taking pain killers during treatment?

[lorna]

I was just wondering if any one else takes pain medication while on a  hemo run?  is it uncommon? any info would be greatly appreciated!!

[jbeany]

If the needles or the crappy chair causes pain, by all means, take something.  I never took anything stronger than tylenol for minor aches and pains, but I never had any issue with it from the nurses.  (I did bring my own, though, so I didn't have to ask for it.)  Dialysis did make it less effective for me, though - I assume the pain meds got filtered out faster than they normally would have.  I do know that I stayed groggy after any surgical procedure that involved anesthetic until I had a D session, too.

[KICKSTART]

What sort of pain? I did pd for 6 yrs , but havent had pain killers on hemo

[RichardMEL]

Yes, I'd be concerned if you are experiencing constant pain during treatment to find out what is causing it rather than taking medication to control it - apart from HD needles going in and the (hopefully infrequent!!) cramp, there shouldn't be any pain during hemo. Even once the needles are in they don't hurt. Have the nurses not tried to investigate what the cause of your pain is? What do you feel? Where is it? Is it in the fistula site(unless you're using a catheter, then that's irrelevant of course). Is it somewhere else?

needing pain relief during HD seems odd to me and that would concern me.

[Phil]

I agree with RichardMel.....on dialysis you should feel NO pain....if you do talk to the doc asap

[KICKSTART]

The only pain i get is in my  and thats from sitting on it for too long !

[Stoday]

I'm sure McDonalds would be happy to help you develop your  into a natural cushion KS. 

[Jean]

That is something I have been wondering about too.  I have intense back pain if I have to lie on my back for oh, longer than 15 minutes. So, I usually take a vicodin before I go to bed. Weill they let me take it at dialyisis?

[KICKSTART]

I should think so Jean . I get neck spasms because of how i have to recline ..ish in the chair/bed, so my doctor gave me some relaxants. I take it an hour before i go in , to give it chance to start working.

[Stacy Without An E]

I can't believe how lucky many of you are.  I have pain EVERY time I have treatment.  The needles, especially the arterial, burn the entire time I'm on Dialysis.  The mantra at my clinic is "as long as your labs are fine, we don't really care." 

I have access to Vicodin, which I occasionally take 1500-2000mg of just to get through treatment.  Not every time mind you, but often enough that I need a new prescription every couple of months.

Maybe I'm just being punished for being me.

[RichardMEL]

Stacy mate that really sucks and the unit attitude is even worse I think - D is bad enough, but normal dialysis should be pain free(and thus bloody boring). Is there nothing you can follow up with your neph?

I'm glad you have some drug relief, but that still seems wrong.

I do count myself as lucky in this instance.

[brandi1leigh]

I have a lot of pain as well. My center is sympathetic, but basically says that's the way it goes.

I also have a lot of back pain, which I hear is pretty normal with PKD. I'm wary of complaining too much, because my neph says the only solution is to remove my kidneys. I'm really hesitant to do this because I still get a little production out of them...

Luckily I have a great general practitioner who gives me a vicodin prescription.

[lorna]

My runs have been much better now im into the swing of things

[Mike3723]

I am almost positive even though people are taking pain killers either before or during treatment they are not going to feel that much relief from them because the machine actually dialyzes the pain medicine out of the bloodstream..... the only reason i no this is because i busted my knee up jetskiing out in the ocean had to get surgery to fix the tendon i ripped and i was in the most pain through out my whole time recovering after the first hour into treatment.