I travel internationally, and at 193 cm [6' 4"], economy seats in planes have stressed my back to the limit and, after bursting a disc in L4/L5, I had a double laminectomy to provide room for the leg nerves to move. Physiotherapy was working well until leg squats made a new pain. After 2 days on prescribed dexamethasone (3 day course), my left leg went numb from the knee down. My right foot is partially numb. And my right hand is numb. Neurologist test diagnosed aggressive peripheral neuropathy in all limbs.
After a bone marrow biopsy, a spinal lumber punch and a Sural nerve biopsy in my left ankle, I have a diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
Waiting on the heamatology team to work out a treatment plan.
This is scary, as I have just spent two weeks in cancer ward, and seeing the other patients with myeloma, that are walking OK, and I am not sure where I fit into the scheme of things.
I still want to get back to work and to be able to drive.
Best medications for me:
Lyrica 300mg at night for the nerve pain. Electric shocks in legs, they are terrible.
Panadeine Fort (paracetamol [acetaminophen/Tylenol] 500mg & codiene 30mg) - for the bone pain. 2 x Tablets every 6 hours.
Endone (oxycodone) - Does not work for my bone pain.
Kidneys OK.
Very difficult to walk.
David.
Forums
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Old David - Name: David Single
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 61
Re: The shock of diagnosis after a back operation
Hi David,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and pain. Sometimes bone pain is helped greatly with treatment for the myeloma. I had bad rib and back pain at diagnosis and it subsided with treatment after less than two months. Recently, I've had a relapse and had bad hip pain. Oxy did nothing for me, but now the new drug regimen has lessened the pain again.
I do find that ibuprofen helps with bone pain but my doctors don't like me to take it . They prefer that I take Tylenol. I find it somewhat helpful.
Everyone is different so find out if they will allow you to try other pain meds.
I hope you can get treatment soon.
Best wishes,
Joy
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and pain. Sometimes bone pain is helped greatly with treatment for the myeloma. I had bad rib and back pain at diagnosis and it subsided with treatment after less than two months. Recently, I've had a relapse and had bad hip pain. Oxy did nothing for me, but now the new drug regimen has lessened the pain again.
I do find that ibuprofen helps with bone pain but my doctors don't like me to take it . They prefer that I take Tylenol. I find it somewhat helpful.
Everyone is different so find out if they will allow you to try other pain meds.
I hope you can get treatment soon.
Best wishes,
Joy
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Joy - Name: Joy
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: May 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 52
Re: The shock of diagnosis after a back operation
David,
Like you, my myeloma was not discovered by accident when I was feeling good, but because I went in to seem my GP because I was starting to have some problems -- significant bone pain in my case. I found that pain killers had limited effectiveness for my bone or neuropathy pain I later developed. I never tried Lyrica, though. I do not believe it was on the market when I we needing something like that the most.
I did find that I had dramatic improvement in my bone pain when my myeloma treatment started and the disease was reduced and brought under control. This took a few weeks though. Hopefully you will have similar improvement. In my case, though I did have bone lesions, I did not have any significant skeletal damage like fractures.
This is a difficult time but keep in mind that, these days in myeloma treatment, it is likely that the initial myeloma treatment you will receive will be effective in controlling the disease for a period of time and hopefully will help relieve the difficulty you are going through now.
Like you, my myeloma was not discovered by accident when I was feeling good, but because I went in to seem my GP because I was starting to have some problems -- significant bone pain in my case. I found that pain killers had limited effectiveness for my bone or neuropathy pain I later developed. I never tried Lyrica, though. I do not believe it was on the market when I we needing something like that the most.
I did find that I had dramatic improvement in my bone pain when my myeloma treatment started and the disease was reduced and brought under control. This took a few weeks though. Hopefully you will have similar improvement. In my case, though I did have bone lesions, I did not have any significant skeletal damage like fractures.
This is a difficult time but keep in mind that, these days in myeloma treatment, it is likely that the initial myeloma treatment you will receive will be effective in controlling the disease for a period of time and hopefully will help relieve the difficulty you are going through now.
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Eric Hofacket - Name: Eric H
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 01 April 2011
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: The shock of diagnosis after a back operation
David, sorry to hear of your pain and hope it is resolved soon.
The numbness in my legs at diagnosis was the result of spinal fractures caused by multiple myeloma. The MRI was clear and compression was an issue. Recently, I had the kyphoplasty procedure to relieve the compression and functionality is returning (after radiation and chemo), but I am still using a wheelchair and a walker and do not yet drive again.
I have been on Lyrica before for MS neuropathy and it helped some. My doc would prefer no NSAIDs, so I take oxycodone, which works for me.
Keep in mind that we are all different and comparison to others is sometimes a real source of frustration. Also, the chemo agents can cause neuropathy.
I had the electric shocks you talk of and they are horrible, but mine subsided after radiation.
My goal is to drive and be able to work again, but the focus is on healing and recovery for the present. I am thankful for my loving wife who drives me for now.
I started warm pool therapy yesterday and it was awesome. The stretches and movement without gravity seem to help me a lot.
Keep your chin up and never give up!
The numbness in my legs at diagnosis was the result of spinal fractures caused by multiple myeloma. The MRI was clear and compression was an issue. Recently, I had the kyphoplasty procedure to relieve the compression and functionality is returning (after radiation and chemo), but I am still using a wheelchair and a walker and do not yet drive again.
I have been on Lyrica before for MS neuropathy and it helped some. My doc would prefer no NSAIDs, so I take oxycodone, which works for me.
Keep in mind that we are all different and comparison to others is sometimes a real source of frustration. Also, the chemo agents can cause neuropathy.
I had the electric shocks you talk of and they are horrible, but mine subsided after radiation.
My goal is to drive and be able to work again, but the focus is on healing and recovery for the present. I am thankful for my loving wife who drives me for now.
I started warm pool therapy yesterday and it was awesome. The stretches and movement without gravity seem to help me a lot.
Keep your chin up and never give up!
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Bar-none - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/14
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