Getting a bone marrow biopsy! Is it as bad as what everyone says? 

Had mine done a few days ago. I was extremely apprehensive as a result of watching several videos and the negative comments from some people. It went very well and relatively quick. The doctor only used a local anesthetic and it was quite painless. In and out in about 15 minutes.

Thank you for sharing you experience. As a nursing student I like watching these videos for information and ideas on how I can continue to help patients.

Thanks for sharing. I can't believe it's 2024 and 'pain' is a regular occurrence in medical procedures...at all...a conscience patient and level 8-9 pain while they draw out bone marrow...why are we feeling this ...at all...? I would have nothing short of FULL sedation etc for any procedures like this... All the best bro

Hi Tom, getting this done in a few minutes. This video actually helped relieved some pre procedure anxiety. Get well soon man!

I had stage 2 Hodgkins lymphoma back in 1995. 13 chemo treatments and 2 weeks extensive radiation and i was in full remission. Now 25 years later I'm being tested for lymphoma or sarcoma in my elbow. I hope things are going well for you.

Had this done 7 days ago, you got some good treatment! I didn’t! Had 10mls of local injected into area, didn’t really numb me that well, and boom! 2 aspirations with first needle and then the bastard biopsy needle! And I cried the whole time that needle was in! Glad I did it though! I also hope you get through this mate 👍🏼

I used to have bone marrows done every time I had chemo. No pain killers or sedation was offered. I couldnt handle the device that looks like a staple gun they use to numb me. I preferred the needle. Im glad you seem to be recovering. Many blessings.

Thanks so much for sharing this video! You’re a rockstar 😊 I had mine today and I watched the video yesterday, and this helped a lot. Thanks again and I hope that you are well.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I also recently had a bone marrow biopsy and it's so great to have others' experiences to gain some idea of what to expect.

I managed to stay off the internet before my biopsy. Just got home about 20 minutes ago and I'm now looking it up. It was done in office and I was given Lortab and lidocaine. The aspiration hurt so bad. Three waves that made me wail three times. Hope you are doing well.

All they give me is a local shot to numb the area.. I had one this morning and I've had about a dozen bone marrow biopsy.. today's hurt quite a bit. God bless you Tom and good luck..

Just had bone marrow aspiration done on both hips (from lower back area) 3 days ago. Much less painful than I expected. It was part of a stem cell procedure. The injection, into torn labrum in shoulder (zero local anesthetic) was waaayyy more painful. If you want more detail just ask. I only have 1 hand to type with at the moment..

Thank you for the info-puts my mind at ease-I hope you get better

Hi...wished you get well and I will pray for you everyday...god bless.

It isn’t bad at all. I had sedation(versed/fentanyl). After that kicked in and the radiologist injected lidocaine, I don’t remember anything else. I was awake the whole time and even drove myself home. My mom was with me though. Never even needed anything for pain afterwards.

Hi Tom i have my bone marrow biopsy 4 years ago so i am long done with it.Now i am just waiting for a match for my bone marrow because i am a bone marrow donor

I’ve had about 5 total ….its not that bad…local for the skin and meat but the bones cant feel. I would describe it as intense when it breaks through the hard bone and enters the marrow…not enjoyable for sure but I’m sure you have had worse.

I had one when I was 18. That was a good 20 years ago. I’m sorry for you, handsome man, that you had to go through that. I’m sorry for anyone if you have to get one. Do everything you can to have them do general anesthesia. I am very serious when I say this. It was and to this day remains the most excruciating, gut-wrenching and emotionally disturbing procedure I have ever endured. Somehow I didn’t know that I needed someone to drive me home afterward. That meant that I had to sit at the facility until they close that night before they finally let me go. The residual pain and mental scarring lasted over a year. Anytime someone neared my back, I would begin crying. Heaven forbid, anyone actually touched my lower back. Imagine how that impacted my love life at that age. The phantom pains really did a number on me during my early 20s. I don’t mean to be overdramatic, but I suspect this would not of happened had they had me anesthetized. Worse, they allowed me to see the procedure implements as they rolled the cart into the room. I do not recommend viewing them or a description of the items prior to this procedure. It’s truly disturbing. This coming from someone who’s got a pretty tough stomach. What ensued was horrific, a feeling that is indescribable coming from the inside. The pain was such that I vomited during the procedure. I really wish I had just blacked out. I’m going to try to watch the rest of this video, because in some odd way maybe it will help me put closure to that event. I don’t know if I’ll make it, though, as it’s already bringing up emotional memories and tears. Anyone who compares this to a spinal tap at least from my experience is way off. I’ve had two of those in my lifetime, and they are a walk in the park by comparison. So my dear friend, I hope that your experience was much better than mine. And I hope that your health woes don’t hold you back. You’re young and good-looking with a long life ahead of you. The best of luck and thanks for sharing this video.

Sounds like u r not in the states…here in USA, I had mine recently. Promised to put me out and they did. No pain. So sorry u had to go thru this with no anesthesia.

Lung and bone biopsies hurt really bad, especially my lung biopsy and my upper chest got infected so you bet you I hurt every day from it

Happy the test wasn’t too awful. I’d give anything for those cool orange hospital socks 😁. My last pair were grey. Very boring. Praying daily for you Tom. Keep up the hard work. Take care of Courtney and stay close to your Mother. She must be so very worried with everything her boy is going through. 💕

I had one today and it wasnt bad AT ALL!..A little twinge, slight moment of pressure and next thing you know i felt a bandaid being applied...i shouldnt have read the comments..i was left scared to death!😁 Thanks Nurse Practioner Jennifer Moore (Atl)

Thank you for sharing your experience and hope all is well

There must be very different kinds of bone marrow biopsies. I was SO worked up worrying about how painful it would be. It was barely 3 seconds of sharp twinge (when they withdrew the aspirant). It was nothing !! Mine was in the iliac crest.

