pain in fistula arm

[Lee75glom]

I will be 76 years old in August, 2024 and have been suffering kidney disease since 13 years old. I have been on dialysis for over a month. One time after the needles were removed from my fistula, I noticed sharp pain when I extended that arm. The nurses at the center claimed that likely the needle pierced my fistula and blood pooled outside it. They said that my body would have to absorb the excess blood. It has improved after 2 weeks, but it remains present. Has anyone else on dialysis experienced such pain in the fistula arm after ending a session? How long did it last? Did it happen again? It makes it difficult to put on a shirt or stretching to open or close the driver's side in my car.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Oh yeah... infiltrations are very painful. When I was brand new, and learning home hemo, I was still getting cannulated by the med tech. On the fourth...Only my 4th time on treatment... she infiltrated or went through the fistula. And then another med tech came in and tried to do another poke and she blew it too.....she should never have touched me. I was in agony. That night, I had so much pain I could not sleep. It took several days for all the bruising to appear but it went from the fistula to elbow and all around my upper arm. It was awful.

It is no wonder I had such a negative attitude. I do my own cannulation and do a much better job.

Try ice and then heat. After a couple of days, use just heat. It makes the arm feel better. I bought a heating pad and still use it just for comfort when I am watching TV.

[ShyeLoverDoctor in reply to Bassetmommer]

So awful. I was on dialysis a year and this never happened to me! But I have good veins and had an excellent surgeon and I had an excellent technician (thank you Christian! He’s a RN now).

[Beachgirl32]

this scarce me reading this I am new to hemo dialysis I have a temporary neck port I am so sorry about getting a fistula or graph inn my arm I worried that I’m going to have lots of pain

[ShyeLoverDoctor in reply to Beachgirl32]

Honestly- pain, operations, hospital visits, ER visits, bloodwork, multiple tests - just are part of having kidney failure . I’m sorry , but that’s how it is. No, you are not going to be in pain all the time! Dialysis is life support. Get a fistula. You do not want any kind of catheter it risks serious infection.