What to do if nephrotic syndrome causes leg pain?

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 26, 2024
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Patients with nephrotic syndrome who experience leg pain mostly have conditions unrelated to nephrotic syndrome itself. It could be due to diseases of the skeletal or muscular system. However, some patients might experience leg pain due to thrombosis caused by nephrotic syndrome, leading to ischemia in the limbs. Also, long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to necrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis, and pain. Therefore, treatment should be targeted based on the cause, such as using drugs to dissolve clots or interventional surgery for those with thrombosis. In severe cases of femoral head necrosis, a femoral head replacement surgery might be necessary, and it is important to supplement with calcium regularly.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
55sec home-news-image

How to reduce swelling in the feet caused by nephrotic syndrome?

Swelling of the feet is a common phenomenon in nephrotic syndrome. Once swelling occurs, patients feel uncomfortable symptoms and a sensation of heaviness in their feet, so corresponding de-swelling treatment is necessary. How to reduce swelling? Firstly, a low-salt diet is essential to control salt intake, with daily salt consumption around 2 to 3 grams. In addition to this, small doses of diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide and spironolactone can be used. If the diuretic effect is not satisfactory, other more potent diuretics like furosemide may be added. Of course, the fundamental treatment for foot swelling in nephrotic syndrome involves the use of steroids and immunosuppressants. This treatment works by suppressing the permeability of the glomerular basement membrane and reducing protein leakage, thereby ultimately eliminating the foot swelling.

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Written by Hu Lin
Nephrology
1min 19sec home-news-image

Do you take steroids for nephrotic syndrome?

Once nephrotic syndrome is diagnosed, corticosteroid therapy becomes a primary treatment, and the commonly used steroid is prednisone. If there is liver damage or the treatment effect of prednisone is not good, oral prednisolone or intravenous methylprednisolone can be used. Due to its long half-life and severe side effects, dexamethasone is now generally less used. The course of treatment with corticosteroids for nephrotic syndrome is relatively long, needing about one to one and a half years. During this process, the use of steroids has three phases: the initial full-dose phase, during which a relatively large dose of the hormone is used for about two to three months; the second phase is a slow reduction process; the third phase is a low-dose maintenance process. Overall, during the use of steroids, patients must regularly follow up at outpatient clinics, and adjust the steroids according to the doctor's advice. One must not arbitrarily reduce the dose or stop the medication, as this can easily lead to a relapse of nephrotic syndrome.

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Written by Wu Ji
Nephrology
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What is nephrotic syndrome?

Nephrotic syndrome is a common manifestation of glomerular disease, caused by a variety of etiologies, with large differences in treatment response and prognosis. The pathological causes of nephrotic syndrome are diverse, with the most common types being minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, mesangial proliferative nephritis, membranous nephropathy, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Nephrotic syndrome can be classified into primary and secondary types based on its cause. The diagnosis of primary nephrotic syndrome mainly depends on the exclusion of secondary nephrotic syndrome. Common causes of secondary nephrotic syndrome include diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, renal amyloidosis, drug-induced nephropathy, and renal tumors.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What to do if nephrotic syndrome causes leg pain?

Patients with nephrotic syndrome who experience leg pain mostly have conditions unrelated to nephrotic syndrome itself. It could be due to diseases of the skeletal or muscular system. However, some patients might experience leg pain due to thrombosis caused by nephrotic syndrome, leading to ischemia in the limbs. Also, long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to necrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis, and pain. Therefore, treatment should be targeted based on the cause, such as using drugs to dissolve clots or interventional surgery for those with thrombosis. In severe cases of femoral head necrosis, a femoral head replacement surgery might be necessary, and it is important to supplement with calcium regularly.

doctor image
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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
1min 20sec home-news-image

What should I do about the high fever caused by nephrotic syndrome?

Patients with nephrotic syndrome, due to long-term use of steroids, have particularly weak resistance and are prone to various infections. High fever is a common symptom in patients with nephrotic syndrome after an infection. Once a high fever due to infection occurs in nephrotic syndrome, it must be taken seriously because infections are often a significant trigger for the relapse or worsening of the condition. Once the condition worsens, patients often experience heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and declining kidney function. Therefore, it is crucial to go to the hospital in a timely manner after the onset of high fever for medical treatment, and to conduct routine blood and urine tests, kidney function tests, and chest X-rays to determine the cause of the patient's high fever, whether it is a viral or bacterial infection. Besides, it is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, rest in bed, reduce outdoor activities, and avoid fatigue. If a viral infection causes the fever, antiviral medications that clear heat and detoxify should be used. If a bacterial infection causes the fever, sensitive antibiotics should be used for symptomatic treatment. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)