How to Manage Pains in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Chronic pain especially pain in the back and flank is very common symptom of adult PKD. The pain will become more severe and obvious along with age and continuous increase of the cysts and it is more common in female and this might due to higher incidence of urinary tract infections in women.

Usually chronic back pain or flank pain is caused by stretching of renal fibrous tissues due to the expansion of the cysts and kidneys. However the pain sometimes can be sharpened which might due to the following conditions---infections, kidney stone, bleeding into the cysts, etc.

According to what the exact underlying cause is, different treatments and managements will be offered. Proper and timely treating of polycystic kidney disease pain can help alleviate discomforts, improve life quality and prolong life expectancy.

·Cyst expansion

If the pains in abdomen, back and sides are merely due to the cyst expansion, over-the-counter pain killer medicines such as aspirin or acetaminophen will be prescribed. Consult for the doctor’s advice before taking any pain medicines because some medicines or improper intake might cause additional damages to the kidneys or worsen high blood pressure. Especially if patients have severe or recurrent headache, more caution should be taken before taking any medicines or drugs.

·Infections

PKD patients usually have frequent urinary tract infections, therefore effective prevention measures and timely treatments are very necessary because if the infections enter into the cysts, antibiotics will become ineffective.

·Urinary tract obstruction

Kidney stones or blood clots due to cyst bleeding may obstruct the urinary tract and cause pain or even blood in urine. Urinary tract obstruction needs to be relieved and at the same time antibiotics and pain medicines should be taken.

·Surgery

If the pain is severe and becomes unbearable, surgery can be offered to remove large cysts. Usually this can have immediate and obvious relief of pain symptom. But the relief is just temporary and surgery can not slow down the continuous deterioration of kidney functions and its progression into end stage renal disease.

·Kidney transplant

For end stage PKD patients, kidney transplant can help patients regain kidney functions and many of these discomforts and symptoms like pain, headache, high blood pressure, blood urine will disappear naturally.

·Herbal medicines

For those that have no chance to have kidney transplant and those that are still in the early stage of PKD, herbal medicines and some lifestyle adjustments are good for alleviating pains and preserving kidney functions. Consult professional Chinese medicine practitioner in case the herbal medicines might have adverse reactions with the medicines you are taking now.