Help! I had Severe Cramps During Dialyis and Need to Soothe Sore Aching Legs

[Cordelia]

Does anyone have any advice/ideas on how to get rid of achy/very sore legs after a dialysis session gone bad TWO days ago.                      My legs are still @#@$%&* sore 2 days later.      This is has never happened to me before where its lasted this long like this and it's driving me nuts!           UUUUUuuuuuugh!         

The soreness is right in the front of my legs on the shin bone           

[billybags]

Cordelia, I have no advise, but I feel for you. What went wrong at dialysis?

[Traveller1947]

Have you tried a very warm bath with your legs stretched in front of you?

[Cordelia]

Hi Billy and Traveller,

I had a thought after I posted this earlier......I ended up wrapping myself in a blanket warmer and laid under the blanket for a whole hour. I think they feel better, finally...Whew!  I was desperate and cranked up the heat. I was careful to watch my legs that the heat didn't get too hot and I was okay. It felt soothing and I think it worked.

I also had a very hot shower this afternoon and sprayed the nozzle spray right on my shins too.

Right on the shin bone hurts  when you're cramping so I found out. OMG     

On Tuesday the nurse tried to take a little extra fluid off and we found out that didn't work ......thank goodness they finallly established a "new" dry weight so now we know not to go any lower than 66.5 kgs. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way. I have never, ever have my legs hurt THAT bad for.....THAT long!       

[M3Riddler]

Does anyone have any advice/ideas on how to get rid of achy/very sore legs after a dialysis session gone bad TWO days ago.                      My legs are still @#@$%&* sore 2 days later.      This is has never happened to me before where its lasted this long like this and it's driving me nuts!           UUUUUuuuuuugh!         

The soreness is right in the front of my legs on the shin bone           

Cordelia,

Could be anything  from:

1. They may be pulling too much fluid off,
2. Too much fluid off too fast
3. Blood flow rate is too high
4. Dry weight has decreased

  How much fluid do they normally pull off per treatment?  per hour ?   
If they are pulling more then .4 ( 400cc's) give or take a few hundred per hour depending on the individual, then they are pulling too much off.  The veins can only hold approx 400cc's of fluid at a given time. The fluid must travel through 3 compartments before reaching the bloodstream - tissues - cells - bloodstream.  If they have taken the limit of approx .4 off per hour, then this stresses not only your veins, but also your heart as well as cause cramping. This usually occurs towards the end of the treatment.
I'm sure if you ever had cramping, they give you saline. This totally  reverses  the reason you are there.  You are just undoing what you have been there all that time for for dialysis. You go there to get fluid removed, but as it turns out, when you start cramping, they give you fluid, sometimes you end up leaving the center weighing more than what you went in.
The answer is a slower blood flow, a longer treatment and a slower fluid ultrafiltration rate.   the high blood flow they normally use in center
(over 400) is not good for the body as it puts a lot of stress on the body.   The reason why they use such high blood flows is to get you in and out so the next person can be dialyzed as in-center is like an assembly line. Its all about money rather than optimal dialysis.
This is why home dialysis where you can run longer treatments 5 or 6 days per week is much better for the body. No roller coaster rides in fluid levels as well as toxins flowing through the body. Not to mention the liberal diet since you are dialyzing so often.

Hope this helps...

///M3Riddler

[Traveller1947]

So glad to hear you've solved your problem.  I hope you never have to experience that again!  All the best to you.

[Cordelia]

I think I reached my dry weight, hit it a little too soon too as the cramping hit a half hour before end of treatment......I don't cramp often--once in a blue moon really. Yesterday I didn't cramp so that was good!

I sure am glad too that I was able to get rid of the soreness!  I agree, I sure hope I don't have to go through it like that ever again!

[Whamo]

I get periodic cramps and quirks in my legs, too.  There are some tricks.  If you're on dialysis you can raise your leg until the nurse comes to give you saline.  Or the nurse can press against your feet (raised up in the chair).  Quigong massage works wonders for the circulation.  I went to a double-header at Dodger stadium the other day, and I got cramps because I sat down too long.  I moved around and it was okay.  Sometimes one of my toes curls to the point of pain.  I think walking helps.  I walked all around Disneyland yesterday (wife's birthday), and I didn't cramp all day.  Even though I sat for a couple of hours on Main Street saving a spot for the Soundsational parade.

[Arcticat2000]

I'm not sure if cramping is your issue, but if it is this may help.
Before i went to nocturnal, my legs would cramp terribly at the end of my 4 hour session in the chair. What i did (and i'm not sure all centers will let you do this) was bring my own water bottle from home and when i weigh in i hold onto that water (literally) so as to include it into my starting weight.  Usually a 20 oz. bottle, and i would drink it during my treatment. rarley if ever would i cramp as long as i introduced a small amount of liquid into my body while i was dializing. The cramping in my legs ended when i went nocturnal due the much slower flow rate. I would try the water, if ya can.

[rsudock]

hasn't kit katz said before that  a little tonic water helps...supposedly the quinine in the water helps with cramps....double check that though...

xo,
R

[Cordelia]

Oh gosh, I can't drink when I'm on D. Drinking during the session makes me have the urge to go to the bathroom more. I get up once to use the washroom station in my private room once. I'd hate to ask them twince to let me up for a pee.