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Kidney function and medications

Posted by Ginger, Volunteer Mentor @gingerw, Apr 24, 2021

Do you have Chronic Kidney Disease along with another health issue? How do you cope with the fact often we cannot use the accepted medications because it will not clear our kidneys?

Here is my story: I am firmly in Stage 4 CKD, and may face a decision to go on dialysis later this year. Meanwhile, since January 2021 my lower back has messed up. The medications best used for pain relief, cannot be put in place because they are not recommended for my level of kidney function. No gabapentin, no Aleve, no aspirin. Acetaminophen only. I am going to get a spinal injection of cortisone, but will opt for local numbing only, no sedation. I use homeopathic topical creams to help some of the pain.

As fellow kidney patients, what do you do? It seems unfair we cannot get the relief we need. Please share your experiences and what has worked for you.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Kidney & Bladder Support Group.

8ea | @8ea | Sep 24 7:05pm

Unfortunately it’s sometimes medications that cause CKD. It was in my case along with multiple UTIs and numerous kidney stones because I had no other risks and I was told I would never have kidney disease. It seems any med that is for some ailment causes a completely different ailment. I have all over arthritis especially in the lower back and both shoulders. I cannot take anything for pain other than Tylenol which doesn’t help arthritis because it’s not an antiinflamatry. I’m scheduled for a procedure for my lower back this week. It’s not surgery and I’m praying it works because the pain is really affecting my life. I cannot even stand for more than a couple minutes at a time. My shoulders are so bad I can’t even push a grocery cart. I always thought I had a good tolerance for pain but I was wrong. Sometimes I’m really glad I’m as old as I am (88) as I don’t think I can handle the pain much longer

REPLY
2 replies
neigenfindk | @neigenfindk | Sep 26 1:16am
In reply to @8ea "Unfortunately it’s sometimes medications that cause CKD. It was in my case along with multiple UTIs..." + (show)
@8ea

Unfortunately it’s sometimes medications that cause CKD. It was in my case along with multiple UTIs and numerous kidney stones because I had no other risks and I was told I would never have kidney disease. It seems any med that is for some ailment causes a completely different ailment. I have all over arthritis especially in the lower back and both shoulders. I cannot take anything for pain other than Tylenol which doesn’t help arthritis because it’s not an antiinflamatry. I’m scheduled for a procedure for my lower back this week. It’s not surgery and I’m praying it works because the pain is really affecting my life. I cannot even stand for more than a couple minutes at a time. My shoulders are so bad I can’t even push a grocery cart. I always thought I had a good tolerance for pain but I was wrong. Sometimes I’m really glad I’m as old as I am (88) as I don’t think I can handle the pain much longer

Jump to this post

I believe oycodone on does not affect kidneys
. your pain is ruining your life. You need to see a pain doctor.

REPLY
1 reply
collegeprof | @collegeprof | Sep 26 4:19am
In reply to @8ea "Unfortunately it’s sometimes medications that cause CKD. It was in my case along with multiple UTIs..." + (show)
@8ea

Unfortunately it’s sometimes medications that cause CKD. It was in my case along with multiple UTIs and numerous kidney stones because I had no other risks and I was told I would never have kidney disease. It seems any med that is for some ailment causes a completely different ailment. I have all over arthritis especially in the lower back and both shoulders. I cannot take anything for pain other than Tylenol which doesn’t help arthritis because it’s not an antiinflamatry. I’m scheduled for a procedure for my lower back this week. It’s not surgery and I’m praying it works because the pain is really affecting my life. I cannot even stand for more than a couple minutes at a time. My shoulders are so bad I can’t even push a grocery cart. I always thought I had a good tolerance for pain but I was wrong. Sometimes I’m really glad I’m as old as I am (88) as I don’t think I can handle the pain much longer

Jump to this post

@8ea My wife had multiple surgeries on her neck and back over the years. This bionic lady has 13 screws in her back. Mayo has an excellent 3 week pain program for which she attended, and got the relief she needed. You may wish to look into this program if you are near one of 3 campuses in Arizona, Minnesota, or Florida. If not, there may be a major hospital near you that may have something similar. However, my wife now enjoys her freedom of pain and has added daily physical therapy exercises to her regimen. She may not be completely pain free, but learned to live with it at near comfort levels.

REPLY
1 reply
8ea | @8ea | Sep 26 5:58pm
In reply to @collegeprof "@8ea My wife had multiple surgeries on her neck and back over the years. This bionic..." + (show)
@collegeprof

@8ea My wife had multiple surgeries on her neck and back over the years. This bionic lady has 13 screws in her back. Mayo has an excellent 3 week pain program for which she attended, and got the relief she needed. You may wish to look into this program if you are near one of 3 campuses in Arizona, Minnesota, or Florida. If not, there may be a major hospital near you that may have something similar. However, my wife now enjoys her freedom of pain and has added daily physical therapy exercises to her regimen. She may not be completely pain free, but learned to live with it at near comfort levels.

Jump to this post

I just had a procedure done today. This was not surgery. I’m waiting to see the results but I appreciate your suggestions. I never thought I would experience such awful pain. My lower back has bothered me for several years but it is only the last 6 months or so that it has become unbearable and I cannot think of anything that has happened to increase the pain so much.

REPLY
1 reply
8ea | @8ea | Sep 26 6:10pm
In reply to @neigenfindk "I believe oycodone on does not affect kidneys . your pain is ruining your life. You..." + (show)
@neigenfindk

I believe oycodone on does not affect kidneys
. your pain is ruining your life. You need to see a pain doctor.

Jump to this post

Because of my chronic kidney disease,stomach bleeding and age, doctors don’t want to prescribe it for me. I really don’t want to take it anyhow. I’m also very apt to fall so I’m afraid oxycodine would make that worse. My husband took it for problems he had but although he wasn’t addicted always wanted to increase the quanity which I was against and fortunately so did his doctor. Before he died, he was in hospice and wanted me to take some into him. I wouldn’t and I believe they wouldn’t continue to treat him if I had. He was bedridden at home for months before hospice until I could no longer care for him.

REPLY
collegeprof | @collegeprof | Sep 26 9:39pm
In reply to @8ea "I just had a procedure done today. This was not surgery. I’m waiting to see the..." + (show)
@8ea

I just had a procedure done today. This was not surgery. I’m waiting to see the results but I appreciate your suggestions. I never thought I would experience such awful pain. My lower back has bothered me for several years but it is only the last 6 months or so that it has become unbearable and I cannot think of anything that has happened to increase the pain so much.

Jump to this post

@8ea As I said, my wife went for years with severe pain due to multiple back surgeries. Her pain management program at Mayo provided a solution, and it worked for her. Will it work for you? You are judge and jury. I don't believe a drug or a cocktail of drugs will help, but I gave you her solution. Will surgery help? The real answer then lies between you and your doctor, and your choice of further options. Over the last decade, she has been much better, and physical therapy helped her as well. I wish you well.

REPLY
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