TKR 2active getting her life back!

[Celle]

Do you have any other symptoms, apart from the rash?

Hang in there and see if the cream helps.
If it doesn't then see your surgeon.

There's only one way to find out if you are allergic to some of the metal in your implant, and that is to be tested.
I understand that skin testing is not always conclusive, so it is worth finding out for sure, by paying to have the blood test as well.

 

[sistersinhim]

Oh my dear, I will be praying that you don't have the metal allergy. Hopefully, it's something totally unrelated to your implant.

 

[RMasano]

Does your implant have nickel? It is what most people with problems are allergic to. I did a little research on my implant brand before surgery and know that the one that I have is Verilast, and problems with allergies are less likely with this particular implant.

 

[2active]

No other symptoms. I just don't know what it could be..... I don't have pain. Just swelling in the rash area right above my knee. The rash calms down by just taking Benadryl without the cream, and stops itching, but I'm still so worried about an allergy after what I've read on the internet. I am praying this is something unrelated to my KR. I have worn lot's of costume jewelry that I'm sure contained Nickel and other metals, and never developed a rash. Could I be one of the unlucky ones???

 

[2active]

I really don't know, but that's one of my questions I plan to ask tomorrow. This is consuming my thoughts and is making me sick to my stomach.

 

[sistersinhim]

I can certainly understand your concern. I would be, too. Please let us know what your doctor says. BTW, have you changed your soap or laundry detergent? Any new pant's? Anything else that could be causing your swelling and rash. Oh, and I've read that a metal allergy will also make your knee hurt. You don't have that, so hopefully it isn't that!

 

[2active]

No, I haven't changed anything at all. No new pants, no new lotions. I do know that the rash didn't start until after I used Mederma scar gel for the first time. I don't know if it's just a coincidence, I just try to think of everything that I ate or put on my skin right before this occurred. Also, I would think that if it were the Mederma, it probably would be a contact rash, and not a hive like rash coming from the inside out as it is occasionally. I really don't know, but I'm not wasting any time guessing.. I'm calling first thing in the morning.

 

[sistersinhim]

I think you should call as soon as they open. Again, not having pain with it is a good thing! Every site I looked at said that pain was with a metal allergy. Please keep us informed.

 

[KarriB]

Take a close look at the Mederma ingredients. Does it contain PBA?

 

[2active]

Yes I will definitely call as soon as they open. And no, Mederma's list of ingredients doesn't contain PBA. What is that?

 

[KarriB]

It's an ingredient that is used by some lotions with SPF and can cause a rash. If you just started the Mederma there's a good chance that could be it. There may be something that your skin reacted to. But of course call your dr.

 

[2active]

Oh I see. I'm praying that it's something simple..... I will keep you all posted. Thanks for all the feedback.

 

[Celle]

I think it's far more likely to be a reaction to something external, rather than an allergy to the knee implant. The Mederma sounds the most likely candidate.

 

[2active]

I hope so, but I haven't used that in a few days, so would I still be having reactions from it? I stopped using it last Thursday, the day before I called my doctor.

 

[Arttie]

FYI, I just had the skin test for metal allergy. Patch on on Monday, patch off on Wednesday and examined, see doctor on Thursday and examined again, told to keep looking for delayed reaction until Monday. So it could be a delayed reaction, but I hope not.
Now look on the ingredients for:
Methylchloroisothiazolinone – preservative in commercial products like lotions and personal hygine products – skin rash and Methylisothiazolinone since they can cause some reactions in individuals.

https://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/methylisothiazolinone/

 

[2active]

Oh I hope not too... What is your rash like, and is it only around your surgical sight? Do you have additional pain with the rash? I checked the Mederma for those ingredients, and they aren't there. There is an ingredient called Methyparaben. I don't know if that's in the same family as the ones you listed. Please let me know what your symptoms are. Thanks!

 

[Arttie]

I was answering to your question if a reaction could show up several days after stopping the use of your topical cream. So my metal tests were all negative with a questionable for vanadium, an additive to some metal alloys and usually not in implants. Sometimes used in some stainless steel which may be found in surgical instruments. The other 2 compounds were in some moist wipes that caused an itching similar to hemorrhoids . I know TMI. The symptoms went away when I switched to wipes that did not contain the 2 preservatives.

 

[2active]

That's awesome news. Sounds like you had an easy fix. I'm in hopes that I will be lucky enough to find a simple solution as well. I woke up this morning with the same type of reaction as the last few days. I haven't used anything except for cortisone cream that my OS instructed me to use along with Benadryl. I'm calling their office as soon as they open this morning. Thanks for your answers. I'm glad you're doing better.

 

[2active]

Okay, so the doctor called back today and said that I have the Smith and Nephew Journey II Oxinium with Verilast, which is a high end knee for metal sensitivity, so he doesn't believe it's related to the implant at all. He instructed me to continue using cortisone cream and Benadryl for a few days since the rash is the only symptom I have. I still cant figure out what it is, so I'm hoping that it just goes away soon, so I can stop worrying about it. I have to say, it is better today.

 

[KarriB]

That should make you feel a bit better.