My mother has a compression fracture in T4 vertebrae due to a lesion. She is in extreme pain. She is almost bedridden. The doctor started Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVD) and Zometa infusion. The first cycle is over, but there is no difference in the pain.
I wanted to know if giving radiation along with chemo is a possibility. And also normally after how many cycles of chemo the pain starts reducing?
My mother is having extreme pain and even the pain medications are not working.
If anybody else has had the same issue, can you let me know what treatment was done? Was Revlimid, Velcade, and dexamethasone (RVD) given first, then radiation and then kyphoplasty?
The doctor says that kyphoplasty can only be done after chemo and radiation are given, as a supportive surgery. She is in extreme pain and she cannot even sit. No pain medications are working. If anybody has experienced similar issue, can you please tell me how it was handled? The doctor said her pain will start reducing after first cycle itself, which didn't happen.
Can you also suggest any pain meds that worked for you? Currently my mother is in India and I am in US, so am extremely worried.
Forums
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Hi Ruchi,
I have a compression fracture on T8 and T11 - but no pain. However, I had terrible pain on my shoulder blades, and then an MRI found cancer/tumor on my cervical vertabrae. It had 'eaten' through C6 and C7 already.
I needed urgent surgery, and thereafter I was pain free. I consented to some low-dose radiation prior to going on Revlimid/dex. I've been pain free since, including areas where I have lesions.
I hope they find out what is causing your mother's pain. I wish her the best.
Kate
I have a compression fracture on T8 and T11 - but no pain. However, I had terrible pain on my shoulder blades, and then an MRI found cancer/tumor on my cervical vertabrae. It had 'eaten' through C6 and C7 already.
I needed urgent surgery, and thereafter I was pain free. I consented to some low-dose radiation prior to going on Revlimid/dex. I've been pain free since, including areas where I have lesions.
I hope they find out what is causing your mother's pain. I wish her the best.
Kate
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Kate - Name: Kate
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Dec. 2012
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Hi Ruchi,
My dad was in the same situation (compression fracture-vertebrae); they did surgery within 48 hours of diagnosis, then came radiation 7 weeks after surgery; no chemo as of yet, as the lesion was limited to one area.
Even 7 months after surgery, pain meds dulled my dad's pain, but it never goes away.
My dad was in the same situation (compression fracture-vertebrae); they did surgery within 48 hours of diagnosis, then came radiation 7 weeks after surgery; no chemo as of yet, as the lesion was limited to one area.
Even 7 months after surgery, pain meds dulled my dad's pain, but it never goes away.
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Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Hi Ruchi,
I had a T10 and L1 fracture. During induction with Velcade and dexamethasone (VD) while inpatient, I was given 10 targeted radiation treatments which helped the pain. Also, it sounds hard, but physical therapy also helped, if the doctor approves it.
Kyphoplasty was done later.
Best! BN
I had a T10 and L1 fracture. During induction with Velcade and dexamethasone (VD) while inpatient, I was given 10 targeted radiation treatments which helped the pain. Also, it sounds hard, but physical therapy also helped, if the doctor approves it.
Kyphoplasty was done later.
Best! BN
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Bar-none - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/14
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Thanks all for your replies. Current doctor has decided to start radiation from Tuesday as the pain is still the same. In Bar-none's case, it seems the doctors gave chemo and radiation simultaneously, so it should be OK if the same approach is taken for my mother. Initially I wasn't sure if that could be done.
The doctor is also thinking of starting Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and vincristine deco therapy. Actually, my mother's original oncologist is out of country. So the replacement oncologist already started RVD. But the original one thinks Adriamycin therapy should be given instead when contacted. Not sure why.
I am a regular Beacon follower but not sure if Adriamycin / vincristine therapy is used a lot.
Hope once the radiation starts my mother's pain will ease.
