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Does that painful hip indicate an allergy?

On Behalf of | May 19, 2019 | Firm News

You get a hip replacement done, and they tell you that you should never need another procedure. The longevity on these replacements is incredible, and you should not need a new one during the course of your life.

That sounds great, and it seems like it went well at first, but then you notice that you have persistent pain. You expected some pain as you healed from the procedure, but it never goes away. Some days are worse than others. But, even on the good days, you have this persistent pain that detracts from your quality of life and your physical abilities.

You go to the doctor to ask what’s going on, and they suggest that you may have an allergy to the metal used in the replacement hip joint. Is that possible?

Allergies are rare

You may be allergic to something used in the joint. It does happen. However, medical experts note that it is very rare. They claim that patients seldom encounter it. You should never assume that’s what the problem is.

What is the real cause?

If it’s not an allergy, then what is causing that pain? What can you do about it?

In many cases, the pain comes from surgical problems. Did the surgeon make a mistake that left you with permanent damage? Is your hip refusing to heal? Did they injure you in some way that you never expected?

Doctors are not perfect. They may have a lot of training and experience, but they do make mistakes. Consider the fact that your surgeon may be to blame if you have constant pain after a procedure.

Another potential cause is infection. While the site may look like it has healed from the outside, an interior infection could still leave you with all sorts of physical problems. Again, this infection could relate back to mistakes that the doctors made at some point in the process.

On top of that, you must remember that many metal hip replacement joints were subjected to a recall. They were wearing down the joints far faster than expected. Even when medical professionals felt confident that they would last for decades, people often needed replacements a few years after the initial surgery.

That pain you feel could be due to the fact that you got a replacement hip joint that was included in the recall. It can lead to nerve damage, infection and a host of related issues.

What now?

If the pain in your hip means that you need a second replacement and/or extensive medical care, it’s important that you understand all of the legal steps you can take. You may have a right to compensation for your costs.