Someone said it's all downhill after 50.
I know all about that. Now 54, my battle is deeply rooted with multiple myeloma. The doctors don't know how long, but I have had back pain for several years, and I started to go through hell since November 2014 when I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Vertebrae began crumbling in my back in December 2013, just a month before my father passed at 83 in late January after going on kidney dialysis. He lived a good life – besides having a fatty liver his last few years – and never had any cancer.
Prior to his death, I was let go from my job and, with nowhere to go, I moved home to live with my parents. Glad I did. I still live with my mother, who is now 83 and has lived a good, healthy life. She will probably outlive me. Her mother was 96 when she passed.
I have went through a lot with my battle. A few days after my dad passed, I felt excruciating pain in my low back and found out I broke Lumbar 3. After a couple MRI's, it was found out that I had broke the rest of my lumbar vertebra (1, 2, 4 & 5), and then a few more thoracic vertebrae to boot.
Finally, after having a total of nine vertebroplasties, they diagnosed me with having multiple myeloma with evidence of high protein levels, besides my back fractures (and a bone marrow biopsy). All of my vertebrae have all been repaired with medical cement. My vertebra virtually crumbled. It was debilitating, and life-threatening
I had 28 rounds of chemotherapy from January through late May in 2015 and then a life-saving stem cell transplant in July 2015. I have spent the last 1 1/2 years trying to adapt to living a new life. An elderly man at chemo once told me, "Your life will never be the same."
I have had back pain ever since my surgeries, something that will haunt me the rest of my life. ALL of my levels have returned to normal, but my back pain persists. I have a clicking sound in my low back, so I fear that I will have to have something done. So tired of living in pain. Even with fentanyl patches and hydrocodone, the pain persists.
I used to be athletic. But my back woes and cancer have reduced me from an avid basketball player to a standstill shooter and free throw shooter.
It could be worse, but life is so difficult.
Forums
Re: Diagnosed at age 52 with lots of spinal damage
Hi Mack,
You have lots of friends here. It's a blessing that your levels are good now.
That pesky back pain will get better over time, I'm sure. Here's hoping for a healthy 2017 to you and your mother.
Looking forward to sharing more stories with you friend.
Much Love
You have lots of friends here. It's a blessing that your levels are good now.
That pesky back pain will get better over time, I'm sure. Here's hoping for a healthy 2017 to you and your mother.
Looking forward to sharing more stories with you friend.
Much Love
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PositiveChris - Name: Chris
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 11/28/2016
- Age at diagnosis: 42
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