The doctor is also thinking of starting Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and vincristine deco therapy. Actually, my mother's original oncologist is out of country. So the replacement oncologist already started RVD. But the original one thinks Adriamycin therapy should be given instead when contacted. Not sure why.
I am a regular Beacon follower but not sure if Adriamycin / vincristine therapy is used a lot.
Hope once the radiation starts my mother's pain will ease.
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Just saw an orthopedic surgeon about my husband's compression fractures. If the fracture has healed for over 3 months, they cannot do kyphoplasty.
Consider that option (don't know if it is right thing or not) before the fracture is 3 months old.
Consider that option (don't know if it is right thing or not) before the fracture is 3 months old.
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
I started with two kyphoplasty surgeries followed with a vertebroplasty surgery prior to starting chemo induction.
Due to the chemo I delayed Zometa until done with the chemo and transplants. I had back pain until the surgeries and felt better almost immediately.
Due to the chemo I delayed Zometa until done with the chemo and transplants. I had back pain until the surgeries and felt better almost immediately.
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blueblood - Name: Craig
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Just a note for anyone who may be confused by some of the posts in this thread in comparison to what has been posted elsewhere in the forum ... Some centers are will to do kyphoplasties and similar procedures on "old" fractures. See, for example, the postings in this forum thread:
"Kyphoplasty for "old" fractures - advice / experiences?" (started Sep 18, 2014)
The discussion in the thread suggests that what you hear on this subject will depend on what doctor you talk to. But, reading between the lines, it seems that doctors at major myeloma treatment centers – like Sloan-Kettering and Roswell Park – are willing to do kyphoplasties on "old" fractures, often with success.
"Kyphoplasty for "old" fractures - advice / experiences?" (started Sep 18, 2014)
The discussion in the thread suggests that what you hear on this subject will depend on what doctor you talk to. But, reading between the lines, it seems that doctors at major myeloma treatment centers – like Sloan-Kettering and Roswell Park – are willing to do kyphoplasties on "old" fractures, often with success.
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
Interesting for me to be reading this now. I have a CT appointment on Friday to see if I would benefit from kyphoplasty, or something else. I had Harrington rods installed 15 years ago from T5 to L2, in order to stabilize fractures and compressions in my thoracic region. The latest x-rays show that L2 has lost 1/3 of its height. I'm thinking that if the foundation starts to crumble, the building isn't too far behind. That is just one area. I am also experiencing sharp/hot pain around the top of my pelvic bone, that may/may not be from a collapsed disc. Also, I am getting numbness down my leg from the groin area.
Recent x-rays commented that I have 5 cervical, all the thoracic, most of my lumbar, and all of the sacral vertebrae fractured. Like my doctor has told me, just be careful, you're fragile! Everyday I thank my Higher Power for the opportunity to show up for life!
I have had numerous radiation treatments over the years and that has really helped relieve the pain. In all of this, the scariest was when we discovered my C2 was 60% involved, but radiation worked great on that!
Recent x-rays commented that I have 5 cervical, all the thoracic, most of my lumbar, and all of the sacral vertebrae fractured. Like my doctor has told me, just be careful, you're fragile! Everyday I thank my Higher Power for the opportunity to show up for life!
I have had numerous radiation treatments over the years and that has really helped relieve the pain. In all of this, the scariest was when we discovered my C2 was 60% involved, but radiation worked great on that!
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GaryH - Name: GaryH
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov./97
- Age at diagnosis: 44
Re: Treatment for compression fracture in spine?
I thought i would update my last post. I went & had the CT & it showed L2 collapsed. I saw my spine surgeon next & he wants to do a vertiplasty on it. I then went & had a spinal block which instantly reduced the pain! After that, i had an MRI which found another problem spot at T2, which had fractured & has a growth growing towards the spinal column. They are looking into radiation for that. Radiation has worked great in the past, so i'm looking forward to getting it done.
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GaryH - Name: GaryH
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Nov./97
- Age at diagnosis: 44
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