Allergic Reactions to Joint Replacements Happen...

Typically after the initial pain of joint replacement surgery subsides, patients often say they wished they had had the surgery earlier.  However, at times patients can have continued pain that doe not subside.  If there is an allergic reaction to the metal in the replaced joint there will often be a rash either at the patient's surgical site or over their entire body.  This condition is rare, 1,200 to 6,000 allergic complications per year.  

However, if you react to metals in jewelry it may be a good idea to get tested for specific metal allergies.  This can be done by a blood test, skin patch test or lymphocyte transformation test (LTT).  It is rare to have an allergic reaction to your joint replacement but the only treatment if you are is to have the joint replacement revised.

Information taken from Arthritis Today July/August 2014 article written by Marianne Wait, Could You Be Allergic to Your New Joint?