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Some people with multiple myeloma have no signs or symptoms at all. But sometimes multiple myeloma does cause symptoms, including bone pain or weakness, infections, low blood counts, or other problems.
Multiple myeloma can cause different types of bone problems:
Shortages of red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets are common in people with multiple myeloma and might lead to other symptoms.
High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) can cause:
If the level of calcium gets high enough, a person might even slip into a coma.
Multiple myeloma can sometimes cause symptoms that arise from problems in the nervous system.
If myeloma weakens the bones in the spine, they might collapse and press on spinal nerves. This is called spinal cord compression, and it can cause:
This is a medical emergency. Contact your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have any of these symptoms.
Sometimes, the abnormal proteins produced by myeloma cells can damage nerves. This can lead to weakness and numbness and sometimes “pins and needles” sensations. This is called peripheral neuropathy.
In some people, large amounts of myeloma protein can cause the blood to “thicken.” This is called hyperviscosity. It can slow blood flow to the brain, which can cause:
This is a medical emergency. Contact your doctor right away or go to the emergency room if you have any of these symptoms.
Removing the protein from the blood using a procedure called plasmapheresis can quickly reverse this problem. (Note: This is not something that can be treated with drugs known as “blood thinners.”)
Myeloma proteins can damage the kidneys. Early on, this most likely won't cause any symptoms, but signs of kidney damage may be seen on a blood test or a urine test.
If the kidneys start to fail, they can lose the ability to get rid of excess salt, fluid, and body waste products. This can lead to symptoms such as:
People with myeloma are much more likely to get infections. When someone with myeloma gets an infection, they may be slow to respond to treatment. They may stay sick for a long time. Pneumonia is a common and serious infection seen in people with myeloma.
People with amyloidosis (discussed in What Is Multiple Myeloma?) can have some of the same health issues as people with myeloma, such as kidney problems and nerve damage. They can also have other problems, including:
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Laubach JP. Multiple myeloma: Clinical features, laboratory manifestations, and diagnosis. UpToDate. 2024. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/multiple-myeloma-clinical-features-laboratory-manifestations-and-diagnosis on January 13, 2025.
Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A. Chapter 101: Multiple myeloma and related disorders. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th edition. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier: 2020.
Last Revised: February 12, 2025
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