Pain evaluation in patients with chronical renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

Abstract

Objectives: Hemodialysis is a vital therapy in treatment of chronical renal failure. Pain is a complaint seen at every stage of chronical renal failure and is a part of clinical status. We aimed to investigate pain and its causes and the sufficiency of pain treatment in use. Methods: Patients aged 18-60 undergoing hemodialysis were included in this study. Pain evolution was obtained by form of Algology. Neuropathic pain symptoms and signs were evaluated by using LANNS. Results: 53 patients undergoing hemodialysis (75.7%) complained of pain. The types of pain were recorded to be headache (31 patients, 58.5%), lower extremity pain (21 patients, 39.6%) and pain due to cramps (28 patients, 52.8%). We saw that 81.4% of our patients were capable of doing on their own and that the pain did not affect daily activities of our patients. There were 37 patients (71.8%) who had LANSS score ≥12. Patients included in this study answered the question "Did you get any treatment for this pain?" as NO in 58.5% (31 patients) and as YES in 41% (21 patients). Nevertheless, 29 patients (54.7%) stated that they used drugs because of the pain and 24 patients (45.3%) stated that they haven't used any drugs for pain management. Conclusion: The patients with chronical diseases like chronical renal failure, we believe that pain should be interrogated and assessed and along with the treatment of chronical renal failure, patients should be treated for pain and a pain-free life must be provided to these group of patients.