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Hi my doctor said biopsies were not that painful anymore. I read the procedure took about 10mins.

I had two doctors not sure if both were doing it or if one was training the other. Their English was not that clear. They got one sample then said it was not good enough and had to try a different bone. I was in a lot of pain when they finished it all took about 50mins to an hour.

1 month on my hip is still hurting is this  normal? or should I be concerned? Also I’ve been told I will need another biopsy in 6mths which I’m already dreading. 

A friend told me that her friend had a general anaesthetic for the procedure?  has anyone else had this? Not sure what to do. You thoughts appreciated. 

Thanks

My guess is that your BMB was done by some not very experienced in doing them.  I have had two  both done at the Mayo Clinic, both by Nurse technicians who did hundreds of them.  I had the first under a mild anesthesia, slight discomfort, sleepy afterwards. However, I had a pain in my hip buttock area for about a week after. Controlled with oxycodone. They thought a nerve or muscle had been hit. It disappeared after about 7 days.  

For the second BMB I had no anesthesia, I did not want it. I took an anti anxiety pill and a pain killer before. This second biopsy was almost painless, just felt pressure. took 10 minutes. I was fine afterwards, no pain of any type.

The skill of the person doing it is what makes the difference. If you can, request someone who does BMB all the time. Also, you can ask for light sedation.  I found no difference in discomfort between sedation and no sedation.  For my next one, if I need it, I will do anti anxiety and pain med before.  Hope this helps.  Gitel 

 

 

 

 

 

I have had 3 BMBs over the past 9+ years and 2 of those were because I was on a trial. Here in the UK they don't do them that often after diagnosis unless they really need to. My first was done without any pain relief and took me by surprise. My 2nd was done by a lovely lady doctor but she was very small and did not seem to have the strength to get out the trefine part ( bone) . It took her 45 minutes and i couldn't walk properly for 3 weeks afterwards. My final one was done by a strong young man and it was fine but I had entonox ( gas and air like in childbirth). No more for me as the blood PCR test is just as accurate in a straightforward case.

Doctors are amusing - they describe childbirth as "uncomfortable" and BMBs the same - I wonder how many of them have had a BMB themselves!

 

Best

Chrissie

Has anyone else had the "electric drill"?

Arrow® OnControl® Powered Bone Access System

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There is a curious intense pain for about 10 seconds but no longer. The pain is pretty much identical to having a tooth drilled without anaesthetic. 

 

I've had 6, all without pain relief. It's pretty uncomfortable and for a few short moments is quite painful. Anyone who describes them as 'not painful any more' has no idea what they are talking about. I've never looked forward to them, but I've never been apprehensive enough to request sedation.

The doctors performing them are very understanding and the pain is very short lived - a few seconds repeated two or three times, you know when it's coming and it's by no means unbearable. It's physically quite demanding on them, and they don't enjoy giving patients procedures which can be painful, so I feel quite sorry for them. The local anaesthetic is probably the worst bit, right at the start, it's like a wasp sting for about 5 seconds. For about a week I have reducing ache at the site, but no more than if I'd banged myself on something.

The way I approach it is to remind myself that there will be three of four sessions of 5-10 seconds where I'm going to pretty uncomfortable, but other than that it'll be fine, and I'll have a very understanding professional helping minimise the discomfort.

All medical procedures have some risk. A general anaesthetic certainly does, and it would in most cases seem disproportionate risk for a BMB.

Personally, I found a tooth extraction more painful than a BMB. Neither are very nice - very uncomfortable. Well applied local anaesthetic helps, as does a competent and strong doctor.

Lastly, with some BMBs a trephine is also done when a bone sample is also taken. These do take, in my experience, a good deal longer to recover from fully and are sore tot he touch for longer. 

David.

Thank you all, helpful to know. I will look into getting a more experienced person as clearly based on the time taken and the fact I am still in discomfort 3 weeks on it must not have been done well. 

There has been discussion of BMB on this website over the year. Many fear it, others say no problem. Rereading this set of posts I wonder if the techniques used in the United States might differ from those across the pond. Certainly the skill of the person doing it makes a difference as do the instruments used. I have a low pain threshold, so I was quite fearful and was surprised at how easy the procedure was. Just my thoughts on the very different experiences described.  Gitel

In the UK, it's a job quite often given to a SHO (senior house officer) so they can get experience. So people's experiences can vary quite a lot if it's someone who hasn't done it many many times.

Bone density counts too, so my doctor says. Older people with "chalkier" bones may have less pain they said. 

David.