[martin001Participant]

I am 67 and was diagnosed 24th May 2014 with light chain multiple myeloma. MRI revealed 5 compression fractures of lower vertebrae. After starting chemotherapy (lenalidomide + dexamethasone + trial drug MLN9708 or placebo) I made rapid progress from total bed rest to walking and return home. Since then I have experienced bouts of severe pain leading to near immobility and days free of pain. Sometimes I think I can relate the recurrent pain to too much sitting but other times there is no obvious cause. Has anyone else had a similar experience? How did you deal with this? How long did it continue?

[eveParticipant]

Hello Martin

With the amount of damage to your back,I would expect you to have been in sever pain and needing medication for it!!!

The consultants must have done a Skelton ex ray plus MRI,scan which show the damage,if it’s pain from that area ,there should be some relief as chemo does the job of removing cells,but if it’s the bones crumbling as the treatment works causing nerve pain,that is different.
Most people take a bone strengthener like Zometa which helps.

You alone know your body,listen to it,ask your consultant or see your doctor,excise in small doses is good for you,helps strengthen muscle around the bones.
You have to learn to be vocal with this disease,but first you have to find out what is causing the pain,lots of people are on very strong pain relief,you have a lot of damage to your spine,which could relate to Myeloma itself or damage caused by Myeloma causing more problems,you need to know which. Eve

[FrancesParticipant]

Dear Martin,
I’m 70, and was diagnosed with mm last year. I thought I’d got away without back pain, but in March what felt like a grumbling muscle suddenly got painful, and they decided I had three stress fractures in the lower spine. I found it quite hard to get notice taken of this at first but then attention kicked in, and since then my pain relief regime has been very good. I have a morphine patch and Oromorph to take if I need it – I hardly ever do. I was prescribed 8 paracetemol a day in four doses( I am cutting this down to half now) – have had two doses of radiotherapy, which doesn’t seem to work at first but then suddenly kicks in, and I am taking zometa for bone strengthening. At first my condition was really painful; though I think less bad than yours – I didn’t need bed rest – I was hobbling around with a stick, and kept having to stop. I am now much much better. I still find some hings painful – sitting in a hard chair for instance, and sitting through a film can be uncomfortable, or taking long walks. My consultant informs me that the fractures should heal, but it will take time, and because of the myeloma should take longer than if I was normal. But I am so much better than I was a while back, and I do hope the same happens to you. Good luck!

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