Bone Marrow Biopsy

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Good afternoon, I live in Scotland and I am currently going through tests. I had a bone marrow biopsy at the beginning of December. The numbing phase was excruciating, they were dragging the needle over my bone which had not been aneathertised, this has left me with Mental Health issues. Has anyone else been through a painful biopsy and how did you get past it? Your help would be much appreciated.

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Hi @meljarv

Iā€™m so sorry you had to go through that. I know the process varies differently for each patient, some with minimal discomfort and others extremely painful. When I read your post it took me right back to my own procedure and I still find it difficult to think about.

I found the bone marrow biopsy painful as well. I was in quite a low place after diagnosis and when I went for the procedure, thatā€™s when the reality of it all kicked in. The emotional response and then the procedure all got a bit too much. I too found it extremely uncomfortable and it took all my strength to get through it. I think everybody on the ward heard me!

I thought about it a lot afterwards (8years ago) mainly thinking how I will get through it if I ever needed it again.

I reminded myself that it was necessary and important and that I was ok. What I decided was that next time - if there was a next time- I would just ask for sedation. It was offered but I thought Iā€™d be fine. Iā€™ve learnt that sometimes, I donā€™t have to be fine. I can take whatā€™s on offer to make it easier.

I also found counselling so useful after treatment in talking through everything that had happened. It helped me to process things . Is this something you would consider? You could talk to your hospital team about this.

Iā€™m sure others will share their experiences and the support line is there if you want to talk things through.

Please take good care of yourself. It can be really tough at times but we are all here to support you :blush:

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Hi there
I had my first biopsy with 5 local injections and the pain was awful.
I was scared to have another but my clinical nurse was lovely and had me on gas and air when I had to have another biopsy done. She also told me when to keep breathing fast and slow down. I found that experience much better.

If you need to have another biopsy, explain that your last one left you with mental health issues.
Sedation is another option for you so explore that with your nurse

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Hi 2BD,

Thank you for your reply.

Did you submit a complaint after your first BMB? If not why not? Or discussed it with your consultant?

There were 2 Health Support Workers there, neither spoke to me throughout the procedure. The doctor only said the words that are in the BMB leaflet, no other words. The doctor let one Health Support Worker carry out the injections of Lidocaine, which I have since found out the she is not qualified to do so from my Consultant. They ignored the fact I had gas and air and just started the procedure. The first injection of lidocaine made me jump as she didnā€™t say she was starting. The whole procedure was horrific. Never will I have one done awake ever again.

Your nurse sounds lovely though.

kind regards

Brandy

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Hi Nichola,

thank you for your reply. It is very helpful.

What I am struggling with is why no one puts in a complaint if they have a painful BMB. My consultant said they need patients to let them know if their experience is more painful than that described in the BMB leaflet. They can then investigate and correct the procedure. The consultants aim is to ensure that BMB are as painless as possible.

Did you put in a complaint? Or tell your consultant?

I am having talking therapy arranged by my local doctor. Also on antidepressants. :confused:

They are not sure what is the problem is yet, the consultant talked about a false negative. Not sure what he meant by that. However, I will never have another BMB unless in theatre under general anaesthetic. My consultant will be spitting feathers but he will have to just suck it up. That said, he is lovely.

Kind regards

Mel

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No - I didnā€™t. I was told of the possible pain and the staff who were in with me were amazing. I didnā€™t feel they did anything wrong. I just think it was a mix of being really exhausted and emotional and my pain threshold was low.

Iā€™m sorry you didnā€™t have a supportive medical team x

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Hi
I didnā€™t put in a complaint I didnā€™t know to at the time. Not to make excuses but I was pretty poorly at diagnosis and just went with the flow.
I was diagnosed that day with myeloma with boney disease and a very experienced nurse did the first BMB. She said it might hurt and it really did even after locals. She tried to get good samples, it turns out they were not so I had to have another the following week. My actual consultant did that one and between her and my cns they made it as painless as possible. Its a long time now but I think I did tell my consultant about the first one and I was scared to do another

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Hi,

I had a trainee haematologist who had been doing them for 5 years, from what I was told by my consultant he was text book when he observed him. That wasnā€™t my experience he allowed an untrained Health Care Worker to inject the lidocaine to numbed the area, she did it the most painful way possible, which led to a really painful aspiration. I didnā€™t know he was a trainee. I didnā€™t know at the time she was not trained until I mentioned it to my consultant.

My consultant said I am the only person to complain about him but, like you they donā€™t know that they can. A BMB has a reputation for being painful so I think patients just accept that, that this is how it is. Also, like you, they need to get through the BMB to get a diagnosis to then start treatment. Itā€™s unfortunate as patients are suffering unnecessary pain.

itā€™s the thought that he will be causing unnecessary pain to others that is driving my poor mental health. I donā€™t know what to do about it. I know that I will not be believed and expect a standard reply. I am thinking of sending my complaint to the General Medical Council.

Sorry to ramble on. Appreciate your reply and advice. Itā€™s tough going at the moment as I donā€™t have a diagnosis yet.

kind regards

Mel

Kind regards

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Hello there @meljarv, welcome to the forum. Iā€™m really so sorry to read of how your BMB and aspiration went, and that youā€™re being tested to begin with. It must be a very stressful time and I really feel for you.

In 2023 I had a BMB and aspiration and thankfully had not read much about them in advance. Already I was anxious due to dreading what the BMB results might indicate, but I was fortunate to have a skilled specialist do the operation itself. I think it would have felt worse in advance stress-wise if I knew it could be so painful, and yours sounds horrible.

