One of the kidneys’ critical responsibilities in the human body’s complex layout is regulating fluids and electrolytes throughout your body. It’s no wonder that kidney disease impacts so many parts of your body so harshly.
Taking care of your feet while you struggle with kidney disease is crucial, as they are one of the most severely affected members of your body. Today, we want to discuss why keeping an eye on our feet is important and how podiatry can be your best aid during holistic kidney care.
Common Complications
Before we get started, many of these complications can stem from other diseases and conditions. Contact your GP if you identify any of the following symptoms as your own.
Dry Skin And Itching
As toxins leak through the kidneys’ defenses, they may build up in the bloodstream. This may result in dry skin, which may affect the entire body but can be most uncomfortable in the lower extremities due to how much they are used and how frequently they are covered by fabric.
Infections
Common foot infections can be exacerbated when dealing with kidney disease. This is true for all infections, of course, but something as common as ingrown nails can go unnoticed until it’s well underway. Like the prior entry, this is related to the weakened toxin defense provided by kidneys.
Edema And Swelling
Generally, any kind of swelling is abnormal and can be linked to a different disease.
Kidneys regulate fluids and electrolytes throughout the body. Excess water can be filtered to different parts when their work is compromised. The most commonly affected limbs are the legs and feet. Swelling of the feet is common while struggling with kidneys, and it’s usually an early indicator of kidney problems.
There’s a unique form of swelling related to glomerular disease. In this case, the glomeruli—the filters in your kidneys—leak a protein named albumin into your urine, which in turn impacts fluid buildup. Glomerular disease presents a bigger risk when dealing with diabetic kidney disease, as systemic diseases tend to affect glomeruli.
Nerve Issues
Kidney failure, especially in its later stages, can impact the peripheral nervous system. The damage is especially evident in the legs. Common symptoms of nerve damage include numbness, tingling, and burning pain. In severe cases, a patient can experience total sensation loss, which can increase the risk of injury and infection.
Caring For Your Feet
As we have seen in the symptoms and their connection to the kidney’s functions, it’s clear that keeping a close eye on your foot health can make a difference in diagnostics. But there are other ways that podiatry can be of service in overall renal care.
For one, dialysis alone is a risk factor for foot ulcers. The risk is even higher for patients with diabetes and diabetes-related kidney failure. Additionally, the procedure commonly leads to nerve damage, which we covered in the previous section.
Your podiatrist won’t cure your kidneys, but keeping close contact with a podiatrist can make the difference in the complications that result from your condition. What’s more, since the specifics of care are so unique in kidney-related conditions, it’s crucial that you inform your podiatrist of any kidney disease that may be present.
In addition to working with a podiatrist, we suggest a couple of measures you can take at home to keep your feet as healthy as possible. For one, practice hygiene: wash and dry your feet well, but don’t soak them. As you do, check your skin for any sores or inflammation. Keep active within your range of possibility; blood flow is almost always good. If you can, keep up to date with your blood sugar.
Commonly, your nephrologist and podiatrist will work together, constantly finding solutions and treatments. At PRINE, we ensure communication between your doctors seeking to provide more holistic care for such a system-damaging condition.
