Martial artist Chuck Norris and his wife have recently filed a lawsuit against medical device manufacturers, alleging that a chemical used in MRI imaging scans left her poisoned and weakened.
According to the 77-year-old star, he has given up his film career to take care of his ailing wife, Gena. They claim that in 2013 a chemical, Gadolinium, used in MRI imaging scans, left Gena weak, tired, and suffering from debilitating pain and burning sensations linked to “gadolinium deposition disease.”
In 2013, Gena underwent several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to monitor her rheumatoid arthritis, receiving an injection of a dye known as a “contrast agent” that highlights specific organs, blood vessels, or tissues, making it easier for a radiologist to determine the extent of disease or injury.
“Within hours after the first injection, I felt like my whole body was on fire – as if acid had been passed through it. The burning was isolated at first, but it just kept spreading,” Gena said. Following the MRI scan, Gena was rushed to the hospital six times with various symptoms, including rib pain, breathing difficulties, full-body tremors, and joint pain.
Desperate to help his wife, Chuck, who starred in the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, found a clinic in Nevada that claimed it could help. Gena said, “By the time I reached the clinic, I had lost 15 pounds and was finding it hard to swallow.” The clinic identified gadolinium toxicity in Gena’s symptoms. Gadolinium toxicity symptoms include aching, burning, tingling, and prickling pain, as well as deep bone pain. Other signs include muscle twitching and weakness, itchy skin, balance issues, and vision problems.
After four years, Gena is no longer bedridden but is still receiving treatment. Now the couple is filing a lawsuit against the drug companies that make linear contrast agents. While the lawsuit does not claim an official link between the metal and the ill health, it notes that this is partly because blood and urine testing for gadolinium has only recently become available.
Gadolinium was once thought to pass out of the body through urine within hours, but recent research suggests it can be deposited in areas of the body, including the brain, kidneys, and bones. The lawsuit accuses several manufacturers of knowing about the risks but failing to warn consumers.
In December 2017, the FDA released the following Drug Safety Communication on gadolinium:
“The FDA reviewed available data about the retention of gadolinium from gadolinium-based contrast agents as part of its role in monitoring the post-market safety of drugs. As a result of that review, we recommend that health care professionals consider the retention characteristics of each agent when choosing a GBCA for patients who may be at higher risk, such as those who may require repeat GBCA MRI scans to monitor a chronic condition. We are requiring a class-wide warning about gadolinium retention in the labeling of GBCAs and a new medication guide that should be presented to patients in advance of receiving a GBCA,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “The FDA will continue to assess the safety of GBCAs, and to that end, we are requiring GBCA manufacturers to conduct further studies to assess the safety of this class of contrast agents.”
Meanwhile, Chuck said he will continue to campaign to raise awareness of gadolinium poisoning: “I’ve given up my film career to concentrate on Gena. My whole life right now is about keeping her alive. I believe this issue is so important.”