Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment: An Overview
There is no cure for
polycystic kidney disease. Therefore, polycystic kidney disease treatment focuses on treating symptoms and complications of the disease, while improving the quality of life.
Specific polycystic kidney disease treatment options vary based on the particular symptoms and their severity. Some polycystic kidney disease treatment methods include:
- Medicine and surgery, to reduce pain
- Antibiotics, to treat infections
- Dialysis, to replace the function of failed kidneys
- Kidney transplantation.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Treatment for Pain
Pain is a common symptom of polycystic kidney disease. For mild to moderate pain, a doctor will first suggest over-the-counter pain medications, such as aspirin or
Tylenol®.
Surgery is recommended for most, but not all, cases of severe pain resulting from polycystic kidney disease. Surgery is used to shrink cysts, and it can also relieve pain in the back and sides (between the ribs and hips). However, surgery provides only temporary relief and usually does not slow the disease's progression toward kidney failure.
Headaches that are severe, or that seem to feel different from other headaches, might be caused by aneurysms (swollen blood vessels) in the brain. Headaches can also be caused by
high blood pressure. People with
autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease should see a doctor if they have severe or recurring headaches, even before considering over-the-counter pain medications.
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