Needle pain

[raelers]

Hi I have been on dialysis since March and when being needled most of time needle hits nerves,I have tried elma cream 2hours before needling as well as have local and cold spray but when needle hits nerves it so painful that needle is taken out.fistula in arm is fine.I was told I may have to have chest catheter,has anyone experienced this and how did you overcome the pain thanks.

[Soneram]

I’ve never had fissure in arm I’ve had neck catheter but mainly I’ve had pd dialysis for six years now this I do over night so I’m free all day much better for me

[cs65]

It sounds like you and your dialysis techs need to learn your fistula ( the spots to avoid and where to access for better results). Are they trying the same area over and over or do they try different areas each time? I had better luck during 4 years of dialysis by learning my fistula and telling the techs and nurses the best places to access it. I did have an area of hitting the nerve pain that was unusable. Keep trying using your fistula because a catheter is a very unsafe method that can lead to bloodstream infections since it connects directly to the heart. Oh, and if your fistula is narrow or close to the surface of the skin they need to take care not to go too deep - that was my situation. Good luck to you!

[honeybadger78]

I've not had pain with my needles, I am pleased to say. However, my unit does needling a bit different from most of the units here in Ireland. It uses the buttonhole technique.

kidney.org/atoz/content/but...

If I were you, I would ask your nurses to see if they can use this technique as it stops them having to use sharp needles each time.

[raelers in reply to honeybadger78]

Thank you for your reply they dont do button holes here,but pleased to say able to have needles inserted now ,although 2nd needle blew a vessle the other day so may be on one needle today until swelling goes down.

[Richwiz]

I believe it is called cannulating