I have never used pain meds for the needles. What kind of access do you have, graft or fistula? If you have a fistula you can learn to self-cannulate and develop someting called buttonholes. With buttonholes you use the same pair of sites everytime and gradually a track develops, similar to the track for pierced ears, and then you can use blunt needles and have much less pain. They say that self-cannulation hurts less, too.

I HAVE BEEN DOING DIALYSIS FOR 14 YEARS,AND I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU NEVER GET USED TO THE NEEDLES. I JUST GRIT MY TEETH,GRAB THE ARM OF THE CHAIR,AND TRY NOT TO KICK THE NURSE :)

I do Peritoneal dialysis at home and have been for 9 months. I don't have to deal with needles at all. I just wanted you guys on Hemo to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. I don't know how you do it? You know my doctor keeps telling me that if PD is too much for me I can always switch to Hemo. Glad I didn't. Is that an option for you? If you still have options maybe you should look into switching to PD? My thoughts and prayers for pain free dialysis are with you.

I understand about the needles. I do not like it at all. I put on a perscribed cream "Lidocaine & Prilocaine". I put it on graft area and suppose to wrap with seran wrap. But I got a rash, so now I put on without wrapping. It does help a little bit. I guess we just grin and bear it. Take care!

I have been using the Lidocaine/Prilocaine cream for a few years now and will never do dialysis without it. I feel no pain. I had a lot of difficulty with the arterial stick before, there seems to be a nerve cluster near the site.

If I ever forget the cream, I'm making them give me a shot of Lidocaine instead!

I use Lidocaine the shots it burns but it is not as bad as getting those neddles without and even when I use the lidocaine I do what DeBad dose also grit teeth.......

PD has definetly beena life saver for me. I used to have lidocaine shots beforehand even thought that ends up leaving you with more scar tissue. It was worth it. I agree that if PD is an option you should do it. I am on the machine for 9 nine hours a night but I have gotten my life back and do not have to worry about making down to the clinnic three times a week. I hope they find something to help out with the pain...

Use buttonhole method, it will save your access and its vitually painless.

Ask your Dr. and clinic about it...keep in mind this is only for people with fisutlas...

For more information about this please visit these links below...

http://www.davita.com/dialysis/treatment/a/1332
http://www.homedialysis.org/learn/buttonhole/
http://medisystems.com/hemodialysis/buttonhole/