What does “my body rejected the joint replacement” mean?
AI-generated illustration. This is not a real patient or a diagnostic image.
A joint replacement is not a transplanted living organ. Saying that the body has rejected it does not identify the medical diagnosis. The cause of pain, swelling or difficulty walking needs to be found.
What problems are investigated?
Possible causes include infection, loosening, instability, wear and problems in surrounding soft tissues. Metal sensitivity may sometimes be considered, but it is not correct to attribute every painful replacement to allergy.
The onset of symptoms, wound appearance, examination and imaging are important. Blood tests and analysis of joint fluid may be needed. Treatment cannot be determined from a single phrase without this information.
Does infection always require implant removal?
Not always. Depending on the duration of infection, the organism, implant stability and soft tissues, selected cases may allow implant retention with surgical cleaning and appropriate antibiotics. Other situations require replacement of the implant.
Contact the surgical team promptly for wound drainage, increasing redness, fever or significant new pain. Do not simply suppress a suspected infection with painkillers and wait.
Sources
This article provides general information. Individual diagnosis and treatment require a clinical assessment.