings wrong of TKR. I too at 51 years old, 5 months ago went through a double! I can bend to 128 and have excellent straightening,can do a lot….but never without pain, swelling,burning, clicking, shooting electrical pains, aching of the knee, shin, thigh and also a bizarre veiny rash that gets worse by days end like a petechiae…it seems the legs have too much pressure. Therapy stopped me two weeks ago as they said one knee was not tracking right. I can barely get up stairs, walk more Than one block. I’ve tried two weeks to get a hold of my surgeon to no avail. One of the tops in the Chicago area that does the Visionaires, custom made. I am worse off than before my accident and years of tennis. I am scared. I have learned much from all of you and am grateful. I will start with the allergy testing. Thanks so much for sharing. I wish you all grace and healing!

By: Mr. John Joseph Sabrowski

Mr. John Joseph Sabrowski — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:29:55 +0000

Yes, they asked me, do you have reaction to metal. “Yes” I said back. I was not given any testing done prior or after surgery. The VA suggested I go to a local Ortho Surgery center in Rapid City, SD. I did. I got put aside by one Surgeon there. I will not say his name. He wrote and said that I said, he lied, he wrote saying I did not want an operation. I got hot under the collar, went to the H and R office and I complained. I told them that I was referred to go to their Surge center by the VA. I was walked to the door after that visit with their center’s Human Resources officer. I went home. I called back after looking up on the WWW just who were the surgeons there. I got back by phone. I got squeezed in to see another Surgeon. He told me they would take good care of me. Now, I have a rash on my right side of my right knee under and to the side of the knee cap. This rash came to me after 7 months from my operation. The day before my operation on my right knee I was given Barium and a CT scan that was done to me by the VA. After my surgery I found out that Barium is a trace metal substance that I cannot have prior or after surgery. Barium is a trace metal of a curtain sort used to illuminate. The CT scan shows that I have cists on my Kidneys, benign, not solid. I am putting a save on my rash. I also tried to heal this with Vicks-VaproRub. Also put peroxide on the rash to kill infection. Also I am taking Benadryl liquid-gels; 25 MG each, not to take more than 6 per 24 hrs

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:06:54 +0000

Just some info for anyone experiencing pain and swelling that won’t go away. Had a TKR 12/10 and after about 8 months my doctor started to think I may be having an allergic reaction. Sent me to a dermatologist who ran patch testing that all came back negative. I did some research and found there is a lab in Chicago that does blood testing for metal allergies. Had a blood sample sent back to them and after about a week I got the results. My blood was reacting to nickel. I had the chromium/cobalt implant that had traces of nickel in the alloy. Well 4 weeks ago I had revision surgery and they replaced it with an implant made from Tivanium, a titanium alloy with no nickel. The difference is like night and day and am making such progress. Went to P.T. today and already am up to 123 degrees range of motion. This may not be the cure for everyone but something to consider. The test is called a lymphocyte transformation blood test.

By: Doug 84 yrs. young

Doug 84 yrs. young — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:47:45 +0000

TKR this past June 2011. Thanks for all the info, had a titanium knee, never had any pain, works great. However, my whole body except my hands and face have this horrible itchy,itchy and still itching rash. Did the steroids, creams,lotions, antibiotics to no avail. Was asked if I had any allergies, said “no”. If I did, I didn’t know it, don’t wear jewelry. I assumed they meant medicines. I have no intention of going thru it again at my age. Will have to try the two creams mentioned on these post. If I find relief from the itching side affects, will repost. I live with five dogs and if I’m ever lost, look for the one who does all the itching. Maybe the Vets Advantage or Program would work..hmmmmm!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:59:56 +0000

I am facing my 5th TKR in as many years next month. After ONE year they fail…. I am being tested for metal allergies in 2 wks. I had to find out this info myself as my OS had no cllue..which being a revision specialist shocks me (at a major teaching hospital in Boston MA). After my last surgery (a lateral release last March) I had a bad allergec reaction to the staples. This was a first and it was my 6th knee surgery. Chances are my right knee has also failed. I was told that this OS only uses one kind of knee so maybe I will have to find a dr. who can put a non metal knee in if in fact I do test positive. As a kid I could not wear nickel jewelry so I am really thinking this is the cause. Sucks that after 4 failed TKR’s this had not been brought up by any OS.

By: Robert Blau

Robert Blau — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:08:37 +0000

I had a De Puy Knee implant on January 19 2011.I immediately post surgery started to itch.I thought the itching was related to the pain medication.After being released from the hospital the itching continued.I then went to a dermatoligist believing I was still reacting to the pain medication.The dermatoligist gave me topical steroids.The steroids did not cure the rashes I had on my shins knee thigh arm and back.Iwent back and was diagnosed with contact dermatitis,given a steroid shot and topical steroids.The shot did provide temporary relief but the rashes soon returned in full force.I went to my family M.D.He sent me back to the dermatoligist.I was given a another steroid shot topical steroids and at a return visit tested for allergies to all the creams I was using and for nickel.No luck.I then went to an allergist and tested for everything.No results.I believe it is the knee replacement.I am now requesting the Lymphocyte transformation test. The M.D. is not familiar with the test.What labs are competent to do the test?Does anyone know? What knee manufacturer makes a non allergenic knee?What Orthopedist is the best at taking a knee out and putting a new one in?I would like a break from the rash and itching!Thanks