So, my husband had a fall last night. Wet deck, stupid dog, and a couple beers. 100 pound dog got in front of him and caused him to fall and hit his back on the step (it's a big platform step).
The pain is obviously horrible. He fractured three ribs.
He was due to restart Zometa in October. I'm thinking he should get restarted now to aid his healing.
Does that seem like a good next step? I hate to see him suffer.
Thanks for any input. I'm currently waiting to hear back from the oncologist.'
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Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
I personally don't think it would be a bad idea to restart Zometa earlier than October. I broke my left foot in May. I've been on Zometa for a few years. The orthopedic doctor who treated my foot felt that it helped in the healing time. At 5 weeks post immobilization he said that the healing was quite far along.
Good luck and bone healing to your husband. Rib fractures can be really painful because they move every time we take a breath in addition to all of the movement that goes through the chest.
Nancy in Phila
Good luck and bone healing to your husband. Rib fractures can be really painful because they move every time we take a breath in addition to all of the movement that goes through the chest.
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
Thank you. I did speak to the doctor's nurse. They would like to see his kidney function improve a little more before restarting the Zometa. Creatinine is currently at 1.58. That actually shows a significant improvement for him in the last 6 months.
Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
Sorry to hear about the fall and fractured ribs. This sound like what happened to me that led to multiple broken ribs.
I was putting away Xmas decorations in our attic with a drop down ladder. Got wedged between the rafters, twisted, and slipped. No 100 pound dog, but there was a captain and coke that might have had something to do with it.
Four broken ribs later and one was not only broken but had shifted to one side. The pain was terrible. Healing has taken forever and could only sleep on my back. That's what actually sent me to our family doctor who suggested X-rays and blood work. That's when I found out that I had multiple myeloma.
I have been waiting for several months to get my Zometa treatments also. But due to some major dental work that needs to be done first, I will have to wait until that is completed. My oncologist says absolutely no Zometa until all dental is completed.
I would think that other than your oncologist prescribing some x-rays and the normal labs, you should be able to get your Zometa started. My oncologist said that I could have started the Zometa even with the broken ribs. In my case it's the dental work that's holding things up.
Good Luck on the Zometa!
Castaway
I was putting away Xmas decorations in our attic with a drop down ladder. Got wedged between the rafters, twisted, and slipped. No 100 pound dog, but there was a captain and coke that might have had something to do with it.
Four broken ribs later and one was not only broken but had shifted to one side. The pain was terrible. Healing has taken forever and could only sleep on my back. That's what actually sent me to our family doctor who suggested X-rays and blood work. That's when I found out that I had multiple myeloma.
I have been waiting for several months to get my Zometa treatments also. But due to some major dental work that needs to be done first, I will have to wait until that is completed. My oncologist says absolutely no Zometa until all dental is completed.
I would think that other than your oncologist prescribing some x-rays and the normal labs, you should be able to get your Zometa started. My oncologist said that I could have started the Zometa even with the broken ribs. In my case it's the dental work that's holding things up.
Good Luck on the Zometa!
Castaway
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Castaway - Name: George
- Who do you know with myeloma?: just myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 1/24/14
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
Hi Cindy,
I'm also sorry to hear about your husband's fall. I hope the pain that he is experiencing gets better soon, either on its own, or through some effective pain medication.
There was a discussion a while back here in the forum that suggested that Aredia, a drug that is similar to Zometa, can be an option when kidney issues keep someone from being treated with Zometa.
"Leaning towards Aredia due to kidney issues - make sense?", Beacon forum discussion started June 26, 2014.
I don't know enough to know if your husband's kidney function is good enough at this point for Aredia to be an option. I also don't know if you can start on Aredia and be switched later to Zometa, although I don't see why that couldn't be the case. Anyway, you might want to bring Aredia up as an option with your husband's doctor, or the nurse, when you talk with them the next time.
Both Aredia and Zometa are drugs known as bisphosphonates. Aredia is an older drug, and there have been studies suggesting that Zometa may be more effective than Aredia and also that Zometa may have anti-myeloma activity. Aredia is still used a lot, however.
I'm also sorry to hear about your husband's fall. I hope the pain that he is experiencing gets better soon, either on its own, or through some effective pain medication.
There was a discussion a while back here in the forum that suggested that Aredia, a drug that is similar to Zometa, can be an option when kidney issues keep someone from being treated with Zometa.
"Leaning towards Aredia due to kidney issues - make sense?", Beacon forum discussion started June 26, 2014.
I don't know enough to know if your husband's kidney function is good enough at this point for Aredia to be an option. I also don't know if you can start on Aredia and be switched later to Zometa, although I don't see why that couldn't be the case. Anyway, you might want to bring Aredia up as an option with your husband's doctor, or the nurse, when you talk with them the next time.
Both Aredia and Zometa are drugs known as bisphosphonates. Aredia is an older drug, and there have been studies suggesting that Zometa may be more effective than Aredia and also that Zometa may have anti-myeloma activity. Aredia is still used a lot, however.
Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
Zometa is administered at a lower dose when creatinine levels are up. My infusion center starts decreasing the dose when creatinine reaches 1.5.
According to an animal study reported in
MA Mato et al,, "The effect of zoledronate during bone healing," J Orthop Traumatol. Mar 2010; 11(1): 7–12.
Zometa does inhance the bone healing process. "Zoledronate also improves the amount of bone in the metaphysis during bone healing, suggesting a positive effect on remodeling".
On the surface, it would appear that starting Zometa sooner rather than later would be of benefit to your husband's recovery and healing. The best advice will come from his doctor, and obviously the order for Zometa will be his decision in the end.
Your husband must be in a lot of pain. I would not put off making this decision. Good luck.
According to an animal study reported in
MA Mato et al,, "The effect of zoledronate during bone healing," J Orthop Traumatol. Mar 2010; 11(1): 7–12.
Zometa does inhance the bone healing process. "Zoledronate also improves the amount of bone in the metaphysis during bone healing, suggesting a positive effect on remodeling".
On the surface, it would appear that starting Zometa sooner rather than later would be of benefit to your husband's recovery and healing. The best advice will come from his doctor, and obviously the order for Zometa will be his decision in the end.
Your husband must be in a lot of pain. I would not put off making this decision. Good luck.
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Dano - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 65
Re: Fractured ribs from a fall - should restart Zometa now?
Wow, thank you to everyone for your helpful responses! I will read thru the included links and proceed from there. Planning to take him in to see our local family doctor on Monday.
I would expect the pain to be great, but he is really miserable. Fractures were diagnosed by CT scan so they could rule out any damage to his organs. He is getting very little relief with Dilaudid [hydromorphone], not sure there is too much more they can do to ease his pain. Having heart disease and myeloma is really enough, don't think he needed this one more thing.
Thanks again.
I would expect the pain to be great, but he is really miserable. Fractures were diagnosed by CT scan so they could rule out any damage to his organs. He is getting very little relief with Dilaudid [hydromorphone], not sure there is too much more they can do to ease his pain. Having heart disease and myeloma is really enough, don't think he needed this one more thing.
Thanks again.
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