Bone Problems

[BeachLover]

Another problem I am having is a high number on one of my liver enzymes. Apparently the doc thinks it is tied into the kidney's effect on bone. I am having awful pains in my upper legs, right around the top. It's hard to walk at times.
So he wants me to have a bone scan. Anyone else have any bone problems? Apparently the loss of kidney function can make your bones deteriorate. Yikes! Inever knew the kidneys were responsible for so many functions.

[okarol]

Jenna has been getting bone scans since she was approved for transplant, so each year she gets one, starting at 18 years old.

[Zach]

The kidneys are a many splendid thing.

As a person on dialysis, we always have to balance the calcium - phosphorus levels, as well as take IV Vitamin D to keep our bones healthy.

Regular weight resistence exercise is also helpful.

[TiffanyJean]

BeachLover -

Here is an IHD link that talks about a possible reason for bone pain.

http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=13802.0

If you go down to near the bottom (as of 5/11/09) to the posts between me and RightSide; talking about high PTH and having Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, which can result in low calcium. If your calcium numbers are low, and your PTH numbers are high then your bones can get weak - Richie had some pains in his legs sometimes before we really understood why.

Richie never had a bone scan, his doctors felt it was too late for it to do any good. So it might tell you alot.

Gotta Love Kidneys!

TJ

[RightSide]

I had terrible bone pain problems.  The pains in my hips and spine were making it very difficult to walk, and even to get in and out of a car.  I could not even negotiate the curbs on the sidewalk without holding on to something.  The nurses who saw me struggling to walk told me to get a cane.

The cause:  Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.  High serum PTH (over 1,200) was leaching the calcium out of my bones, weakening them.  My calcium level had dropped to "critical low" level.

That was seven months ago.
Since then, heavy doses of Zemplar (10 mcg Vitamin D) and calcium (2,000 mg daily) have remineralized my bones.  The pains are gone, except for some mild pains in my foot joints.

If you're having bone pains, the first thing to check is your serum PTH and calcium levels.  If the problem is high PTH like it was with me, it can be treated if it hasn't gotten too far.