Common issue?

[kit78]

I started Dialysis last June 2012 and as of a few weeks ago I have been having problems with bad body aches after removing more than 1.5 fluid.  Also for a few months every time I wake up, nap or sleep, my hands hurt really bad for a while.  I do have a problem with my right arm while doing dialysis as it hurts during treatment as well.   

Doctors have no idea what's causing the hand pain. 

Any ideas as to why or ideas that may help correct these painful times?   I already did online search with no helpful reasons or cures.

Thanks and have a super weekend! 

Back to laundry and housework...would be nice to have a helper.  Living alone can have it's issues at times...LOL

[Wildrose]

What helps me with the body aches is rehydrating with electrolytes. Try some lemon water it might help. I dont know about the hand pain but i get a lot of unexplainable odd pains as well.

[kit78]

Thanks!  I' try the lemon water.  Yes, how strange as the months go by they seem to bring about new issues.   I suppose everyone goes through this.  Its a roller coaster of pain and new problems popping up all the time.

[Angiepkd]

The body aches could mean too much fluid removal.  Some people cramp all over, rather than just feet and legs.  My hand on the fistula arm hurts sometimes when I wake up.  My docs think I have some nerve damage from my 3 fistula surgeries.  I don't have any pain while on dialysis, and was told by my center to let them know if I do.  I think they said it could be a sign that I have a narrowing of my fistula and they would refer me to the access center for evaluation.  My younger brother developed neuropathy while on D, and was prescribed neurotin sp? for the pain.  He said it felt like pins and needles in his hands and feet.  It really bothered him without the meds.  Not sure if that is a common side effect of dialysis and kidney failure or not.  So sorry I am not more help!  Keep pushing for answers until you find some relief.  A lot of times the docs don't pay much attention to pain issues.  Hope you get it figured out. Maybe google neuropathy and see if the symptoms sound like what you are feeling.  Good luck!

[Rerun]

Do you know your "Dry Weight"?  Dry Weight is your body weight minus any extra fluid.  So, if they are getting all your fluid off.... so your ankles are skinny...then maybe you have gained some body weight and they are taking off a little too much fluid.  But, if they are taking off a little too much fluid your blood pressure would be crashing or dropping too.

Maybe if you are just achy take a Tylenol.  For out and out cramping I drink Tonic water which contains Quinine.  You can look up Quinine and find it is a natural muscle relaxer.

               

 

[geoffcamp]

I'm not sure if you have a fistula or graft but I've had about 6 attempts in each arm and I have pain like that in my hands. I'm told its nerve damage from the surgeries.  As far as aches and general pain I can pretty much assure you that that is completely normal for anyone who has been in dialysis for awhile. Between the awful chairs and sitting in the same position for lengthy periods of time along with the fluid removal process itself its bound to be an issue. I try to exercise and that helps a lot but the best thing for me has been stretching. Every morning and afternoon I take 20-30 minutes just to stretch out. I use one of those yoga balls and since I started a few years ago the change is amazing!  Good luck I hope you find a way to cope with your pain issues. G.

[kit78]

Thanks for all your answers.   I'm at the the tail end of taking a Steroid Pac and wow, my hands have improved.  That's not why I was taking it, but nice benefit.  Maybe that might lead them in the right direction. 

Not sure why these docs get paid when I am the one doing most of the diagnosing myself.  What a racket!

[Grumpy-1]

The body aches could mean too much fluid removal.  Some people cramp all over, rather than just feet and legs.  My hand on the fistula arm hurts sometimes when I wake up.  My docs think I have some nerve damage from my 3 fistula surgeries.  I don't have any pain while on dialysis, and was told by my center to let them know if I do.  I think they said it could be a sign that I have a narrowing of my fistula and they would refer me to the access center for evaluation.  My younger brother developed neuropathy while on D, and was prescribed neurotin sp? for the pain.  He said it felt like pins and needles in his hands and feet.  It really bothered him without the meds.  Not sure if that is a common side effect of dialysis and kidney failure or not.  So sorry I am not more help!  Keep pushing for answers until you find some relief.  A lot of times the docs don't pay much attention to pain issues.  Hope you get it figured out. Maybe google neuropathy and see if the symptoms sound like what you are feeling.  Good luck!

I think that neuropathy is a result of kidney failure verse the dialysis. Or maybe a combination of both.  I too have neuropathy in my legs, feet and parts of my hands.  It wasn't there before kidney failure and dialysis.  So far, from what I can find out, there is no cure only relief of sorts.  Grump[y

[skg]

FWIW, my neuropathy is due to diabetes rather than kidney problems, I think.

At first, it seemed sort of an inevitable, gradual worsening. However, much tighter blood sugar control has led to some improvement - it hasn't gone away, but it's nowhere near as bad. This is in my feet.

I have a curious, temporary problem with my hands if I'm not careful to sleep with my wrists straight which is similar - pins&needles and/or numbness which lasted for hours.This was happening years before the diabetes or anything else. But, I just had to learn how to sleep while keeping my wrists straight and it doesn't bother me at all.

So in both cases, some things improved it but in neither case has it gone away.

cheers,
skg

[gothiclovemonkey]

Ive been having pain in my hands and feet, but they have concluded i may have RA, or something of the type... (i go in aug to find out for sure)
Last year, I had severe swelling in my fistula arm, and pain along with it (like when the foot falls asleep) and they gave me a stent, seemed to help the swelling but i still have some pain, especially during treatments.

