Bone Marrow test

[hammyj]

I have had a bone marrow test on Friday. While it did not particularly hurt the area around it is now starting to be sore (3 days later). It is especially sore in the bone.

Is this normal? How long will it last?

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

Hi Hammy

I can't remember what the advisory and hygiene sheet that was given to me after the procedure said. But seem to remember it mentioning that if there was a swelling or lump consult your GP.

It was uncomfortable a few days after for about a week or so but not much more than the flu jab for me, if you are concerned I would contact your GP. I'm sure others will share their knowledge.

[hammyj]

Thanks. It's not swelling, just a bit sore

[Caldian]

Whilst it is nearly 14 years since my bone marrow biopsy I can remember it being really uncomfortable whilst they were carrying out the procedure and soreness lasting several days. Whilst my sister also has CLL, I don't believe she has ever had a biopsy!

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

I had a new appreciation of how bumpy our roads were for a week or two following my BMB! In addition to personal pain tolerance variations, the degree and length of soreness varies depending on how experienced the surgeon was, how difficult it was to get an adequate sample, (including how many attempts were needed) and I suspect, the degree of sedation you were under.

(Has anyone else noticed that if you are stoked up on pain killers or sedated/anaethetised, for a medical or dental procedure, then the pain you avoid during the procedure is usually visited on you later? My theory is that if you aren't aware of pain during a procedure, then the doctor can be less gentle with you - so you get more bruising, etc...)

[mitzi2]

I think the anticipation was far worse than the actual event. I suffered very little discomfort afterwards. The advice to me was, as others have said, see the GPO if you're worried.

[snowdroprose]

Ever since I was diagnosed with CLL, in October 2009, I have dreaded having to have a BMB. I have heard it described as barbaric. I assumed that I had not had this procedure because I do not need treatment yet. What I have read here then, is interesting. What is the GPO?

[Marie-54 in reply to snowdroprose]

Think about the last time you had a tooth pulled. The worst part of the whole exercise was the freezing. If you are large, then they will have to go through several layers of skin and muscle progressively to freeze so a few jabs going deeper and deeper.. Once frozen, you should feel very little of the procedure itself. then once you thaw out, it will feel like a bruised area for a few days. Not a big deal really.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

They aren't used much in Canada...certainly they are not required routinely at diagnosis. I have never had one in 15 years. There may be reasons for a BMB in some patients, but I question how much it influences treatment decisions in the clinic.

I think they are more common in the US were they generate revenue...perhaps.

The CLL Guidelines suggest...

'A marrow aspirate and biopsy generally are not required for the diagnosis of CLL. However, a marrow biopsy and aspirate can help evaluate for factors that might contribute to cytopenias (anemia, thrombocytopenia) that may or may not be directly related to leukemia-cell infiltration of the marrow. Because such factors could influence the susceptibility to drug-induced cytopenias, a marrow biopsy is recommended.'

bloodjournal.hematologylibr...

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

AussieNell - I have had three BMBs, two without sedation and the last one with, and your observation is exactly the same as mine. I had no pain after the first two, but could feel the third one for several days afterwards. It wasn't severe pain, but I knew someone had poked my backside.

Hammy - If the pain started a few days after the procedure, not right away, I would recommend at least talking to your doctor about it. You don't want to find out down the road that there is an infection festering. At any sign of redness, heat in the area, or swelling, I would run, not walk to your doctor's office. This is probably just post procedure pain, but a check with your doctor would give you peace of mind, and there is a lot to be said for peace of mind!

[jangreen]

Hi I have had three bone marrow biopsy. The first was by a female student Dr. I was an uninformed patient. It hurt like hell during and after for about two weeks. The second was by a male registar who done a much better job (he was bigger and heavier than the female Dr and I am sure this played a part). The third was by a female registar. Again it hurt during and when she asked to have another go I said no. I have now told my specalist that I will not have any more. He said that only if necessary he would do one himself and given better sedation. I think I will bear in mind the comments about pain advoided during will be visited later if I ever agree to another one.

[hammyj]

Thank you all for these comments. It is good to know there are people out there.

[Hidden]

My BMB was performed by a student Doctor. The person before me was in tears about having it done, so I was just a little apprehensive. Even with local anaesthetic it did hurt but only briefly. Afterwards it was more of a bruised feeling for just three days.

[Alana397]

I have been a CLL sufferer for 16+ years. I underwent a BMB 10 years ago undertaken by a top consultant and although slightly uncomfortable – it did not last long and I only felt a little pressure when the sample was taken and no after pains. I was not under sedation at all. Being the top haematologist in this part of the UK, I thought the experience was not bad at all.

However, yesterday, I had a second BMB by a nurse in the haematology department. I had gas and air to take the edge off and a local anaesthetic injection. I have had many medical procedures and was expecting this BMB to be the same as the first one 10 years previously.

On attending the appointment yesterday for the BMB, I felt quite happy and confident it would all be OK as previously.

However, On starting the procedure, the pain was excruciating and totally unbearable. The nurse gave me a second local anaesthetic injection, but it did not help in any way. I felt severe pain all up my spine and down my leg. The nurse asked if he should stop the procedure and I said “yes”. I felt a bit of a failure by not going ahead with the BMB but the pain was beyond bearing and the sample was not taken. It felt as though he was scraping my spine to penetrate the bone!

The nurse referred back to the consultant with the situation and thankfully, I am now being sent to another hospital whereby an anesthetist can be present to oversee “sedation” for the BMB procedure.

The moral of my post is to say that like myself, please don’t try to be brave and endure excessive pain – it will leave you traumatised and upset!