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Five Years of Painkiller Use Left Farmer Needing Dialysis

Five Years of Painkiller Use Left Farmer Needing Dialysis
Popping painkillers for 5 years, he needed dialysis: The hidden cost of self-medication · indianexpress.com

A farmer took painkillers often for years so he could keep working through pain.

He worked long hours in the heat and sometimes became dehydrated.

The article says dehydration and some painkillers can put extra strain on the kidneys.

His kidneys became severely damaged, and he needed dialysis.

Kidney problems can grow quietly, without obvious symptoms at first.

Tiredness, swelling, nausea, changes in urination, or breathlessness can be warning signs.

Pain medicines can be helpful when used correctly, but people should not increase their dose or take them for a long time without advice.

Someone who regularly needs painkillers should talk with a doctor or pharmacist.

Key facts

Patient
49-year-old farmer referred to as Mr S
Painkiller use
Nearly five years of self-medication
Medicines named
Diclofenac and aceclofenac, both NSAIDs
Creatinine result
11.4 mg/dL; the article gives about 1.2 mg/dL as the usual upper limit
Kidney findings
Both kidneys were small and severely damaged on ultrasound
Treatment needed
Urgent dialysis
Work conditions
Long farm shifts in scorching heat with heavy sweating and dehydration

Sources

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