Experience with Bone Marrow Biopsies can vary from patient to patient. I'm indebted to Danielle Simmons for the discussion below:
It's true that doctors don't put patients "to sleep", meaning under general anethesia for BMBs, as the risk factors of general anesthetic are considered too significant for the procedure. However, you CAN get "virtual sedation", mostly it is Versed that is used.
Some Hematologists won't use this unless you have the BMB done
in the hospital (vs the office) where an anathesiologist can administer
it. Some Haematologists just think a BMB "isn't that bad"
(they tend to be the ones who refer to it as a "painless"
procedure!) and won't admister it at all, citing it as "pharmaceutical
overkill" (I wonder how many of them undergo root canals
without pharmacuticals?!). Versed is very safe, and very appropriate
for BMBs, particularly for patients with previous bad experiences,
significant fibrosis or bone hardening, or for anyone with acute
anxiety regarding the procedure. Ask your Haematologist if he
will give Versed if you consent to having your BMB done in the
hospital as an outpatient.