[amanda100wilson]

Has anyone considered carpal tunnel syndrome for th pain in your hands?  It can be especially bad upon waking.  I get it, and it makes my hands feel swollen and clumsy with or without pins and needles.  It is probablt a separate issue from your other symptoms which spund as if your body is too dry.

[cassandra]

I agree with the previous mails above that it sounds that you are too dry Kit78.
And Amanda,(you probably already have) but have you tried natural remedies already?
10 natural ways to cure CTS is quite comprehensive.

Love to All, Cas

[Grumpy-1]

I could agree that CTS could be the cause of hand pains, but the feet are quite away from my wrists... 

[cassandra]

Okay Grumpy,bets and feet/ankle pain are caused by the same thing  . . I found 'zinc, and/ or B6 supplements' in several sites as beneficial. Which might explain why I don't suffer from it yet, tough wood. I might have it, but luckily no pain yet.

Good luck all, love Cas

[nsdq]

Here are my 2 cents:

Some symptoms are sometimes not related to the real causes. We need to try and *battle* to keep our bodies in the well being as we can. I fully understand I cannot keep my body like a perfect person: any one does really exist?  I think it's only in the lab.

For muscle and finger cramps, I managed them by taking a Calcium Supplement (Caltrate 600mg) 3 times  a day, either during meals or after meal immediately (earlier I was not taking it routinely).
I also take cinacalcet 30mg 1 tablet each 3 days (because I've read it has some bad adverse effects). I also eat Dates fruits (1 to 3 per day), although it's high in potassium.
I think you may want to check the blood work for the bone issues: Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin D, and PTH (Parathyroid)

Next, comes in the potassium and magnesium, as some would work for triggering the balances of the bones, muscles, nerves, etc.  Try 1-2 date fruit per day.

Where does exactly the pain in your fistulated hand, and is't forearm or back on the top?

-- nsdq

[amanda100wilson]

nsdq, you need to be very careful about taking supplements unless your doctor know that you are doing so, particularly ones that contain magnesium, which can build up very quickly.  the same with taking calcium.  Unless it is prescribed,  taking calcium can lead to a high calcium level and calcium deposition insoft tissues and blood vessels.  You need to be very careful about self-diagnosis and self-medicating.  how do you know that the muscle and finger cramps are not related to kidney failure or a side effect of it?

[Wat76]

Hi Kit 78,

Do you have PKD as well.  Did your Mom have any other issues? Just curious, some people live a long time with PKD if they do not have any other issues, your Mother was young.  Would like to know.  Thanks.

[nsdq]

nsdq, you need to be very careful about taking supplements unless your doctor know that you are doing so, particularly ones that contain magnesium, which can build up very quickly.  the same with taking calcium.  Unless it is prescribed,  taking calcium can lead to a high calcium level and calcium deposition insoft tissues and blood vessels.  You need to be very careful about self-diagnosis and self-medicating.  how do you know that the muscle and finger cramps are not related to kidney failure or a side effect of it?

Thank you Amanda for your advise. I'm neither self-diagnosing nor self-medicating.
I started taking the calcium supplement as a neph-prescription, where my phosphorus blood level was high; at first the problem was, since it's a *supplement*, not taking it on a regular basis, with (or immediately after) a meal, two/three times a day.

Of course, muscle and finger cramps are mostly due to the lack of kidney functions, or any other related/influenced major medical condition. Once I started taking the Calcium supplement, eating the dates fruits, I no longer have any muscle neither finger cramps, except during some dialysis sessions. Besides, one-to-three, small-to-medium-sized pieces of dates once daily won't hurt: dates is rich of nutrition and minerals (refer to http://www.livestrong.com/health and see yourself about the *health benefits of dates*).

Due to some stomach upset and diarrhea I've got after taking cinacalcet, I asked my neph, and he wondered about the diarrhea, and left my questions unanswered, just he didn't say anything else ("just take it after dinner, before you go to bed"); and that's all.

--
nsdq

 

[Zach]

Besides, one-to-three, small-to-medium-sized pieces of dates once daily won't hurt: dates is rich of nutrition and minerals (refer to http://www.livestrong.com/health and see yourself about the *health benefits of dates*).

--
nsdq

Actually, the date fruit may present a potassium problem to people on dialysis.

The common date (Deglet noor) at about 7 grams is not a problem, it has 47 mg of potassium.
http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2217?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=Dates

But the larger Medjool dates at 24 grams have about 167 mg of potassium each.
http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2435?fg=&man=&lfacet=&format=&count=&max=25&offset=&sort=&qlookup=Dates

 

[kit78]

Thanks everyone for your ideas.  My Mom did have PKD but died in 1985 at the age of 52.  Yes we all have it but oddly enough my 2 kids do not thank God..  The other grand kids do have it. Strange huh?
My hand hurts while on dialysis all over. Hard to make a fist until I keep moving it around.  Since on the steroid pac, my hands have stopped hurting when I wake up, so far anyway.  I do not have carpal tunnel.
When I had my thyroid out I was taking calcium but no longer on.  I do get Vitamin D shots at Dialysis. 

[Sydnee]

Kit78
What did you mom die of? just curious. since my mom died at 52 (in 2000), and her father (my grand father) died at 52 (in 1973). Both had PKD both died from a brain aneurysm, complications of PKD at least in my family.   

[kit78]

Sydnee, right above you  I posted she died of PKD..........

[Sydnee]

I wasn't sure I read that. So  Kidney failure? the aneurysm was from PKD so I thought I would ask.