Yesterday I contacted the stem cell service at the hospital where I was transplanted about my shoulder pain. They had me come in for xrays and an MRI of my thoracic spine.
Thankfully, the only thing they saw was bulging discs. They said that they would follow up with me today once the MRI was reviewed more closely by the radiologist.
I will have to try harder not to panic over aches and pains, which I will no doubt continue to have as does almost everyone my age. Hopefully, if everything checks out after my 100 day checkup, I will be able to relax a bit.
Thanks to everyone for your comments and support, especially Dr. Shain!
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Re: Anyone relapse soon after their transplant?
Hi,
My response isn't regarding the relapse question, but the shoulder pain. I had a great deal of shoulder pain shortly after my transplant, so much that it affected my sleep and day-to-day function (I struggled, for example, putting on my coat, or buckling my seat belt).
My PCP referred me to an orthopedist, who did imaging to rule out both a torn rotator cuff and myeloma-related damage. The imaging was negative for those things, but did show inflammation. He gave me a shot of cortisone and a referral to physical therapy.
The shot gave me immediate pain relief and also enabled me to actually do the PT exercises, which involved both mobility and strength building. I went to three PT sessions, did the exercises at home, and was much, much better almost immediately.
My speculation is that I lost so much muscle mass during the initial stages of the illness and the transplant that I ended up straining my shoulder in compensation for general weakness.
Hope you feel better soon!
Ginny
My response isn't regarding the relapse question, but the shoulder pain. I had a great deal of shoulder pain shortly after my transplant, so much that it affected my sleep and day-to-day function (I struggled, for example, putting on my coat, or buckling my seat belt).
My PCP referred me to an orthopedist, who did imaging to rule out both a torn rotator cuff and myeloma-related damage. The imaging was negative for those things, but did show inflammation. He gave me a shot of cortisone and a referral to physical therapy.
The shot gave me immediate pain relief and also enabled me to actually do the PT exercises, which involved both mobility and strength building. I went to three PT sessions, did the exercises at home, and was much, much better almost immediately.
My speculation is that I lost so much muscle mass during the initial stages of the illness and the transplant that I ended up straining my shoulder in compensation for general weakness.
Hope you feel better soon!
Ginny
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Ginny - Name: Ginny
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self and four friends
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October, 2012
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Anyone relapse soon after their transplant?
I too had pain. Bone scans & x-rays showed osteopenia in my backbone, but it turned out I also have osteoarthritis. Completely unrelated, but darn uncomfortable.
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Salzmav - Name: Salzmav
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: Anyone relapse soon after their transplant?
Thank you for your contributions to this thread. I am going to an orthopedist tomorrow. Hopefully, he can sort things out for me.
I appreciate knowing that others have had pains that were not myeloma-related!
I appreciate knowing that others have had pains that were not myeloma-related!
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