Ep 542 - Kidney Transplant Complications: "I Have a Client Who . . ." Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

A client has a very traumatic experience with their kidney transplant surgery in 2017. Ever since, they have lived with chronic, intractable neck and head pain that doesn't respond to any treatment they've tried so far. A recent CT scan reveals some calcium deposits inside the cranium but - is that the cause? Can massage therapy help? Are there any options for this person?

Resources:

Anwar, Z. et al. (2011) "Superficial temporal artery calcification in patients with end-stage renal disease: Association with vascular risk factors and ischemic cerebrovascular disease," The Indian Journal of Radiology & Imaging, 21(3), pp. 215-220. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4103/0971-3026.85371.

CNN, C.S., Special to (2014) 'I couldn't move': Patients who wake up during surgery, CNN. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2014/11/28/health/wake-up-during-surgery (Accessed: November 14, 2025).

Healthcare, G.E. (2020) Waking Up During Surgery: A Nightmare | Clinical View. Available at: https://clinicalview.gehealthcare.com/article/waking-during-surgery-patients-worst-nightmare (Accessed: November 14, 2025).

Kiroglu, Y. et al. (2009) "Intracranial calcifications on computed tomography: pictorial essay," Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology [Preprint]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4261/1305-3825.DIR.2626-09.1.

Li, Xuelong et al. (2022) "The association of renal impairment with different patterns of intracranial arterial calcification: Intimal and medial calcification," Atherosclerosis, 363, pp. 42-47. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2022.11.012.