Very anxious about bone marrow biopsy

I have had 3 BMB and each one wasn’t bad. The first was done right in my hospital bed when I was diagnosed! They loaded my hip with lidocane numbing agent. The sound of the drill was more disturbing than the procedure itself!
The 2nd one was also done with local numbing in my hip. The 3rd was done in a surgery center under light sedation. With all 3 I had only pressure sensation and some tingling. My experience has been
The folks who do BMB do them all the time and are skilled technicians. If your MD orders a BMB I hope your experience is similar to mine.

@tamlyn74
I recently had my first bone marrow biopsy and a very short acting IV sedation called propofol was administered and I so I had no pain, no soreness afterward and no anxiety about feeling or hearing anything going on. I am 71 years old and was thankful I had no pain or discomfort at all from the procedure.

I (age 73) have had two BMBs. Both were performed in hem/onc's office, with only local anesthetic. Neither was a big deal. Vibration, pressure, minimal pain. An ibuprofen that night, fine the next day. For me at least, the thought was far worse than the actuality.

@tamlyn74 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I hope the responses you have seen here have helped you. They are all positive! Of course, there are always people who have a negative experience, and perhaps we will hear from them, too.

A bone marrow biopsy can be an important procedure to establish your disease process. When done by someone who is familiar with the procedure, it has few negative things. I myself have had 4 of them. The first one done by a Dr who obviously didn't do many of them. The last 3 were done by my present hemo- onco. Mind you, I drive 2 hrs each way to see him. And after the ones he did, it was no problem to drive home! Just a local anesthetic. His wonderful nurse was right there and kept me distracted from the noise and feeling of pressure.

Please let me know if these responses have been helpful to you, and if you have additional questions?
Ginger

I have had 2 BMP’s. The first was with very light sedation in the hospital. Second one my hematologist did in the clinic with only lidocaine. Honestly, I prefer not getting the sedation bc you can’t eat after midnight & for me, the sedation wasn’t necessary. The second one my Dr did with only local numbing was very tolerable. I only felt pressure & of course the lidocaine shots, but no big deal. I had minimal discomfort after the lidocaine wore off.
Everyone’s different. Some people have more anxiety & that’s understandable. But please know it’s a very tolerable experience!

I've had one and I have to say that it was no big deal. I have heard of people being given tranquilizers, sedation or the like but in my case I did not find it necessery. The area was deaden with a local so all I felt was pressure. I was lying near a wall and I used it to push back. It was over very quickly. Worrying about it is the worst part.

I was also very nervous about my first bone marrow biopsy. I had it done outpatient at the hospital with light sedation and it was very easy---and didn't have any pain afterwards.
When I had my second one scheduled, I told my Oncologist I would be okay with having it done in the office, since the first one was so easy, but she wanted it done at the hospital by the interventional radiologist so they could make sure it was lined up properly and the biopsy was taken in the right spot.
Her reasoning was that if they did it in the office, and did not get a good sample, I would have to do it again.
Again, easy peasy and I was more relaxed from the first one.
Don't read Dr. Google (like I did!) as some people have had some interesting experiences. Your Oncologist will make the best recommendation for you, and if you need reassurance, please let her know your concerns.
Wishing you the best and let us know how you felt afterwards!

I have had 2 done. First one done in hematologist office which was a mistake. It’s not painful but lots of pressure and bit uncomfortable. Said he could do it in the office which would save me 4 hrs vs the hospital. Second one done in hospital with local numbing but not put asleep. Was much better second time. Not my favorite test but not painful just uncomfortable. Good luck you will be fine

Hi @tamlyn74,

I had platelets similar to yours on my routine first time lab with new insurance in 12/25. I had bone marrow biopsy on 2/2/25. Honestly, it was no big deal and painless. It was done by NP in office with local anesthetic. I know some others have had it be painful, but not me. I actually asked for the bone marrow biopsy and reluctantly my O/H ordered it. Unfortunately, my O/H changed her 1/10/25 diagnosis for me of ET to primary myelofibrosis on 2/10/25 after my bone marrow biopsy though. Strangely, just the that one day with me taking nothing, my platelets were 400 lower on my bone marrow biopsy day and my hemoglobin was lower than normal. All three labs I have done after that show my hemoglobin is fine (normal level) and I still have high platelets. Yesterday I did pelvic CT scan O/H ordered. I have no symptoms, no pain, no headache, and lots of energy like I always have had for which I am thankful to God.

Had my first Bone Marrow Biopsy Feb '25 in hospital- was VERY nervous and there was nothing to it... honestly! No pain during or after. They give you a good twilight medicine and you're good to go!
😊🙏🏻