Bone Marrow Biopsy

I had my biopsy done, and it was simple. It may be the Dr. that makes the difference in pain vs. no pain. I just took the Ativan and he shot me up with Lidocaine, and it was over in minutes. No big deal. This is why they don't offer the conscious sedation in most settings. It's unnecessary.
The anxiety that is built up from reading all kinds of things about experiences on the internet is what makes patients freak out when they are there. And as nurses, we all know that anxiety and fear increase the intensity of pain.

ativan and either morphine or dilaudid is our inpt normal
seems to work ok. we tinker with the amounts of each based on the pt

On our unit we pre-med with ativan and morphine, then the physician injects lidocaine and waits for 5-10 minutes. I haven't seen a bad one yet.

We generally use conscious sedation (dilaudid and versed) or actiq suckers + ativan if the patient is nervous. Some patients request nothing more than their usual pain med dose before.

I know this is an older post, but wanted to add a quick reply. I had a bone marrow biopsy in drs. office. I was scared stiff. I did not receive any sedating meds, nor analgesics. I thought that I would be laid up for the rest of the day, but I was fine. In fact, I remember the dr. asking me if was working that afternoon. I thought that he was nuts to even ask. But, now I know that was just his confidence and letting me know that it was no big deal. And, he was right. I expected horrible pain. I have heard horror stories and learned to never listen to them, anymore. I guess it depends on the person's pain threshold and the dr. My dr. was fantastic. The worst part was the lidocaine sting. It was just a pressure feeling after that. I took tylenol for the pain afterwards.

It is amazing how differently treatments are "treated" in the different settings i.e. inpt or clinic. I work in a hospital and we don't perform many bx at bedside I think because we are unable to give conscience sedation on the floor. I'd rather my pt be comfortable rather than have someone tell them they can't have medication.

I just found allnurses.com and I am thrilled. The info coming from nurses is so reality-based. You are on the front lines and you share in detail exactly what I can use to understand what I need to.

Regarding this thread, I too am amazed at the varied pain-prevention approaches that are used. But, I now know exactly what to ask for if I or a family member undergoes either the biopsy or the aspiration.

Even if I still worry that these procedures can be incredibly painful, my anxiety is GONE now that I have the INFORMATION about how to prevent the pain.

THANK YOU NURSES SO, SO, SO MUCH FOR CARING FOR US pt's AND FOR SHARING THE INFO.

I agree, and I too have had bone marrow biopsies done without pain meds.

My issue is if we are going to give meds, let us be honest, ethical and responsible. If an MD orders comes in at the last minute and orders ativan and morphine/fentanyl.....this is CONCIOUS SEDATION, and the nurse doing it, should not be responsible for 6 patients. Too many timesMDS are ordering what by ANY measure is CS, yet doesn't call it that....you have a nurse coming out of report at 0730, responsible for 6 patients including diabetics that nedd insulin, pts crawling out of bed, confused and falling, and the nurse having to set up and assist for BMT, and push narcs/seds with no monitoring equipment.

That is just wrong and terribly unsafe, yet frequently is the expectation of them.