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Is the bone pain from multiple myeloma or arthritis?
I am newly diagnosed June 7, 2016 with smoldering multiple myeloma. My doctor asked me if I am having bone pain. Since I have had mild osteoarthritis for several years, how do I tell the difference between bone pain related to multiple myeloma and bone pain related to arthritis? At the time he asked I just said no, but thought about it later.
Re: Is the bone pain from multiple myeloma or arthritis?
Good morning Trillium,
Arthritis is a joint deterioration. If you had it in the knee or the finger joints, you would be able, probably, to "feel" the difference. In the spine, it would probably be impossible to feel the difference. My wife's mild back pain was a worry, so the doctor prescribed imaging, which I believe was a torso MRI. The good news was that there was no sign of bone damage from myeloma. However, she advised of the presence of arthritis, which will only deteriorate more over time. It was mild, however, and for new it can be dealt with.
Good luck to you.
Arthritis is a joint deterioration. If you had it in the knee or the finger joints, you would be able, probably, to "feel" the difference. In the spine, it would probably be impossible to feel the difference. My wife's mild back pain was a worry, so the doctor prescribed imaging, which I believe was a torso MRI. The good news was that there was no sign of bone damage from myeloma. However, she advised of the presence of arthritis, which will only deteriorate more over time. It was mild, however, and for new it can be dealt with.
Good luck to you.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Is the bone pain from multiple myeloma or arthritis?
Hi Trillium,
As far as I know, I don't have arthritis. But I do have 2 herniated disks in my back. I've had those for decades. When multiple myeloma began to affect my spine about 4 years ago, the pain really did feel different than the pain I was used to from the herniated disks. The most obvious thing was that the disk pain usually was on my right side, whereas the new myeloma pain was on my left. But it just felt qualitatively different too, not necessarily worse, but just different. I don't have words to describe how it was different, though.
I tried dealing with the new pain through denial, although I was afraid it was active multiple myeloma since I was already smoldering. Fortunately, tests by my oncologist and myeloma specialist picked up the progression of the disease fairly quickly. I began treatment, and that stopped all back pain, including the old disk pain. I'm almost as good as new now!
Best wishes to you as you begin your smoldering myeloma journey. I hope your case never progresses to symptomatic multiple myeloma. But if it does, please be aware that there is lots that can be done to help put it in remission and hopefully keep it in remission for a significant period of time.
Mike
As far as I know, I don't have arthritis. But I do have 2 herniated disks in my back. I've had those for decades. When multiple myeloma began to affect my spine about 4 years ago, the pain really did feel different than the pain I was used to from the herniated disks. The most obvious thing was that the disk pain usually was on my right side, whereas the new myeloma pain was on my left. But it just felt qualitatively different too, not necessarily worse, but just different. I don't have words to describe how it was different, though.
I tried dealing with the new pain through denial, although I was afraid it was active multiple myeloma since I was already smoldering. Fortunately, tests by my oncologist and myeloma specialist picked up the progression of the disease fairly quickly. I began treatment, and that stopped all back pain, including the old disk pain. I'm almost as good as new now!
Best wishes to you as you begin your smoldering myeloma journey. I hope your case never progresses to symptomatic multiple myeloma. But if it does, please be aware that there is lots that can be done to help put it in remission and hopefully keep it in remission for a significant period of time.
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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