If you have one of the recipients of the 93,000 defective ASR hip implants that were recalled last year, you might be in danger of poisoning your own blood. Not only was this device causing a multitude of hip problems, but this implant may also cause more silent health problems by increasing the levels of metallic particles in the blood that bring serious side effects. ASR hip implant is made of Chromium and Cobalt ions and as its components rub against each other, bits of these metallic ions are scraped off which may eventually flow through the bloodstream. Recently parties are ordered to file complaints for the ongoing DePuy Multidistrict Litigation about the damages the product has brought to the plaintiffs.

What Cobalt Poisoning Does to the Body

A doctor recently published a case study on two patients with ASR Hip Implants and it was revealed that both of these recipients have cobal t levels 100 to 500 times beyond normal range. Normally, there should only be 1 microgram of cobalt in a liter of blood, 5 micrograms or more is already toxic and may cause serious side effects to the organs it infiltrates. Cobalt poisoning (cobaltism) can cause impairment of the senses like tinnitus (ringing sensation in the ears), vertigo, deafness, blindness, optic nerve atrophy, convulsions, headaches, peripheral neuropathy, as well as cardiomyopathy, liver damage, hypothyroidism, and cognitive problems, including dementia. Cobalt poisoning has also been linked to some types of cancer.

What to Know About Chromium Toxicity

Chromium, just like cobalt, is an essential mineral found needed by the body in trace amounts to function normally. When levels of this mineral elevates excessively, however, due to the wearing down of the metal-on-metal device, the body may be at risk of serious health problems. People with chromium toxicity may exhibit cobalt poisoning symptoms like hearing loss, visual impairment, impaired level functions, including renal damage. Like cobalt, elevated levels of chromium may lead to an increased risk of cancer. Likewise, elevated chromium levels have been linked to cancer.

How To Combat Cobalt and Chromium Poisoning

For ASR hip replacement patients with high levels of cobalt and chromium in the blood, one method is the chelation therapy. In this process, a chelating agent-to which ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is the most common- is administered to remove poisonous substances from the body. It is advised that you ask your doctor for more options.

If you have been harmed as a result of the ASR hip replacement system, you rightfully deserve compensation. Act now since there is a deadline to filing a claim. You can visit the Hip replacement recall information center for free consultation.