@Golfer1, aeries, and Sara61, Your experiences so resonate with me. It all started on october 2018 when after having problems with right knee ,several arthroscope surgeries for meniscus tears and finally OS saying I can give you a partial knee replacement due to much of the knee not being affected by osteoarthritis, in other words sparing my knee.
It sounded good to me and seemed like it would be a quicker recovery. Boy was I wrong! No one asked me if I had a nickel allergy beforehand . I proceeded with a patellofemoral knee replacement on October 2018. It was a very difficult recovery and actually never got much better, It needed to be drained multiple times, was on pain meds a long time followed by another arthroscopy for a meniscus tear post op. I thought to mention to the dr that I had a sensitivity to nickel and asked if there was any in my implant. He said a very small amount and true metal allergies are very rare.
While dealing with this partial replacement there were so many wonderful family events, especially the wedding of our daughter. I had to limp and tough it all Out! Finally this spring I did some self reflection and realized that my partial knee replacement surgery is failing me and sought out a specialist in knee revision surgery. I read the many excellent comments that his patients wrote about him and the majority of his surgeries are revisions of knees and hips. We discussed replacement with a revision to total knee and titanium implant.
I had surgery on the 29th of July and although I am still in the beginning stages of recovery, my knee feels strong and stable. I am hopeful that this time around I will regain the quality of life I had three or four years ago, being physically active, going on long walks often with groups for charity causes, swimming, hiking and generally moving with no pain. I sure deserve it. There is a very short line of people wanting to have two major surgeries within 1 and a half years.
Love this forum and the good advice, support and feeling part of this experience with others. Wish I had asked ahead of time about Nickel !