Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Support Group

Lindsay,
If you have no significant pain or blood in your urine after runnning, then go for it! A running club is an excellent way to learn good form and techniques for running. It's an excellent form of exercise (albeit one I despise and abhore, but that's just me!) and if you enjoy it and can do it, I think it's wonderful! I have a friend who ran up to the day of his transplant. Granted, as time went on he was running a bit slower; he got his transplant when his creatinine was around 6+ and the more toxins in your system will tend to slow you down overall. But he loves running and found it to be a great stress reliever, even when he was slow and shuffling more than running. And as soon as the doctor cleared him to run after his transplant he was back out and running again, feeling fabulous!

Just use common sense and stop if something hurts. You also need to stay very well hydrated. Your kidney function isn't the same as the average 26 year old member of the running club, so you can't realistically expect to be able to keep up with the others of your age group, so please be sure to give yourself a break and try not to overdo it too much. You will know if and when running isn't right for you.

Otherwise, have fun and run! There are Runs for PKD in various parts of the country too; check out the PKD Foundation website for more information: www.pkdcure.org.

Have fun!
Ruth

Hey Lindsay,

Welcome! I'm a bit new here myself, but you touched on a subject I know a little about...couldn't guess by my name, right?

I would think that as with a lot of things with this disease, it's different for everyone. Your nephro or GP would probably be best to advise you. I will give you my story though, just as a testimony from someone who does run, with no apparent ill effects.

I was diagnosed just over a year ago at 31, shortly after I ran my first marathon. I've since run another marathon, and I'm currently doing 3-4 mile runs several days/week. I get occasional pain in my left side, but whether that's due to the jarring from the running or the dehydration (which causes pain for me, running or not), I'm not sure.

My nephro is fully aware of my activity level, and actually complimented me on "doing everything right" (his words). So by that I would guess that for someone in my position, there's no issue. But I'm lucky enough that my function is still virtually normal, and my kidneys are only about 25% enlarged.

I did some research early on, and I've never heard that running is contraindicated at any stage of PKD, as long as pain is not an issue. It lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, and gives you a positive goal to work towards. My guess is that it's way more likely to help you than hurt you. But of course I'm not a doctor, so take that for the advice from a lay person that it is.

I hope that helps! Keep me posted on how things go.

- Steve

Hi, Lindsay!

Be careful of your blood pressure!
Especially while weight training!
High BP is not very good for your kidneys.

You might want to check with your doctor (although most doctors I've dealt with really don't know much about exercise. Golf is probably not what you have in mind! :-) )

Peace and Blessings!
CoachRichie
http://www.innergameofpkd.com

I weight train regularly as well. I found this quick article from the Mayo clinic to be helpful:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/w...

I have a pretty fair complexion, so my rule of thumb is that if what I'm doing makes my face red, I'm either doing it wrong or doing too much.

Thank you all for your advice. I have also put in a call to my neph and will hopefully hear something today. As far as weight training, I don't do anything strenuous and my BP is well-controlled (on 3 meds). I do appreciate the advice on that as well.
I am feeling a bit uncomfortable today, and hope it is not from the little bit of running I did yesterday. The pain is nothing a tylenol won't cure, but if not running means being pain free, I'd rather go that route! I guess I will try it out tonight and see how I feel tomorrow. Thanks again.

Along with what everyone else said, (and of course check this with you doctor), slight pain in your kidney area, which is usually generalized as the lower or middle back, could just be tired muscles. I learned the hard way how leg movement and back movement are related.

(I fell of a stole when I was little and bruised most of the muscles in my back, it hurt to walk, let alone run.)

So, running could have just made your back muscles tired. Maybe from a less than perfect form/posture.

But, of course, always check with your neph.

I just wouldn't worry terribly about it since you said it was only slight pain.


Oh and a quick thing about your knees. Sometimes running (particularly for women) can take a hard toll on your knees. So maybe ask your doc how to protect your knees too.

I was told by one of my nephrologists (a PKD specialist) to be very careful with weight training, especially when it comes to any exercise that involves the abdomen. But then again, I'm unique in that I have a ridiculously enlarged cystic liver that is trying to engage in world domination, one person at a time, and grossly enlarged kidneys as well, with severe pain from both. I used to love weight training but now it just hurts too much.

One of the things she emphasized for all her patients was to BREATHE when exercising, especially weight training (exhale upon exertion) to ensure you're not holding your breath and increasing your blood pressure more than it already is. Proper technique is essential for everyone!

And wear sunscreen (you too PKDRunner), even early in the morning! You don't need to add a sunburn and possible skin cancer down the road to your list of problems. The exercise is good for you, so make sure you keep up with all the benefits and don't inadvertently cause harm along the way!

I was told exercise (weight training and cardio) was OK to do, but just be sure to stay hydrated.

PKDers have a greater tendancy to produce kidney stones and you do NOT want any.

Remember that excretion is not only what you piss out, but also what you sweat out. Also, you should drink back your water weight after exercising.

I don't think you should do sprints, but smooth, paced running might even give your kidneys a gentle massage.

Kidney pain is internal pain. If you're feeling muscle pain in the same area is a different story. I read that back pain may be attributed to weak abs.

"And wear sunscreen (you too PKDRunner), even early in the morning! You don't need to add a sunburn and possible skin cancer down the road to your list of problems. The exercise is good for you, so make sure you keep up with all the benefits and don't inadvertently cause harm along the way!"

This, for sure. I'm of mostly northern European heritage, so spending 3 hours in the sun would roast me without a good coat of 50+ sunblock. The only red I want is in my goatee.

Just make sure that any sunblock you use doesn't have Palimate O (check the ingredients).

It has been linked to causing skin cancer because ironically, it reacts with the UV rays and skin to cause cancer to develop.

I even saw this chemical in baby sunblock!

Oh, and don't forget the part of your hair. Sunburn there sucks!