My Disability

After a jaw injury I had vitek proplast-teflon implants placed in my face. They were defective, contaminated, and recalled by the FDA. Not only did the implants fail, but the company used industrial grade Teflon instead of medical grade which contained unknown contaminants.

There is documentation that this company knew these implants would cause devastation of catastrophic proportions. In some people it actually ate through their skull and became embedded in their brain.

Within 3 months the implants had eroded the bones in my face and gone through my bloodstream affecting my entire body causing an autoimmune response. The implants were removed after 5 years, but not before the toxins devastated my body.

I have a lot of pain in my head, neck, back, and arms from the instability and inflamed nerves in my face. I have pain, inflammation, and erosions in various organs especially the digestive system and bladder. The biopsy of my bladder revealed that 3 layers of tissue had been eroded. My thyroid has been removed. I had a breast lumpectomy.

I have constant dizziness and nausea from the vertigo cause by all the damage to the TMJ and surrounding tissue. My entire head is covered in scar tissue from when they removed my face twice and sawed off part of my skull to fit the implants.

I have also been diagnosed with having toxic encephalopathy, severe chemical sensitivity, Trigeminal neuralgia, Autoimmune: thyroiditis - interstitial cystitis - gastritis, Fibromyalgia, and CFS. Several doctors have suspected MS, but I have chosen not to get a muscle biopsy.

I have difficulty walking not only because of the muscular problems, but because my mother had surgery on my feet when I was a teenager after my father was killed in a turbine explosin. They said I might need surgery when I was 40.

In the shock of my Father's tradgic death she was only thinking I have 30 days of insurance...not that I would have my own insurance in my 40's...actually I didn't have insurance in my 40's after my husband left.

Most people find it difficult to believe what I am dealing with since I usually have a smile on my face. Trust me it is far less painful to be joyful than negative, bitter, and focused on your pain.

I choose to be thankful for what I have and not to be complaining about what I do not have or can not do. Yes, there are days I am sad and lonely, days when I am delirious from the pain, days I don’t have the strength to feed myself…let alone make it to the store if I am out of food.

Yet, with all this I choose to be joyful and content in the Lord. For…the joy of the Lord is my strength. Every day is a struggle, but I will continue to praise the Lord.

In His presence there is joy. In His presence there is peace. In His presence there is freedom from pain. It’s a choice and even though I might be crying on the outside…in my soul there is joy.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

- Update -

I want to clarify that not all jaw implants have been recalled. Not only did the implants I had fail, but the company used industrial grade Teflon instead of medical grade which contained unknown contaminants. Even though not all jaw implants have been recalled, long term analysis has shown that any implants in the jaw are not an effective solution. The jaw is just too complex of a joint and the face has many complex nerves and functions. My injuries were extensive. This was not just a case of TMJ dysfunction, not to dismiss anyone with this painful condition.

The disk in my right joint was completely dislocated, my face was distorted and the right side of my face wasn't functioning. The pain was so severe they thought I had a brain aneurysm. I spent three years in physical therapy trying to get the disk to relocate. In the meantime, the stress of my right side not working caused the left disk to become completely mutilated. Not only was the surgery considered my only option it was mandatory as part of my Workman's comp settlement. It was recommended by my doctors and physical therapist who were specialist in TMJ disorders. The physical therapist sent me to the same surgeon his wife went to and assured me he was one of the best in the country.

I thought I was making an informed decision. It was before all the documentation came out about the implants. I was young, it's been almost 30 years now, and didn't understand the consequences of foreign body reactions. I also didn't understand, nor did my surgeon I hope, the consequences of putting 8 metal screws into the skull of a person with metal allergies. My surgeon who had performed thousands of these surgeries had never seen anything like what happened to me. My head swelled up like something out of a freak show and I immediately was in severe pain in my lungs, stomach, colon, and bladder...not to mention my joints and muscles. As mentioned before, within 3 months it had completely eroded the mandibular condyles in my face and my neck swelled from autoimmune thyroiditis. I looked like I had the mumps.

I didn't think about having a metal allergy before the surgery. Back then I just assumed doctors always had your best interests in mind. I knew jewelry burned and caused a rash. I never thought about it...I just never wore jewelry. I was also never told they would be putting 8 screws in my skull. I would have thought the surgeon would have noticed I didn't even wear a wedding ring. Years later I contacted a surgeon who was doing reconstructive surgery with titanium implants. The first thing he asked was do I react to metal. When I said yes, he informed me that not only could I not have reconstruction, but I never should have had the original implants, not that they were good for anyone.

Having a metal allergy wasn't the only preexisting condition that complicated my recovery. I had celiac disease, hypoglycemia, and multiple chemical sensitivities. so my body was already set up for a major reaction not only to the implants, but to all the chemicals and drugs I was exposed to. I ended up back in the hospital several times with dehydration because I couldn't eat, drink or keep anything down. I am still terrified of throwing up, because I have too many memories of not being able stop and ending up in the hospital. I am however; grateful I had a preexisting faith in the Lord and loving friends who hold me up in prayer.

If you are a Vitek TMJ Implant survivor please join us on Google Plus communities @ Vitek Survivors.