Renal Osteodystrophy (Bone Disease)
Renal osteodystrophy is bone disease due to kidney failure. The problem is quite common—most people on dialysis have some degree of it. Bone changes can start many years before symptoms appear, like:
- Joint pain
- Bone pain
- Fractures
To understand renal osteodystrophy, you need to know a little about your bones. Bones have three key jobs in your body:
- Hold up your body and protect your organs
- Store minerals your body needs
- Make red blood cells
Bones seem solid, even rock-like. But if you look at them under a microscope, old bone is being broken down, and new bone is being formed. This is called "remodeling"—and it's like redoing your kitchen. If you tear down walls without leaving supports, the ceiling may fall in. If old bone breaks down faster than new bone can replace it, your bones could become weak. Weak bones can break.
Healthy kidneys help ensure healthy bones by keeping the bone-building minerals (calcium and phosphorus) in balance in your blood.
