Multiple Myeloma Symptoms
Last Updated: Apr 13, 2020
If a person has a fracture in the spine without any external injury then it might be due to multiple myeloma. The condition of multiple myeloma increases the risk of fractures as the cells of myeloma develop tumors within the bone marrow which spreads to the bones from the marrow. The calcium also gets removed from the bones due to multiple myeloma. If a person is suffering from back pain then he/she might have multiple myeloma due to multiple fractures in the bones of the ribs.
Fatigue, feeling of weakness
When a person feels tired after completing a routine activity then it is a normal process. However, if a person starts feeling tired or exhausted even after resting then there might be some underlying cause that is leading to the development of fatigue in the body. If a person is feeling fatigue then it might be a symptom of multiple myeloma. In multiple myeloma the healthy red blood cells are crowded by the cells of multiple myeloma. Oxygen is carried to various parts of the body by these healthy red blood cells. When the quantity of the red blood cells reduces the amount of oxygen reaching to body parts also reduces. This leads to a person feeling fatigue.
Recurrent infections
Anyone can suffer from infections and they usually get treated when a doctor prescribes any antibiotic. However, if a person is getting infected recurrently then it means there is some problem with the immune system of the person. Recurrent infection is an sign of multiple myeloma. As the healthy cells of the body are crowded by the multiple myeloma cells the immunity of the person gets affected leading to recurrence of infections. If a person is getting infected easily then he/she must consult the doctor immediately to check for multiple myeloma
fevers
When the temperature of the body rises above the normal levels it comes under fever. Most of the time the fever gets treated as a doctor is able to diagnose the cause of the fever and prescribe medicine accordingly. If a person is suffering from fever for a long duration of time with the origin of the fever not clear then a person might be suffering from the condition of multiple myeloma.
Shortness of breath
If a person is suffering from the problem of shortness of breath then it might be due to multiple myeloma. In the condition of multiple myeloma there is inhibited growth of the red blood cells. This results in the development of anemia in the person. Anemia is associated with fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath. Thus, a symptom of shortness of breath must not be taken lightly as it must be reported to the doctor immediately.
Weight loss
A person might experience unexpected weight loss if he/she is suffering from multiple myeloma as the diet of the person changes considerably. A normal person would get hungry as usual but a person who has multiple myeloma might not experience any hunger pangs. This leads to eating less food which in turn causes weight loss in the person. If a person undergoes weight loss without any reason then he/she must consult the doctor immediately to check for the possible causes.
Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common symptom of multiple myeloma. Nausea is feeling in which a person has a constant urge to vomit. The symptom of nausea develops in patients with multiple myeloma due to gastrointestinal problems which are caused by high levels of calcium in the blood. This symptom is common is n 30 percent of the people. Thus, is a person is feeling nauseous persistently then he/she must consult the doctor to know the cause of the symptom
Constipation
Constipation is also one of the symptoms of multiple myeloma. If a person is suffering from constipation for a long period of time then it might be due to gastrointestinal problem caused due to multiple myeloma. This gastrointestinal problem is due to high levels of calcium in the blood. The high level of calcium in the blood is due to loss of calcium from the bones. Thus, a person must consult a doctor if the constipation is not getting treated to check for the possible cause.
Increased thirst and urination
If the person is feeling the constant urge to urinate then it might be indicating that a person is suffering from multiple myeloma. This increased frequency of urination leads to the condition of increased thirst. High levels of calcium in the blood due to multiple myeloma lead to frequent urination being experienced by a person. Thus, if a person is experiencing this symptom then he/she must consult the doctor immediately to investigate the possible cause of this symptom
References
- Nau KC, Lewis WD. Multiple myeloma: diagnosis and treatment. American family physician. 2008 Oct 1;78(7):853-9. [Cited 06 April 2020]. Available from:
- Kehrer M, Koob S, Strauss A, Wirtz DC, Schmolders J. Multiple myeloma-current status in diagnostic testing and therapy. Zeitschrift fur Orthopadie und Unfallchirurgie. 2017 Oct;155(5):575-86. [Cited 06 April 2020]. Available from:
- Snowden JA, Ahmedzai SH, Ashcroft J, D’Sa S, Littlewood T, Low E, Lucraft H, Maclean R, Feyler S, Pratt G, Bird JM. Guidelines for supportive care in multiple myeloma 2011. British journal of haematology. 2011 Jul;154(1):76-103. [Cited 06 April 2020]. Available from:
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