going to see 'specialists'

[justme15]

I went to see a podiatrist yesterday.  I  am having terrible foot pain.  After recommending some orthotics, he then said that he would give me a cortisone injection, but because I'm on prednisone that should be helping the pain.  so i'm wondering, if the prednisone(which i've been taking for 11-12 years) was helping or going to help, wouldn't it be helping by now? To me, I think he was being a little overly cautious. I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure an injection in my toe wouldn't harm anything. I have had this same experience with podiatrists and dentists in the past who because of my kidney disease don't want to touch me with a ten foot pole.  One podiatrist didn't want to prescribe me lamisil, and another one was leary of performing a bunion surgery because of impaired healing.  My dentist wouldn't give me fillings because he thought the numbing medicine would affect my kidneys. (even though i've been getting my mouth numbed for a variety of dental work for years now).  I guess it's good they  are being cautious, but I just find it odd that every podiatrist I've been to gets nervous when they see my medical history and medications.
Are people with ESRD supposed to suffer with bunions and painful feet? lol... i don't think so.  it just takes a clinician who has some experience or is willing to perhaps make a phone call to the nephrologist if he has concerns.
Anyone else have problems with docs not wanting to deal with your problem because of kidney disease?

[Joe]

I just had some pretty extensive dental work done that culminated in two extractions. My Endo worked with my Neph to figure out what he could do/use on me that wouldn't need to be processed through the kidneys. It's amazing how many meds are metabolized in our kidneys as just a matter of course. All that is taken care of now, I'm healing at the extraction sites and will be working with them to see how we are going to proceed to plug the holes. Oh joy!

[Deanne]

I had a neph once who suggested having other Dr's contact his (neph's) office with the name of the medication they wanted to give me and my neph was able to tell them if it was an acceptable treatment or if they should look for other options. Would something like this work for you?

[mamagemini]

Before my dialysis start date I had many issues with my feet. Since the dialysis my feet are really dry and cracked.
I had a temp crown put in last week and it took about a week to heal and is still sore. They are putting in the crown in two weeks, not looking forward to that at all.
I have also noticed my back aching...probably due to laying in that chair 3x a week.

[bevvy5]

My husband almost died because of a morphine overdose while in hospital.  The doctor hadn't accounted for his kidney failure in the dosage. 

Another doctor prescribed about three times the amount of gabopentin he should be taking, again because of his kidney failure.

When hubby was having some teeth extracted, a quick call to our nurse about the pain meds and so forth, she checked with the neph and gave him the all clear and suggested some changes to his schedule - home hemo - to deal with possible bleeding issues.

Personally, I'd rather  doctor double check or NOT prescribe or do something than forge ahead and do irreparable harm

JMHO.

[justme15]

well only my dentist offered to check first.  The podiatrists, were like nah, i'm just not gonna do it..

[billybags]

We have the same problem with our GP. instead of taking the bull by the horn he poohs every thing away with saying "Its your kidneys or your heart" better ask your neph. As luck has it our neph is wonderful.

 For example my husband has come out in ulcers on his feet, he saw the podiatrist who said see your GP, who said go back and see the podiatrist, so I said, we will see the GP nurse who straight away said they were ulcers and has referred him to a vascular surgeon. All this running around and to-ing and fro-ing really pees me off.