A 52-year-old member asked:
What is the typical pain level of a bone marrow biopsy?
3 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Luis Villaplanaanswered
Internal Medicine 36 years experience
Pain: 5-7/10. Pain perception is different from patient to patient though, so keep that in mind.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Vikram Patelanswered
Pain Management 38 years experience
Bone arrow biopsy: The bones are covered with a tissue called periosteum which has pain nerve fibres and is very sensitive to any injury. The doctor should numb the skin as well as this deeper layer. The needle is large but proper numbing would eliminate most of the pain. Once the numbing wears off, pain returns in a few hours but should be tolerable. Ice or tylenol (acetaminophen) will be helpful.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Amy Deekenanswered
Pathology 21 years experience
Depends...: There should be numbing medicine placed in the skin and periosteum (covering around the bone. If given enough time to work, putting the needle in these tissues should be relatively painless. However, when the bone marrow is aspirated out, it creates a vacuum inside the bone which can cause a sharp pain to shoot down your leg. It only lasts a few seconds, but it is the one part that can't numb.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 42-year-old member asked:
What should I expect in regards to pain during a bone marrow biopsy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Stanley Lightfootanswered
59 years experience
See below: Almost certainly they will deaden the area before doing the biopsy unfortunately they cannot deaden the bone so when they penetrate the bone for the biopsy there will be some immediate pain but it should be short and you ought to be able to stand it since you know it is going to happen.
5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
NY
A member asked:
How long should I experience pain after a bone marrow biopsy?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Vance Harrisanswered
Family Medicine 38 years experience
A few weeks usually: Normally- you may feel some tenderness for a week or more after your bone marrow exam. Ask your doctor about taking a pain reliever, such as Acetaminophen (tylenol, others). Some people have pain that will last longer. If you are getting more and more pain then have it checked out.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
NY
A member asked:
How long should I be experiencing pain after a bone marrow biopsy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
22 years experience
It Depends: Everybody is different. You must keep in mind that your body heals as fast as your genes and diet will allow. If you eat unhealthy food, smoke and drink a lot, you may take a long time to heal. If you eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water, you may heal up in record time. Please keep in mind that your doctor can only estimate or ball park this for you, no one can give you an exact time.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
How long could the pain last after a bone marrow biopsy?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Paul Cohenanswered
Family Medicine 29 years experience
Short term: Should be no more than a few days; and that is on the longer side of the estimate.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Does a bone marrow biopsy cause pain?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Shaym Puppalaanswered
Internal Medicine 26 years experience
Yes: A bone marrow biopsy unfortunately can be a painful procedure. It is only performed when the benefits outweigh the risks, however.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 5, 2019
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