المملكة: Consultant for "today"Painkillers threaten 5% of patients with kidney failure… and pain clinics are a safe alternative

The anesthesia and pain management consultant at Qatif Central Hospital, Dr. Ali Al Malallah, warned of the dangers behind excessive consumption of Analgesicspharmaceuticals, revealing that they cause kidney damage at a rate of no less than 5%, and presenting “pain clinics” as an advanced and safe treatment option that relies on precise interventional techniques instead of chemical drugs.

Dr. Al Malallah explained that medical statistics indicate that 3% of cases of kidney damage caused by analgesics may develop into chronic kidney failure, specifically naming drugs “Voltaren” and the “Ibuprofen” group are considered one of the most prominent causes of these serious complications when used for long periods and without supervision.

The consultant called on patients who suffer from chronic pain that lasts for more than 3 to 6 months to immediately go to pain treatment clinics, especially those who have exhausted the options of physical therapy, surgical interventions, and traditional analgesics with little therapeutic benefit.

Al Malallah stated that the treatment methodology in these clinics relies on “interventional needles” guided with extreme precision, where the medicine is injected directly into the pain point under the guidance of ultrasound or X-ray devices, to ensure access. To target accurately and prevent any random interactions.

The specialist revealed that the treatment options used in injections vary between “cortisone” and stem cells, and the appropriate protocol is chosen based on the individual evaluation of each case, with the main goal of reducing, or even ending, the patient’s dependence on harmful oral medications.

Al Malallah stressed that the treatment plan does not depend on one doctor only, but is managed by an integrated medical team that ensures the patient’s commitment to support programs such as physical therapy, to ensure the complete elimination of pain. Complete and sustainable.

The consultant stressed the importance of these clinics for the elderly in particular, as they aim to protect them from the side effects of medications given that they often suffer from other chronic diseases, which gives them the opportunity to live their lives in health and dignity, away from the pain of painkillers and their complications.