Metal Allergy Custom or off the shelf? Metal allergy?

Has anyone gone for a third opinion????
Certainly! And a fourth opinion. You need someone to balance this conundrum!
 
I’ve had 3 opinions total, my original surgeon and 2 second opinions, and no help for my issues. I’m 2.5 years post op. What I have is far from perfect but it is manageable, so I’m just making do.

Well! So what do i do now! Has anyone gone for a third opinion????
Yes, sometimes you have to keep looking for a surgeon that you will have confidence in.
 
Wish i could say, its manageable. Its more like,miserable. Enjoyment of life and function are compromised.
Im wondering who has taken the step and had a spacer replaced and ended up worse off?
And one of the local transplant surgeons who could provide another opinion is a DO. Is it better to just go with an MD or does it matter?
 
And one of the local transplant surgeons who could provide another opinion is a DO. Is it better to just go with an MD or does it matter?
It matters a lot who you see for a second opinion. Personally I would never take my knee issues to a DO or regular MD, or anyone who didn’t specialize in TKR.

My second opinions were with surgeons who do Revisions, they have the education and background to determine what is happening with troubled knees.

Look for a surgeon specializing in complex joint reconstruction or revisions. They should have no relationship with your present OS, not even golf buddies.

Both my second opinions looked at my supposedly perfect X-ray and said they didn’t know what’s causing my issues, as nothing wrong showed in the X-ray. Neither would do any further tests. So, I’m searching for my third opinion. This seems to be what those of us who don’t have good outcomes go through. Sometimes it seems no one wants our case. :bawl:
 
Am i reading between the lines too much? Or Should one give more weight to the opinion of a surgeon who does a lot of revisions; or to the opinion of a surgeon who does a lot of transplants (and is now medical director of the hospital)? Thank you.
 
Transplants and joint replacements are two different things. I think a medical director is more admin work than actual hands on.

I agree with the others, that you need to travel away from your area, find a doctor that specializes in revisions of problem knees and does not have any affiliation with your previous doctor.
 
Oh i made a mistake using the word transplants. I meant to refer to the surgeons as surgeons who do joint replacements.
The original surgeon, who did the total replacement 3 years ago practices in another state. The person who gave me the 2nd opinion lives in my state, different city than where i live. These two docs know of each other. The surgeon, from whom i am seeking a third opinion lives in my city, and has a great reputation amongst many of his patients whom i know.

Part of my anguish is my other knee desparately needs to have a tkr, but it is difficult to put my trust and confidence in someone who keeps saying i dont know whats wrong- with the knee that he already did! (Despite testing for infection, and having a bone scan 2 years ago.)

I also had a total shoulder 2 years ago, that always hurts. I wonder if there are some bodies that for some reason are always going to hurt.
Thank you very much for having replied to my post.
 
Should one give more weight to the opinion of a surgeon who does a lot of revisions; or to the opinion of a surgeon who does a lot of transplants (and is now medical director of the hospital)? Thank you.
Listen to the surgeon who specialises in doing revisions. He has the practical experience, whereas a transplant surgeon and a medical director have different areas of expertise.

Would you go to an orthopedic surgeon for a transplant? No. You'd go to a surgeon who specialises in doing transplants. Those areas of expertise and experience are completely different.

So, give most weight to a surgeon whose expertise and practical experience are in doing revisions. He/she sees problem knees every working day.
 
I used the word “transplant” in error. Imam talking about joint “replacement.”

What i think i am alluding to is a difference between a surgeon specializing in “replacements” and a surgeon specializing in “revisions.”
 
OK. I see you've re-phrased the question.

I'd still give more weight to the surgeon who specialises in doing revisions, because he/she will have seen more problem knees. A surgeon who does knee replacements will not have as much practical experience in dealing with problem knees as a revision surgeon who sees them every day.

The other thing is that you need to seek an opinion from a surgeon who has no connection at all, either social or professional with your current surgeon. That's so you get a completely independent opinion, uninfluenced by the opinion of your current surgeon.

