I’m not sure you want to read all this, but here it goes. By the way, I think I had MGUS in 2011 when my WBC count (Neutrophils) were super low and stayed that way until I was diagnosed in 2020. 5 years ago, when I was 61, my L1 was -3.6 (Osteoporosis). 4 years ago there was moderate right and mild left hip osteoarthritis with marginal osteophyte formation and joint space narrowing. There is a cystic change in the right femoral head. Lumbar spine there is mild dextroscoliosis at L3. There are degenerative changes of SI joint (Sacroiliac joint) with subchondral sclerosis. September 2023- they added degenerative changes of the pubic symphysis. Bilateral sacroiliac osteoarthrosis. Cervical spine degenerative changes, straightening of normal cervical lordosis, loss of intervertebral disc spaceC3-C7. In 2018-2019 I was taking a high corticosteroid which causes osteoporosis and Cushing’s Syndrome, so it may have been a combination of damage from medication and MGUS. I think the only thing that has saved me was when I started taking over 1,000 mg calcium with magnesium, D3 & K2.

Robert that’s how they found my MM was because I was so severely anemic.

Thank you so much for that, I did read it all and find it very interesting!

I’ve read articles where MM attack the spine, specifically in the lower back. Back pain is a common and challenging symptom of myeloma and is often one of the first symptoms that people notice before being diagnosed. Myeloma itself, some myeloma treatments, and conditions related to myeloma can all contribute to back pain. Myeloma cells crowd the bone marrow and produce substances that interfere with the normal process of breaking down and regrowing new bone structures. Without the regrowing of new bone structures, degeneration is inevitable, causing disc narrowing, and spinal stenosis. The overabundance of myeloma cells puts pressure on the walls of the bone and causes pain. Protease inhibitors such as Ninlaro, Velcade and Kyprolis halt the enzymes inside cells that are responsible for cell division. These types of drugs target tumor cells but can produce back pain as a side effect. Monoclonal antibodies such as daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) can cause kidney pain, which may manifest as lower back pain or general back pain.
I have moderate degeneration in my mid back and severe degeneration in my lower back. 15 years ago I had laminectomy surgery performed on L3, 4, and 5 in the lumbar region, due to spinal stenosis. Since then, spinal degeneration in my low back has gotten worse. I’m just wondering if the degeneration signaled a beginning of MM? Also, I’ve been somewhat anemic for years. And my primary care doctor always wondered why. Could that also be a sign of the coming MM?
Even with my severe lumbar region degeneration , my Orthopedic Surgeon however, is hesitant to operate, since I have a lot of scar tissue from the previous surgery. He says, the probability of spinal fluid leakage due to surgery is too high. If that were to happen, I would become paralyzed in both legs.
I’ve been going to physical therapy to relieve symptoms. I’ve also been going for OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment) with a DO. A DO is an MD specializing in Osteopathy. It’s helping somewhat.

Hello, I was having bad rib and back pain from my belt line to my shoulders. They did an MRI and that was the result. I am now 56 and have already had my L4 and L5 repaired 11 years ago. Was told we can give u pain pills. I declined, some days are worse than others. I was fine thru cycle 5 and then it started in the middle of cycle 6. I had a total of 8 cycles.