Tell me about high phos/joints/bones

[KICKSTART]

I believe that high phos can lead to joint and bone problems? Doesnt it leech calcium out of them ? What are the symptoms? Ive got terrible high phos at the moment , having a lot of trouble with binders! . Im very itchy , started to ache across my shoulders if i do anything , say like washing up! but today im having trouble with my knee, i cant take my weight on it very well especially when going up and down stairs, could this possibly be related? or is it just another glitch!

[peleroja]

I have not heard that high phosphorus could exacerbate arthritis, but it's certainly possible.  The itchiness is definitely related to high phosphorus.  Logically, if you are leaching calcium, that could be causing your bone problems. 

[YLGuy]

You should google: hyperphosphatemia & Renal osteodystrophy:

Prolonged hyperphosphatemia promotes metastatic calcification, an abnormal deposition of calcium phosphate in previously healthy connective tissues such as cardiac valves and in solid organs such as muscles. The calcium-phosphate product predicts the risk of metastatic calcification.



 Renal osteodystrophy may exhibit no symptoms; if it does show symptoms, they include:

    * Bone pain
    * Joint pain
    * Bone deformation
    * Bone fracture

[Romona]

I had the pain you described before my transplant. I still have pain now, but it is due to my parathyroid. It is still high. The doc was hoping it would return to normal, but it hasn't.

[Restorer]

I've had definitely joint pain related to high phosphorus. In the two weeks before I was hospitalized for uremia, my phosphorus was very high (~13), and I had distinct joint pain, enough that I was constantly taking Tylenol for the pain. Before that, there were times that I'd consume a lot of phosphorus, like eating a bunch of cheese, then the next day I'd feel bad and have joint pains.

[RightSide]

You should also have your parathyroid hormone (PTH) level checked.  If it's too high, it will also cause calcium to be leached out of your bones (causing pain).  Then the calcium combines with the phosphorus in your blood to produce calcification.  Calcium phosphate deposited in the skin causes itching.

So relieving these symptoms is a two-pronged approach:  Lower the phosphorus and lower the PTH.

You can lower the phosphorus with binders and dietary changes.
But lowering PTH will likely require medication.

[Hanify]

I'm not sure how your system works over there.  Is there a renal person on hand that you can ring.  I think this sounds like there's a few things that need to be dealt with by the renal people.  Tell them we all insist on them working this out!  We won't take no for an answer.  Do you have someone who could go with you to talk to them?  I always find that helps cos otherwise I am pathetic and forget to mention half my problems.