I’ve had five bone marrow biopsies done under local anesthesia and it wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it would be.

Had a BM biopsy last week here in Birmingham UK. Strange to see so many medical staff during your procedure. I had one doctor and he was demonstrating the procedure to a trainee doctor. Local anaesthetic was used. Still a bit tender 4 days on.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am going in for a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow to determine if I have a rare kind of blood cancer and I am trying not to freak out too much.

its painful as hell!!! They don't give u a damn thing my new dr promised to sedate me and didn't now I have one on a emergency level scheduled, I begged for sedation she won't well I won't do it,,,,,,,,,,,let them drill u doc! There is no reason not to at least give u a small amt of sedation even pain meds with something valium maybe and be human,,,,,,don't let them tell u they don't hurt cause they do this is my 5th one and they allllll hurt!

I have had five BMBs done. The first two were pretty brutal (done by the same doctor who I think must have been a sadist) as only local was used and apparently I have very hard bone. It was a most unpleasant experience. I mentioned the extreme discomfort during the procedure to my Clinical Nurse Specialist and she was horrified that I wasn't offered Entonox (gas and air) which is the norm at the UK hospital I am treated at. In my last three biopsies I had Entonox and the difference was amazing. Yes, you feel a "pressure" and a bit of an ache when it's extracted but not yell out loud pain! In fact I was quite jovial during the procedure and cracked jokes with the nurse and doctor! So ask for Entonox if your hospital doesn't routinely use sedation!

I dont know if epidural i had for hysterectomy is same as having a bone nartow but yhey dprayed my back with a cold spray i didnt ferl anything spart ftom a tinglling down my left leg and i was determinded i could kay fown on my own when they had done it then i discovered i couldnt and when i awoke from 4 hour hysterectomy and removsl of endometiral tisdue no pain rest of day and night bad psin eith gearbyrn thtough gas thed put in my yummy but yhdy gsve me mirphine that was weird a cross between adleep and awake but not awake couldnt ecplain it but nice

Stay positive dont let this consume you fight and stay positive

I didn't find it painful, just a bit uncomfortable for me.

I had 4 bone marrow biopsy’s in my hip bone & let me tell you it takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes total & is excruciating pain! I had 3 Awake bedside & 1 under sedation. Men tolerate it better because Men are taught from a young age Not to Cry. And it also depends on the Dr who performs it & how your nerves react to pain, everyone is different. I have cancer (Leukemia) and I will stick to my sedation. Afterwards the area will be sore & swollen. It does feel like someone kicked you hard in the hip/back area & everytime you put weight on that side of your leg, you will experience a sharp shooting pain & it lasts for a couple days. I’m on pain meds & a pain pump & still feel the pain. Someone who isn’t on pain meds might needs some for after care.

Always have it done as a out paitent in the hospital! They will not put you to sleep.Tell them you want sedation to atleast relax you.Yes! It hurts

Have they talked about putting in a port? That way you won’t need to be poked all the time. Hopefully there’s a better route for you! Stay positive!!

Mine was done by invasive radiologist under CT guidance. A shot of versed and fentanyl and lidocaine before that. Then comes the stick with a syringe and then the drill. I felt the drill and then some hammering and it was done. It wasnt bad at all.

Yes it was as bad as everyone said. It was physically he most painful experience of my life. Regardless of the fact that it only lasted minutes, those minutes were the most intense pain I ever felt at least a 9/10 and I’ve experienced a collapsed lung and broken bones.

I had my Bone Marrow Aspiration/Biopsy three days ago..but I was not fully sedated. I was awake...I hold my breath three times when my Dr pulled the Bone Marrow Aspirants..just for few seconds. It was painful but even a child can manage it...So, it's not as bad as others thought about....

I got mine today it’s nothing I was laughing the whole time

Going in tomorrow for my 5th bone marrow biopsy. It hurts some but the pain only last a few seconds. Some Doctors put you in sort of twilight sleep. Some don’t. Mostly you feel the pressure.

I was one of the fortunate ones that only felt little pain from the general anesthetic! 3 jabs did the job. Only felt rubbery sensation on my hips from the actual procedure itself.

During the biopsy under your left arm was any lymphnodes removed also ? Do you have any form of lymphoma or leukemia ?

This procedure is awful ! My doc only gives me lidocaine. Barbaric to say the least !

God bless you .... You kick ass human being 😉

St Luke's made it, so I barely felt it.

ok after seeing this and these comments, I am cancelling mine for next week. I am totally freaked out by what I saw...I am not doing it.

I’ve had the biopsy; my back was very painful after

Mine hurt like hell

I got my bone marrow done 6 years ago it's not so bad

Îs IT pai full????

got my bone.marrow biopsy not easy i fell inside the bone

well done ! you can do it !!!! ❤

Me: “Oh my god that looks just like my hospital could that be my hospital?!” Me five seconds later: “I... don’t live in Australia.” 😂😂😂 I have one of these soon and I’ve learned two things: 1. Ask for drugs (tho it’s the NHS so really not feelin like it’s gonna happen) 2. Don’t research on RU-vid 😂 Hope you’re doin a lot better!!

Did you live??

Why aren’t all these nurses wearing masks???

U were sedated,,,,,,,what was in the syringe??? Prop.????? We don't even get a smile!

Holy colors!

🤗

B,,, shit do it awake. You won't laugh