Does Kidney Dialysis Hurt?

Does Kidney Dialysis Hurt? The short answer, YES and NO!

I’m literally sitting in my dialysis chair after being cannulated and hooked up to the machine. This is the final day in what I call my weekly part-time job before I have 2 days off.

I’m watching as a new co-patient is finishing up their first 3 dialysis treatments in their kidney story. From this person’s mouth I hear the familiar sound of audible yelps of pain from the cannulation needles being put into their arms.

I feel for this person because I’ve been in their position before. And depending on the day, I’m still in their position.

You see, the dialysis that keeps me alive is in-center hemodialysis. That means I travel to a clinic, my vital signs are taken, I’m poked by 2 large needles, and then I’m hooked up to a machine that removes toxins from my blood and removes fluid.

There can be 3 types of pain associated with being on hemodialysis.

1. Needle Pain – The first pain that can come from hemodialysis is the pain of being cannulated by 2 large needles. Usually 2 needles means just being poked twice, but, depending on the person doing the sticking and the quality of the stick, the times you have to be cannulated could vary. Some of the pain that comes from being cannulated can be mitigated by using a numbing spray directly on the area of the poke prior to the poke. Reach out to your medical team for more info on how to put that plan into action.

2. Cramping Pain – The second type of pain that can happen as a result of in-center kidney dialysis is cramping. This could happen if your fluid pull is too much. If your dry weight isn’t precise or you’ve gained real weight since your last treatment, you could experience some cramping. Oftentimes you could just stretch out a cramp. Other times may require you to quickly ingest something salty. Consult your medical on the plan that may work best for you.

3. Fatigue Pain – This third pain isn’t usually looked at as painful but it can be when it comes receiving dialysis treatment. Fatigue can play a big part in making other areas of your body hurt more either during or after a session. What may have not seemed like a big deal before may become a huge deal once you’ve sat for several hours.

Over time, you’re gonna learn how your body responds to hemodialysis and some of the things that were previously painful may diminish it even stop.

Pain from needles and cramping have all but stopped for me because I’ve learned what works for me, communicated that with my techs, nurses, and doctors, and together we’ve developed plans that keep the pain to a minimal.

As for fatigue, I see that as just part of the game. Some days are better than others and as long as I’m able to make my way here, I’ll keep striving for better dialysis outcomes.

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