I'm due for another survey and the last one was very painful because of the compression fractures in my back. In fact, I said I would never have another one but my oncologist wants me to go through hell again!
Because of my reduced kidney function I can't take many pain killers. Anyone have any solutions to share?
Thanks!
Forums
10 posts
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coopershawk - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one else.
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions for pain killers that might help. I had a skeletal survey the day after I was diagnosed with a pathologic fracture of my left humerus. There were a couple of positions that I couldn't get in to and the tech sort of scolded me about it. I wasn't very pleasant to her and suggested that she try moving around and lying on an arm with an unstable new fracture. That shut her up about me and she started complaining about my oncologist.
Anyway, can you ask your oncologist to maybe order an MRI or PET/CT instead? Even though you still have to lie on a somewhat hard surface for an extended period of time, you don't have to move around into different positions like you do with the xrays.
Nancy in Phila
Anyway, can you ask your oncologist to maybe order an MRI or PET/CT instead? Even though you still have to lie on a somewhat hard surface for an extended period of time, you don't have to move around into different positions like you do with the xrays.
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: Pain during skeletal survey
HI! My skeletal surveys are done standing up and there are support bars to hold onto for various positions. Probably the Xray techs have more than one way of doing these surveys? It does all take about 10 minutes. Could you ask your doctor for some pain meds or suggestions for OTC meds to take?
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
They allow me to take hydrocodone/Tylenol = Vicodin. I have a GFR that hovers in the low 40's.
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Wayne K - Name: Wayne
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself, my sister who passed in '95
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 03/09
- Age at diagnosis: 70
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Thanks everyone ... I'll try and work something out.
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coopershawk - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one else.
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Hello,
I really like Nancy's suggestion. I would request that your study be done in a standing position. If your local radiology office says they don't have the equipment ask your oncologist to find one that does.
I really like Nancy's suggestion. I would request that your study be done in a standing position. If your local radiology office says they don't have the equipment ask your oncologist to find one that does.
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Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Thanks Dr, Libby ... I'm looking for a facility that will do a standing skeletal survey. If I can't find one, I will come to Seattle. I am a UW graduate and love the services available in Seattle.
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coopershawk - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one else.
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Coopershawk, my recent skeletal surveys were done in the radiology department of the major regional hospital to which the cancer centre is adjacent (Tom Baker Cancer Ctr. is attached to Foothills Hospital). My first survey was also done in a hospital setting (Peter Lougheed Hosp). There is a separate room for the apparatus and X-ray machine. I didn't realize that there were any other ways of having these surveys actually! I was just sent over to these facilities from the cancer ctr.
I ask for copies of the radiology reports. They not only include the current report of my whole frame, but also compare it the the scans from the previous year. The records are all in the same provincial system, which makes it good for purposes of comparison. I have lots of bone lesions, so I am quite interested to know if they are stable from year to year.
Good luck with finding this sort of facility and maybe get back to us about it!
I ask for copies of the radiology reports. They not only include the current report of my whole frame, but also compare it the the scans from the previous year. The records are all in the same provincial system, which makes it good for purposes of comparison. I have lots of bone lesions, so I am quite interested to know if they are stable from year to year.
Good luck with finding this sort of facility and maybe get back to us about it!
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
Thanks Nancy...I'm still looking!
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coopershawk - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one else.
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 64
Re: Pain during skeletal survey
I just returned from my skeletal survey and it was a piece of cake! I asked the x-ray technician if I could complete the procedure standing up rather than wrecking my back on that comfortable steel slab they call a bed! She thought about it for awhile and said "no problem"! Hallelujah!
Thanks to all who responded.
Thanks to all who responded.
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coopershawk - Who do you know with myeloma?: No one else.
- When were you/they diagnosed?: August 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 64
10 posts
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