Ouch?

September 12, 2005 11:43 AM

What was your bone marrow biopsy experience? How long after the procedure were you uncomfortable?

I'm scheduled for my biopsy next week. The doc says I'll feel like an elephant tap danced on my pelvis. The net says discomfort will last a couple of days. Two friends who've had it done say it hurt a lot (understatement) but they don't remember details. I'd like to hear your stories so I can figure out what I need to do to make life easier on me and my family for the first day or two after the biopsy.

posted by onhazier to health & fitness (5 comments total)

I've never had a bone marrow biopsy myself, but I am a researcher in bone marrow transplant, so can give you a few second-hand pointers.

I don't have a good grasp on how to manage the pain, but obviously the doctors will give you whatever pain relievers they can. Different drugs work differently for different people, so if one doesn't work, see if you can get them to give you another one. If you already know what particular pain relievers work well for you, tell the doctor beforehand so you can get the prescription filled that day. They will probably pre-medicate you as well in the OR according to institutional practice. I think the tap-dancing elephant metaphor is a good one, you're going to be in pain no matter what. I think most people end up dealing by being sedated. :/

The decrease in your level of alertness is something else to take into account. My recommendation for you is to bring at least one, but preferably two people with you on the day of the biopsy. The doctors might want to give you more information than just the post-biopsy instructions, and you will be totally out of it, so it's best to have somebody there who knows your history and current situation, and can take detailed notes on anything the doctors say. Get the phone number of a nurse or someone you can call if your caregivers think something might be wrong. It's also nice to have a back-up for your main caregiver so that they know they are not alone. Good luck to you.
posted by sarahnade at 12:20 PM on September 12, 2005

Slightly OT but care to share why you're having a bone marrow biopsy? My 5-yo is having a bone biopsy thursday to see if he has CRMO.
posted by neilkod at 12:21 PM on September 12, 2005

neilkod: It's the last test in a long series showing that I have Severe Chronic Neutropenia (SCN). No cancer, lupus or any secondary causes to my neutropenia have been found. It looks like I was born with it and it has been undiagnosed all these years.

I'm sorry that your son has to have a bone marrow biopsy. I hope the test results are useful to his course of treatment. He'll be in my thoughts this week. Best wishes!

sarahnade: Thank you for the information. My husband has scheduled to take the day off to be with me. I meet with the doctor tomorrow to fill out paperwork and get all the prescriptions and post-op instructions. I also have several good friends I can call on if necessary. I am happy I'll be knocked out for the procedure. However, I come out of anesthesia quickly and easily so I doubt I'll have much of the loopies afterwards.
posted by onhazier at 12:36 PM on September 12, 2005

I've had one relatively recently as a pre-chemotherapy test. It only hurt for about a day afterwards, from what I remember. I had a really good guy doing it at the time - my oncologist's office has a specific guy who talks to new patients and does bone marrow biopsies, so he really knew what he was doing.

The number one thing that I learned from my grandma (who had been biopsied earlier in the year) was to not look at the needle. I could tell by the feel that it wasn't a very nice instrument, but kept my eyes on the wall.

The biggest part of the pain for me was just having it done. Being knocked out will probably be a great thing - it was a local for me, and locals don't really work when they're drilling into your bone. If yours winds up being a local as well instead of a full-on knockout, just keep focusing on the fact that it's a short procedure and it'll all be over soon.

And here I thought Neutropenia was an album by The Who...
posted by Moondoggie at 7:29 PM on September 12, 2005

The bone marrow biposy I had was the most painful thing I ever experienced. I had a lot of tissue to go through (I'm fat), so it took quite a while to do it. After mine was done, I went home and went to sleep. The next day it still hurt, but nothing like it had before. Note that I was NOT knocked out for the procedure - it was done in the doctor's office.
posted by Serena at 11:52 PM on September 12, 2005