[Little Monkey]

Hand pain - any ideas?

by Little Monkey on Thu Dec 17, 2015 10:45 pm

So my dad tells me over the phone that his hand is swollen and in a fair amount of pain last night, he said the pain started when he grabbed/moved a frozen turkey; first thing I thought of was one of those low-force fractures that myeloma is famous for. I told my dad it was not a joke, he needed to see in the doctor tomorrow. Two days ago the haematologist said she wanted to put my dad on Aredia for the bone concerns.

He sees a family doctor who had x-rayed his (hand), there is no visible fracture (I've heard that some hairline fractures don't show up so well on an x-ray); the doctor is not so satisfied that the situation transient and minor, he sends a fax to the hospital where my dad's cancer centre is located (in town); the doctor is concerned about a possible infection.

My dad gets to the hospital, they test his blood and could not find any infection; the ER doctor believes as well there very well may an infection and prescribes an antibiotic and will notify my dad's haematologist.

Could this be something total unrelated to my dad's myeloma, or myeloma related?

Last edited by Little Monkey on Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:00 am, edited 1 time in total.

[stu1975]

Re: Hand pain - any ideas?

by stu1975 on Fri Dec 18, 2015 12:28 am

Hi Little Monkey,

Has your Dad started on Velcade? I started getting severe hand pain and swelling at about week 6 of my CyBorD regimen. Or are there any similar side effects noted for any other meds that he is on?

Just a thought.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Hand pain - any ideas?

by Ron Harvot on Fri Dec 18, 2015 12:45 am

The doctors are being careful but it sounds like he may have strained a ligament in his hand or wrist when he was moving the frozen turkey. That of course is just speculation on my part. Has he had a history of lesions? If so that explains why the doctors are being so cautious.

[Ron Harvot]

Re: Hand pain...any ideas

by Ron Harvot on Fri Dec 18, 2015 12:49 am

You mentioned that both of the doctors appeared concerned about an infection. Does he have some form of an abrasion on his hand? Is his white count real high?

Not sure why a swollen hand would lead them to be concerned about an infection without a cut or something similar.

[Little Monkey]

Re: Hand pain - any ideas?

by Little Monkey on Fri Dec 18, 2015 8:21 am

Nah, he has not started the cyclophosphamide, Velcade, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) yet. The haematologist plans to adjust the Velcade dose to account for the fact that he already has neuropathy in his legs.

Lesion, yes. My dad had a large lesion removed by surgery and radiation nine months ago, the recent PET scan has shown two more on the spine.

No cuts either.