Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Pentasodium Combined With Zoledronic Acid or Pamidronate in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma and Bone Pain

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of multiple myeloma * Relapsed or refractory disease, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Recurrent disease after stem cell transplantation * Recurrent or progressive disease despite treatment with ≥ 1 standard regimen (e.g., an alkylating agent plus glucocorticoid and/or the combination of vincristine, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and dexamethasone) * Measurable or evaluable disease, defined by at least 1 of the following: * Monoclonal protein ≥ 1.0 g by serum protein electrophoresis * Monoclonal protein ≥ 200 mg by 24-hour urine electrophoresis * Serum immunoglobulin free light chain ≥ 10 mg/dL AND abnormal serum immunoglobulin kappa to lambda free light chain ratio * Monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis ≥ 30% (evaluable disease) * Patients must have already undergone hematopoietic stem cell collection, if believed to be a transplant candidate OR not eligible for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status (PS) 0-2 (ECOG PS 3 allowed if secondary to pain) * ANC ≥ 1,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (transfusions allowed) * Creatinine ≤ 3 mg/dL * Calcium \< 15 mg/dL * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after completion of study therapy * No impending long bone fracture * No active malignancy except for nonmelanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast * No uncontrolled infection * No other co-morbidity that would interfere with the patient's ability to participate in this trial * No known hypersensitivity to any of the components of samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium or bisphosphonates PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Recovered from all prior surgery, radiotherapy, or other antineoplastic therapy * More than 4 weeks since prior melphalan or other myelosuppressive agents * More than 2 weeks since prior nonmyelosuppressive agents (e.g., thalidomide or high-dose corticosteroids) * More than 30 days since prior and no other concurrent investigational therapy * No prior samarium Sm 153 lexidronam pentasodium or strontium chloride Sr 89 * No concurrent external beam radiotherapy * No concurrent high-dose corticosteroids * Concurrent chronic steroids (maximum dose of 20 mg/day prednisone equivalent) allowed for disorders other than myeloma (i.e., adrenal insufficiency or rheumatoid arthritis) * Low-dose steroids allowed for replacement or inhalation therapy * No other concurrent medications, including any of the following: * Cytotoxic chemotherapy * Systemic antineoplastic therapy including, but not limited to, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, or monoclonal antibody therapy * Prophylactic hematopoietic growth factors * Hematopoietic growth factors allowed for established cytopenia therapy