Donate Bone Marrow?

Question

has anyone ever donated bone morrow ? does it hurt ? what do they do to get it out ?

Answer 1

I have never donated bone marrow, so I cannot give you a personal experience. Below is the basic outline of the procedure. You can read a personal experience diary from a bone marrow donor at the BBCs website here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A197192

Marrow donation is a surgical procedure. While you receive anesthesia, doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow from the back of your pelvic bones. Many donors receive a transfusion of their own previously donated blood.

For 5-10 days before the bone marrow is taken you may have injections of growth factor (GCSF) to encourage the bone marrow to produce lots of stem cells. These are usually given by injection under the skin in the abdomen, arm or leg.
You will be admitted to hospital the day before the operation. You will be under general anaesthetic and the operation will last 1-2 hours. The bone marrow cells will be collected using a needle and syringe, with no cutting or stitching involved. You should be able to leave hospital 24 hours later.
For more information on the procedure, see the NHS direct article here:
http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=622§ionId=25732

If you register with The British Bone Marrow Register, you will be asked to provide a blood sample. If you are selected to donate bone marrow or stem cells the procedure will be explained to you fully by a counselling medical officer. For more information on the Bone Marrow Register, see:
http://www.blood.co.uk/pages/marrow_info_questions.html

Answer 2

I am told it is very painful