Does anyone know if it hurts to get a bone marrow sample?

Question

If it does can you explain how and why?

Answer 1

Yes it does.

Usually the person who does it will explain to you about the process.

They will clean the skin about the area with a (very cold) antiseptic and then inject some anaesthetic. This is usually the only bit that really hurts much. The anaesthetic numbs the area and often they try to numb the bone (the periosteum is very sensitive).

Then they will put a needle in which is a little bit bigger than the anaesthetic needle. You tend not to feel that one except as pushing. No pain with this generally - some people have a little pain as the bigger needle gets to the marrow cavity of the bone but then there is a quick aspiration and then the needle is taken out and a dressing applied. That's all there is, really.

Needles always hurt but usually they hurt only a little bit - it's usually much worse for the needlephobic people who are actually so scared and anxious that if you just touch them they will leap up and try to run away.

Needles hurt because as they enter the skin they stimulate pain receptors in the skin which detect the sharp pressure sensation and send a nerve signal to the spinal cord and then to the brain. The local anaesthetic interferes with these nerves (preferentialy, mainly because these nerves are smaller in diameter and unmyelinated and hence the anaesthetic agent can penetrate them faster and easier) by blocking the sodium ion channels and therefore blocking the passage of the electrical signal up the nerve towards the brain.

Answer 2

If the marrow is normal, anesthetizing the periosteum and putting the needle into the marrow and aspirating is not painful. If the marrow is hyperplastic, aspiration is quite painful. If done in hip or vertebra instead of sternum it is not as bad.

Answer 3

Yes I am not totalizing you should ask a doctor?