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What causes some men to have pain when they have a biopsy?

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Posted 2/21/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Good questions, Wiggyann. I too am curious about the patient's level of care during and after this ordeal, that would speak volumes about the quality of this dr/s practice and mannerism.

David
Posted 2/26/2009 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi David,

I wish the patient had responded because his biopsy experience
was terrible. It seems as though he had a very uncaring doctor. The
urologist should have stopped when he realized this man was
having a lot of pain and scheduled the biopsy to be done in as an
outpatient under general anesthesia. Pain control should be the
standard of care in a urologist's office. My aunt had a breast biopsy
and the surgeon told her she could have the biopsy in the hospital
or in his office and that he would numb her and she would not feel
anything. My aunt agreed to have it done in his office and she didn't
feel any discomfort. The same consideration should be given to men
having a biopsy. There is no excuse for a physician to cause pain
when it can be avoided. All urology procedures should be conducted
in such a manner that is as free of stress as possible and which
provides the highest provides the highest quality of care and
comfort.

I read a post on this forum from a man who had a painful biopsy
and the next time he met with his urologist, the doctor just laughed
about it. This doctor has no compassion and what he did was cold
and cruel.


Thanks for posting,
Wiggyann

Husband diagnosed 12 of 2006
PSA 7.3 eight out of twelve cores positive for adenocarcinoma
Gleason 7
Treatment 25 IMRT and pallidium seed implant
last biopsy at one year was 0.5
Posted 2/26/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Back Wiggy-Ann (like that name btw). Some doctors are full of themselves, some think they really are gods, and some are like game show hosts. I prefer the more sober doctors, perhaps dry humor, but ones that really listen to their patients. I am fortunate to have good doctors in my arsenel where I live, and it would make me reluctant to want to move out of their reach.

Pain is a very subjective thing. I would never judge another persons pain or fear level. A pain level of 2 to someone else might really be a 6 to them. A good doctor will be in tune to that with his/her patients in my opinion. If anything, they may do more for pain, not less, that has been my experience thus far.

There are too many stories here about pain levels, fear factors, and general anxiety about prostate biopsies. I had 3, all of them scary but bearable, another brother has had 13, and some struggle under great stress to have just one. Again, a good doctor can take the fear and the pain out of the equation, the tools and meds are there for that purpose.

I wish more doctors would tune into places like this, and actually listen to what patients are saying.

If I had the kind of dr. that was described by you above, I wouldn't be seeing him any more, thats for sure.

Thanks for the post,

David in SC
Posted 3/8/2009 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
A) Equipment used and Technique of the Uro doing it
B) Use of a medication prior to having it done to help relax
C) Both (a) and (b)

I was outside the Radiology suite in the basement of a Kaiser Hospital when my spouse had his 1st biopsy. He was given nothing and not told what to expect. Sounded like a cattleprod as I heard every ZAP! so can't imagine how he felt. Was white as a sheet when he came out so good thing I was the driver that day for our rush hour trip home on a very busy southern Cal freeway- it really wasn't fun.

With the 2nd biopsy done at a diff hospital with diff insurance (mine) and diff Uro , being given a med prior to having it done made all the difference and was much much better tolerated.
Posted 3/8/2009 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have a friend who called me 2 weeks aago saying he needed a biopsy done. He called me friday, the first thing out of his mouth was"you son of a *****". I knew right away he had his biopsy done. I originaly told him the procedure was no big deal, and it wasn't for me. In his case it was very painfull. Point is , there is alot of variation between one persons experiance and anothers. Good health to all.

Posted 3/8/2009 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
One's pain threshold is always a very personal and subjective thing. One person's "2" could be anothers "8" on the pain scale, that's why I never ever want to judge a person's perception of their own pain.
Posted 3/11/2009 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
There's no one answer but, generally, it's obvious to men what causes pain and discomfort. I had a 12-core biopsy, and afterwards developed sepsis and was in intensive care. I'll describe the entire process as very painful/uncomfortable. For most people from whom I read comments, other than the pin-prick/sensation pain during the biopsy there's little after-effect.
Posted 3/26/2009 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I think that an individual's threshold of pain has something to do with it; however, the number of samples can also be a factor. In my first biopsy in 1997, my doctor took six samples. I described the episode as someone taking a large rubber band and popping me with it. In my second biopsy in 2007, my doctor took 12 samples. Also, for me adding in the pain equation was the fact that I had had the seed implant 10 years prior. Every 4 samples, my doctor had to replace the needle as the seeds were damaging them. The first six or so samples were not that painful, but by the time he was getting the 8th or 9th sample, I was really climbing the wall!!!
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