Metal Allergies....Liz????

[sahuaro]

I was thinking there might be something (medication) that would block your allergic reaction but a quick goggle search indicated that aside from cortisone--which has its own problems--there isn't anything. The allergic response releases T cells, not histamines.

Sure hope your surgeon can come up with a creative solution.

[Maria]

If it were me I'd be worried about what kind of reaction can occur w/metal allergies (if something used that is known to be high on allergen list for you) as I think there are all kinds of autoimmune diseases that seem to pop up that might be tied to various types of allergies to xyz and some of that being metal allergies.

However that being said perhaps there are meds that could be prescribed for life like the meds used when someone has a heart or other transplant and is on meds to fight rejection.

Again, certainly am not suggesting anything am just *wondering* and adding in two cents for thought...

[Katie]

Maria, that's a pretty brilliant idea! Way to go girl

I'm hoping that the surgeon knows a lot more than I do about an alternative...I think the chances of that are pretty good I'll keep you all posted on the progress...when I learn anything. As a good friend pointed out...I can't be the first person that this has happened to, so the manufacturers should be working on trials by now.

It isn't limited to ADR or fusion hardware. The lab said that the demand for this blood test first started when artificial hips and knees, etc. were becoming popular and people were getting ill for no apparent reason...both unexplained illness and infection type symptoms which were traced back to allergies to the metals inserted in the joints. I wish they worked a little faster on it.

[Maria]

Katie,
I think this is even with dental hardware and fillings. I know of someone with MS who was advised to get all his gold fillings removed which he did altho he's not certain it helped or not.

Good luck~ you're right, you're not the first person and you won't be the last tho you are you and need what works for you

[Katie]

Maria, my husband's colleague ran into the same thing. He had to get all his fillings removed because of a suspected reaction to the mercury or whatever else was in them. Not long after they were taken out, he made a significant recovery.

With all the pins and posts with the crowns, I'm sure I have lots of evil steel or whatever that is playing havoc with my system, but taking those out is not a simple process. False choppers could be on the horizon

[mmglobal]

These issues are so tough to deal with. The people who are looking into these types of issues tend to be pretty far down the road and unable to get a good diagnosis. There is no question in my mind about the horror stories of unscrupulous dentists doing tens of thousands of dollars worth of unnecessary and unproductive filling removals on patients who look at it as their last hope. There is also no question in my mind that some of these patients also get their lives back after having been to the brink with endless illness and disability, ultimately resolved by resolving something as rare as the metal allergies. (Any idea how rare?)

Katie, I'm so glad that you seem to have a good diagnosis and have what seems to be viable alternatives. I'll be very interested to see where this leads you... PEEK cages? autograft? allograft? There are even PEEK ADR's that will be coming around soon.

Keep us posted.

Mark

[Katie]

Thanks Mark. I haven't looked into any of the things you mentioned. They were never on the horizon so not necessary to check them out.

I'll have to do some major research now. Thanks for at least pointing me in the right direction. Other than looking for plastic (poly) or pure titanium things, I don't know which way to go, to be honest.