My expereience with muscle biopsy and recovery

June 28, 2003

Hi, I just saw a post about this and wanted to let you know what I

think. I had a muscle biopsy back in the first week of April. During

the biopsy, they sedated me so I still awake but drowsy enough not to

know what was happening. The biopsy took about 20 minutes. Following

the biopsy, they had me sit for about an hour and then I was allowed

to go home. I thought it was me at the time because I had a very

difficult time walking due to the severe pain in my thigh. The

surgeon did not prescribe any pain med for me to take. That night, my

husband had to help me get upstairs and into bed because I could not

lift my leg up. I called the surgeon the following day to ask for a

pain med and he told me that most people take tylenol and are fine

and go to work the next day. I was stunned that he was downgrading my

pain. I ended up having to call my primary physician for some pain

meds. For about 3 weeks following the biopsy, my thigh was very sore.

I had a difficult time moving it certain ways, like when you have to

get in the car. It has been about three months now and I still have

this ugly looking scar on my leg. I thought it would be healed much

more by now from what the surgeon told me. My recommendation to

anyone having a muscle biopsy is to insist on pain medication if you

feel you need it. Also, don't let the doctors or nurse rush you out

right away. I think my thigh would have been better if I could have

rested it more at the hospital before leaving. The doctors and nurses

are not the ones having these procedures. They may think they are

minor but they haven't gone through the procedure themselves. Not to

mention, people like us who have chronic disease that causes muscle

pain to begin may react differently. Our pain may be worse than

someone elses. Let me know if you have any questions regarding a

muscle biopsy.

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