I got a total knee replacement in July. Rehab has been going great. No complaints:) And then my knee suddenly started to hurt. I thought I had twisted it or something, but then I was riding and a cold blast of air hit it and I gasped in pain. After taping one of those instant hand warmers on it, I recovered. Has anyone else noticed a new-found sensitivity to cold weather because of all the implanted metal?
I have a hip replacement and I haven’t noticed a problem. I was out today in 22 degrees for a couple hours and had no problems.
The hip is buried a bit deeper than knee hardware.
Susan
I have two plates and eight screws in my arm and yes, it totally functions as a weather station! Cold and damp is the worst…might be changes in barometric pressure or something. But it really does ache
I had a plate and several screws in my hand and it was TERRIBLE in cold weather. Zero padding, right under the skin, so it would get so cold…and then I’d do something silly like accidentally bang my hand on something hard, and die right there.
I had it all removed. Obviously not an answer for you, but could you keep an extra warming layer on your knee? A neoprene sleeve or back on track leggings? Anything to provide a little more warmth and padding.
Lots of leg metal can be removed…my arm metal is there to stay and miserable. You might try a lidocaine patch on your hip before you are outside
Thanks for the replies. I was just curious since my joints have never reacted to weather before. I will tape a hand warmer onto my knee before I ride. Now to go find my Toasties breeches:yes:
I just had a bunch of hardware removed last week. I did totally notice the cold and aches with the weather changes. I’ll see how it is now its all out (and after the holes in the bones heal up lol!)
Sure hope the removal makes things better for you.
No hardware, but a major injury scar with a ton of nerve damage that is quite the weather station, too. Winter hurts.
I had hardware on both sides of my left ankle last winter. If I was outside for any length of time, I would get chattering, shivering cold. I had the hardware removed in May (best decision ever–my hardware had slipped and was causing pain) and have not had any incidents of chattering and shivering in the cold and I ride in the evening at a fairly cold barn.
I have hardware in my jaw and face and I definitely feel it in the cold! I hate having things over my nose/mouth so I have become a master at wrapping my face in a creative manner 
I also get a jolt sometimes when I forget and drink something very cold- ouch! Not a fan of metal.
My SO has titanium plates on one side of his face and he gets the worst headaches when the weather turns cold. It’s mostly when he has to be outside in the actual weather for a while that it starts hurting the most. He often has to come inside and lay down and warm up to get it to stop.
My orthodontist surgeon told me that he had essentially dissected my arm when the titanium screws and plate went in…it takes a long time for nerves, tendons and muscles that have been moved about to recover.
I have a plate, 6 screws and a thin wire in my left arm. I was told the cold would be felt, but I have never noticed anything after 14 years. But it might be because my arm is covered any time I am out in the cold.
Both knees replaced. I now live in flannel lined jeans all winter!
I use a BOT brace on my metal filled wrist because it keeps it warm
For folks who’ve had hardware removed, how long was it between placement & removal?
I have a couple of screws in my femur I’d love to get rid of but it’s been over a decade. Wondering if it’s still possible?
[QUOTE=2BayPonies;8997995]
For folks who’ve had hardware removed, how long was it between placement & removal?
I have a couple of screws in my femur I’d love to get rid of but it’s been over a decade. Wondering if it’s still possible?[/QUOTE]
I believe it still would be possible, just possibly more complicated. I suggest you get a referral to a good orthopedic surgeon and one who specializes in femurs. Mine was a foot and ankle specialist. I had a bag of metal removed (bi-malleolar fractures) about 7 months after they were placed. Typically they like to wait a bit longer, but mine had shifted a bit and were causing problems. My surgeon said the removal was the easiest she had done. I was riding about two weeks after removal, but I had to drop the stirrups a lot but healed very quickly. Bone does fill in quickly, especially with good nutrition and supplementation.
Thx Cowgirl,
I will check it out, I can’t sleep on my left side anymore due to the discomfort.
[QUOTE=2BayPonies;9001104]
Thx Cowgirl,
I will check it out, I can’t sleep on my left side anymore due to the discomfort.[/QUOTE]
Except for the incision pain, my relief was almost immediate following the removal. I highly recommend it if you have discomfort. I had a significant amount of discomfort, especially the side with the long screws, but my hardware had shifted from the original placement. Now I am 8 months post removal surgery and would say I am 100%.
The removal surgery was performed in an outpatient surgery center. I went in about 7 a.m., did paperwork and paid, was taken into a room to change into the hospital gown, had a meeting with the anesthesiologist (twilight sedation was an option, but after we talked, we decided on full anesthesia) and then my doctor. Then, lights out. I woke up, was monitored a bit, then helped to dress and helped up and moved to a sort of big easy type chair to recover a bit more. I was home by 11:00 a.m. It was so much easier than the first surgery! They put me in a surgical shoe, instead of the boot. I only needed deluded for a day or two, and while I had to be careful, I was pretty much weight bearing. They asked me not to ride for two weeks. I had a followup appointment and was released to ride. You have to take it easy, so I basically just walked without stirrups and then gradually added the stirrups. I waited a month or so and then started physical therapy again too. I would recommend that!