Youā€™ve had such great support and suggestions from other forum members already, and youā€™re seeking further information from your specialists. Have you heard of NHS PALS? You can take complaints directly to them and they can act as go-between in difficult healthcare situations. Maybe contacting them could answer some concerns: What is PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)? - NHS

While Iā€™m not a doctor I do know that it can take a few weeks for antidepressants to kick in, so bear with that if youā€™ve only just started taking them. Itā€™s great that youā€™re seeking counselling as that and the antidepressant should help with the very understandably difficult emotions youā€™re experiencing.

When I think back to what helped while I awaited my BMB results and subsequent blood cancer diagnosis it was a lot of walking, watching long films, writing letters to people (some I sent, others I kept to myself). Maybe now is the time to lean on loved ones and ask for day-to-day support until actionable test results arrive. I found having loved ones checking in on me gave me permission to let off steam about my worries.

Of course you have found us here which really can be a great help. Youā€™re not alone in having had a painful BMB and perhaps reading about how others around the forum experienced theirs could be a small comfort now. Just use a term like BMB in the search box at the top to find others whoā€™ve shared their BMB experiences.

Thinking of you @meljarv, time to tend to you and accept loving support Iā€™d say!

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Hi @meljarv

Sorry to hear about your challenges with BMB.

Iā€™ve had about 10 Bone Marrow Biopsyā€™s since first diagnosed in 2023.

First one very painful but after that much easier.

I just talked constantly to the Nurse while the Advanced Nurse Practitioner did all the necessary stuff.

I found taking deep breaths helped.

Getting the fluid sample out was fine. Getting the trephine sample was 15 seconds of huge discomfort.

Really lucky that team doing BMB are excellent and really empathetic.

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Hi Duncan,

thank you for replying. All replies are helping.

Out of curiosity, why did you not complain about your first BMB?

I would have talked to the nurse and doctor but itā€™s difficult when they are standing with their backs to you!! Letā€™s just say they were not the professional team everyone else had.

I hope everything is going well for you.

kind regards

Mel

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Hi Duncan,

Thank you for your reply and advice.

with regard to PALS, I live in the North of Scotland. I have spoken to PASS, Scotlands equivalent to PALS. They suggested getting a copy of my hospital records which I am in the process of doing. However they are seriously short staffed, so I have written my complaint detailing my experience and have a list of questions i would like answered. I have a friend who is a nurse who has recommended i phrase my complaint from a duty of care point of view. She said if I talk about the procedure they will just say ā€˜well thatā€™s the procedureā€™. Will probably just get a standard reply back but my friend said that they may possibly carryout an internal investigation but they will not admit to.

we will see.Hope all is going will for you.

kind regards

Mel

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Whoa @DuncanB your number of BMBs just registered with meā€”so many?! Iā€™m very glad to read your later ones passed with less discomfort!

Definitely agree about the benefits of an empathetic team doing the BMB. My nurse said heā€™s known as ā€œthe mosquitoā€ as heā€™s so adept at causing just a tiny little nip! I hate mosquitoes so would have preferred a different nickname but thankfully it went well and he was kind and slow. The procedure itself reminded me of having teeth pulled, weirdly. Doing deep breathing helped me too.

Anyway, Iā€™m hopeful thereā€™s no further BMBs unless absolutely needed!

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Hi @meljarv

I didnā€™t have any reason to complain.

Think the first time you have a Bone Marrow Biopsy itā€™s a bit of a shock as you donā€™t know what to expect.

The team who do my Bone Marrow Biopsyā€™s are brilliant. The Advanced Nurse Practitioner who does them gets how tough they can be for patients. Sheā€™s always checking if feeling any pain and level of pain on a scale of 1 to 10.

My mindset has always been that the Bone Marrow Biopsy is 100% for my benefit as it informs clinical decisions

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Yes quite a few BMBs @Duncan

A lot in the early stages. Just 4 in 2025, two of which were related to pre and post Bone Marrow Transplant stuff.

Mosquito analogy interesting especially as you hate them.

Still best source of informing treatment.

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Think maybe framing your points in terms of learning might help too @meljarv

My experience is that the clinical teams always value feedback from a patient experience.

Iā€™m in the North of Scotland too and have found the people Iā€™ve interacted with to be brilliant.

Iā€™m doing well after a challenging 2025 when I had a Stem Cell Transplant.

Hope that helps

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Yep, I agree. Iā€™d never wish a BMB on anyone but I was told they alone can diagnose all of these disorders that bring us here to the forum so I told myself to grin and bear it. Itā€™s really incredible what we can tolerate if we know itā€™s beneficial in the long-term. I know I may need another BMB if my blood cells start indicating a transformation from Polycythaemia vera (PV), but I put that to the back of my mind!

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Hi Duncan,

can I ask, do you always ask for the same team? Is that possible?

Mel

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Hi DuncanB

My consultant said the they need patients to let them know of their experience so that they can improve the procedure. He said, unfortunately hardly any do, which is a shame. So, I am trying to think of my complaint as constructive feedback.

I really appreciate all the replies. Having a BMB is very isolating as itā€™s not a common procedure.
Sending you positive vibes

Kind regards

Mel

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Agree @Duncan BMB is such a vital part of making sure things stay as good as they can.

As you say wouldnā€™t wish on anyone

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