And no, I wouldn't have a second knee replaced by the surgeon who did your first replacement and now says he doesn't know what's wrong with it.

Word of mouth recommendations are good, but they only go so far. You need to see a surgeon whose expertise is with problem knees.
 
Today i got the fourth opinion on the continual knee pain from 3 year old tkr. Well apparently, 80 percent of tkr patients like the results, 5 percent have really bad outcomes, and 15 percent are disatisfied. So he concurs with three of the four opinions, that there is nothing surgical that can help me, and i am in the 15 percent group. His only suggestion regards treating the pain.

But heres what i want to know: who has had great outcome with the Conformis custom made implant? (This new surgeon does that.) who has had good outcome with robotic surgery and which is better? Laying aside my frustration with the already done knee,i have-to plan for the other tkr.
 
Im so in need of help.
The pain in the knee that so needs to be replaced is so severe. I am overwhelmed with choices of going somewhere where they use a robotic assist, going somewhere where they do custom implants, going somewhere where they use off-the-shelf components without robotic assist. People say go to the place where you trust a surgeon. But given all the trouble I have already had with the implant in the other leg I am thinking I need to look at something that might fit my knee better.
I have had a lot of trouble with the implant that I had done five years ago. Advice on this blog told me to get even a fifth opinion if I needed it. So after five opinions, two of them say I may need to get a bigger spacer. One guy had the idea that maybe I was allergic to the implant so I want to ask if anybody has had experience with an allergy to the implant material that caused them continuous pain five years out.If this thread is in the wrong place, or not allowed I’m sure somebody will let me know. But I am desperate for help
 
@Luluk
Welcome back to BoneSmart, sorry you are having ongoing problems with your TKR, and are wondering what to do with your other knee.
You will notice I merged your newest thread with your previous recovery thread, as your history with your right knee is relevant to your questions . It will be easier for us to address your concerns if we have your story in one place.
If you prefer a different thread title post it here and a moderator will update it for you.
Thanks!

One guy had the idea that maybe I was allergic to the implant so I want to ask if anybody has had experience with an allergy to the implant material that caused them continuous pain five years
We have a number of members who have had metal allergies and required a revision with a non nickel implant.
Here is a list of labs that test for metal allergies, you will need a Dr script, most insurances will not pay for the test, so plan on paying out of pocket.

This lab is Colorado Springs does tests for many allergens and allergic reactions.
http://www.ccrlab.com/contact.html

This lab in Chicago has more of a metal allergy focus.
https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-sensitivity

If you do have a metal allergy, your choices of implants will be limited to nickel free implants.
Suggest you need to determine if you do have metal allergy before proceeding with your second knee.
You may also benefit from a revision to a nickel free implant on your right TKR.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.
 
Well, I saw the last surgeon in my town who does tkrs. He was recommended because he's familiar with the implant in my 4-year-old tkr. I wanted to get his opinion, which was the 6th on my tkr.
Here's what he had to say. He looked at my legs, wrapped his fingers around them, and said your legs are too skinny. You don't have enough muscle mass to support a tkr.

I wanted to talk about the other knee that The other surgeons agree is a candidate for tkr and causes sometimes unbearable pain, interference with life, etc etc. He looked at one x-ray view, announced I had plenty of joint space, didn't have bone on bone, and refused to look at any other view when I asked him to.
He better not charge my insurance co Just for telling me I had no muscle mass. I wonder if he's done 10 marathons, on the 2nd hardest trail in the country.

Supposedly, he referred me to a doctor for allergy testing.
 
I’m sorry your appointment was not more informative. I’ve had 2 second opinions on my knee and no help, also. It’s very frustrating.
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jaycey
    ADMINISTRATOR Staff member since February 2011

Forum statistics

Threads
65,181
Messages
1,597,069
BoneSmarties
39,365
Latest member
Dave4562
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom