Question About Bone Pain, Lesions And Calcium Levels And Crestor!

As outlined in my other post about 'stable' protein levels, my hubby is now 3.5 years past orig dx of MGUS, and one year past dx of SMM.  His iron levels, calcium, albumin, etc all within normal limits. Only thing out of range is total proteins (fluctuates between 8.3 and 8.9), and Gamma Globulins (2.0), and monoclonal band (2.2 now).

Skeletal xray one year ago was completely clean. My husband has been on crestor (interestingly enough, was put on crestor in July 2006, and monoclonal band jump from 0.04 to 1.8 was found in Oct) for the past year. He's been on 6 different statins since 2001, all causing high cpk levels either immediately or after some time, and all causing muscle pain, weekness, fatigue, even memory loss, but Crestor's been the worst of the worst. He's off all statins now for one month to see how his CPK reacts, and if the muscle pain goes away. BUT every time he has a twinge of pain, we both freak out thinking it's bone pain (lytic lesions forming??).

How can we tell what it feel like when you have the lesions? How can we tell the difference between muscle and bone pain? He does not want to be exposed to another full skeletal x-ray unless there is good reason to be, and if this is only muslce pain, residual (or permanent?) from the statins, then that's not reason enough. But every day, I'm having mini-breakdowns if his back hurts, even when I know he's been doing physical labor around the house that might well cause it. I just can't take any type of pain, thinking it's a lesion!  Any advice?

I have one more thread to write on Curcumin too....

Thanks! 

Dear Worried Wife!  In all the years that I have been reading this message board I have never heard about Crestor.  What is it and what role does it play in MM?

With regard to pain, your husband will know the difference between muscle pain and bone pain when it starts!  Your worry will make YOU sick and can't help either of you, especially at this point when he isn't even experiencing much pain. Bone pain is much 'deeper' than muscle and doesn't increse with movement so much as it does with ordinary weight bearing. Bones with lesions, particularly in the spine, tend to 'crush' and one starts to shrink - I've lost almost 3 inches!  It can be managed with a variety of things, but one has to get ones head around taking medication to mask pain. Many people think that they will become addicts if they take morphine, but this is just not true if you are using it for cancer pain. I've been on 'patches' for over three years, gradually increasing as the need has grown, but have never been 'high' or had side effects like drug users--unless they have to eat copious quantities of prunes and drink Movicol to manage constipation!.  By making sure that I keep the pain at a managable level I am able to live my life to the full. Crushes can be fixed with special cement to strengthen the spine as well as using things like Aridia and Zometa to keep bones strong.  I guess what I'm trying to say is DON'T WORRY until you have to -- worry itself will run you down and solves nothing.  Get as much information as you can about 'what to do when', but don't look for 'what to do IF'.  There is so much positive progress going on in MM research and treatment that it almost changes monthly, and since 2003 things have moved so quickly that we are really heading towards looking at MM as a chronic rather than a terminal illness. In the past 4 years life expectancy in MM patients from the point of diagnosis has risen from 2-3 years to now its 7-10 years. Treatment at your husbands stage makes the odds even better.  Most MM patients today didn't even know that they had it until it was full blown, so he's way out in front!  So, relax!! Treasure every day, live life to its fullest and enjoy! Try not to worry about things that are IF's or Maybe's -- save your worry for when you have to actually deal with something.  Best wishes to you both for the Many years ahead!!  Cath