Let's talk A/V Fistula Pain...

[dialysis.sucks]

Does anyone else have A/V Fistula pain? To give you some feedback, I started on dialysis 5 years ago, have had seven catheters (four of the catheters themselves were just "bad" to begin with), I still use a catheter that is on my left side. I had a fistula put in on my upper left arm (above the elbow). The second time ever using the Fistula, about two years ago, the center basically made me use two needles instead of the standard one in the fistula and one in the catheter. It immediately infiltrated (of course), slightly deformed my arm and I haven't allowed anyone to poke a needle in it since. I have had a fistulagram that came back with everything A ok, however I recently spoke with a vascular access nurse who said during most fistulagrams the vascular surgeon will rarely go past the fistula itself. Which means they never go all the way to the shoulder and she thought I had severe narrowing in this area. I currently have "feeder" or spider veins coming out all over the place from my upper left arm across my chest. Think varicose veins, but still alive. (After that novellla...) I now have pain every time after dialysis in the meaty part of my chest just to the left of my armpit (if you were staring directly at me). Applying hard pressure relieves the pain to some degree, but you can literally see the "feeder" veins expand from the extra pressure. At night my arm falls completely asleep. I literally wake up and its dead for a good five minutes. Just sitting in the dialysis chair causes my fingers, especially my pinky to go numb. Driving with my hands at 10/2, my hand starts to go to sleep. I have to pick it up and shake it, which, I have to admit, looks rather funny at dialysis. I am taking Oxycontin with Hydrocodone chaser, but I really don't want to. That helps for a little bit, but wears off rather quickly. I also experience pain in the fistula itself. Again, applying pressure typically helps. Soooo with all of that said, anyone else experience the same thing? Anyone have a remedy that eventually worked for them? I really don't want to have to have another surgery, but I am afraid that's basically where I am at with this.

Any help is really appreciated

James

[cassandra]

Hi James, I have some, but not all of your symptoms. Hand, and arm going numb, spider veins etc. Since I have this fistula (upper arm) I have had numerous fistula plastys, and -grams. If they do a fistula-gram they can see shoulder, and chest area . There could very well be a narrowing in that area that needs stretching. (Could be caused by previous catheters) It's not 'very' invasive, and the pain not too bad.

Why haven't they done a fistula gram before?

All the best, take care Cas

[pagandialysis]

I get random pains through out the day and rubbing my access makes it feel better. My access always gets "sore" during treatment. I think maybe it's the pressure from the lines.

[jstorm001]

I don't get much pain unless my blood pressure is very high. i get very itchy on my fistula sometimes out through the day and sometimes at dialysis and i wanna  scratch  the crap out of it too! It's  because i have sensitive skin any metal or tape causes me get itchy or break out . so the metal needles & tape doesn't help at all.