Myeloma, pain and anxiety.

Hi, I'm a similar age with the same problem but post stem cell (last Christmas).  I ended up on Pregabloin which I believe is a derivative of Gabapentin) 150mg twice a day.  It gradually got on top of it and now I'm fairly mobile and active.  However I carry the p53 mutation which can make things a bit tricky, but hey-ho!  Regards Rob.

Just remembered that apparently such drugs take a while to build up and become effective.  I was also on 2x30mg of morphine but am currently working on reducing that.  Now my feet respond to vigorous exercise which may sound counter intuitive, but of course that's still a way off.  Hope this helps .  Rob.

Thanks for your reply Rob, so it's a case of keep taking the pills and try to cope with the pain. Hubby goes for his Chemo a week on Sunday, then stem cell harvest near the end of October. So hopefully he'll have his transplant before Christmas.... then the road to recovery.  I just hope either these tablets start to have an effect or something happens to lessen the pain. We even hired a wheelchair so I could get him out.... except it's a tad too windy at the moment to do that. 

We nipped to the shop earlier, the furthest he's walked in days, but not far at all really, as soon as we got home he had to lie on the bed because of the pain. But we'll keep trying. T x

Your welcome.  As I said, the medication will take a while to build up.  Even with Pregabolin I had to get them to up it to 150mg twice a day to get on top of it.  Everyone's different, but I had a job to stand and didn't know what to do with myself.  A year on and I'm able to do most things in moderation but have yet to come of the meds.  Get them to increase the level of relief, no-one should be in pain! Things are bad enough for you guys without that....so make 'em listen.....

Regards Rob.

Well we're at the hospital again on Monday,  so we can discuss his pain meds then.  I guess we just wasn't expecting this level of pain with his feet, and his inability to do much of anything at this point in treatment. 

Well do make sure that you impress upon them your dire need of effective pain relief.  I my experience my treatment was first class, my care not so much.  Allow me to repeat the importance of getting on top of the pain, it's vital to his recovery.  He needs to feel able to progress and avoid getting stuck in a state of hopelessness, you both need a way out of this if possible.  In my opinion.  That said a week is not long but I needed a fairly big dose that started to take the edge of it after a couple of weeks or so.  After badgering the duty doctor on the day case ward she upped it, if it weren't for that I don't know where I'd be by now.  Good luck to you.  Regards Rob. 

P.S.  My wife reminds me (as ever) that, as with most meds, dosages need to be built up gradually.  It was frustrating and an anxious time, but it made the pain and discomfort manageable after a while.