Hi Ann & Pete,
My mum was diagnosed with Myeloma in September 2006 (aged 66), having visited her GP several times since the March of that year with severe back/rib pain and spasms. Unfortunately they had fobbed her off with paracetamol and diagnosed muscular pain for 6 months before she was finally diagnosed. By this time the Myeloma had really taken hold and caused a lot of damage to her bones.
To cut a very long story short, I showed myself up nicely when visiting her in hospital (the Royal Hallamshire in Sheffield) and demanded some 'proper' pain relief for her. She was referred to the pain clinic and prescribed Fentanyl patches which she has applied every 3 days since that awful time. Until recently, the same dose has kept her pain at bay and she has been relatively pain free thoughout her many treatments (the best of which was Revlimid which was brilliant for more than 2 years).
I think it may be a good idea for you to ask to be referred to your pain clinic and let them alleviate your symptoms properly. Don't let them fob you off with paracetamol/ibuprofen as it just doesn't work.
Wishing you both the very best
Alison
