[NStewart]

Re: Radiation for multiple myeloma

by NStewart on Thu Sep 03, 2015 1:09 pm

Mr. PotatoHead-
In response to your question about how I identified the pain in my left fibula, I was receiving physical therapy for rehabilitation of my left knee post knee replacement surgery. During therapy I had to stop doing some of the exercises because of 10/10 pain in my the outside of my left lower leg. When I reported this to my oncologist he asked me to show him where the pain was. I could pinpoint it. He sent me for skeletal xrays and xrays of my lower legs, they aren't included in skeletal xrays. The xrays showed that I had lesions in both of my fibulae, but the one on the left was the symptomatic one. He then sent me to a radiation oncologist who recommended a short course of radiation. He said that it would help the pain and prevent the fibula from a likely fracture. He also said that if it did fracture that the bone would probably be surgically removed since we can live without that bone.

So, I chose radiation. Within 2 sessions the pain began to diminish. Within a couple of months after completing the 6 sessions, I had no pain in that leg. Now I only have achiness there when I've overdone things or am overly fatigued.

At the time that all of this happened, I also had relapsed. I had restarted treatment and was responding well to the treatment, but the pain didn't diminish until I had the radiation.

One of the things that you should know is that the surface, or periosteum, of bones is one of the most richly innervated tissues of the body. So, any damage to the bone which includes the outer covering will be painful because of all of the free pain nerve endings there. I think that it is a very good idea for you to see a pain specialist. There are lots of other ways to manage pain than all of the pain medications that you are taking.

All the best to finding a better solution to your pain,
Nancy in Phila

[MrPotatohead]

Re: Radiation for multiple myeloma

by MrPotatohead on Thu Sep 03, 2015 8:32 pm

Rneb

I have been through a lot, but nothing like what you have put up with. Thanks very much for your suggestions, sounds like there are a number of options and I will pursue them all. Appreciate the info.

I have only been dealing with this since March. So not ready to throw in the towel by any means, but I seem to be in the intermediate-high risk group using genetic and ISS measures, and not responding yet to any treatments, so who knows.

Thanks again,

Rob

[MrPotatohead]

Re: Radiation for multiple myeloma

by MrPotatohead on Thu Sep 03, 2015 8:41 pm

Thank you so much for sharing that, Nancy.

Even though I can pinpoint the major source of my pain in my lower back, my doctors have not been able to say with any precision what specifically is causing it. In fact, they tell me the skeletal survey shows most of my spinal lesions further up in the higher vertebrae. But, I have asked for a second consult with the orthopedist who did my kyphoplasty and I will see if I can get a more precise understanding. I will also be getting a referral to a pain specialist.

I really appreciate your help.

Rob