Coccyx and spondylolisthesis (L5-S1) pain

John McCarthy - mcarthyj@batelco.com.bh

Posted 2008-05-25

My name is John McCarthy and I reside in Bahrain in the Middle East. I am 44 years of age and have worked as an I.T. consultant for 20+ years - which has involved lots of sitting at a computer. For the past 4 years, I have been complaining of pain in my coccyx. Sitting down on hard surfaces has been extremely painful and rising from a sitting position has even been more so.

About 2½ years ago, I had an MRI taken. [I had left it for some time as I thought this was a muscle issue.] From the MRI, it was evident that I had spondylosis - plus Grade 1 spondylolisthesis in the L5-S1. However, the coccyx appeared perfectly fine!

The only major event I can recall to cause the spondylosis was when dead-lifting with heavy weights in the gym when I was 29. This was my first introduction to back pain. However, after visiting a chiropractor a few times, the pain disappeared. Up until I was 40, I have had no serious back issues - except, from time to time, spasms resulting from working at the computer. Note - I had taken up tennis in my late 30s and really fell in love with the game. I can only think that this contributed to the spondylolisthesis. Truth be told, since the time I received the results of the MRI, I have developed lower back pain too.

Therefore, I have two issues, namely: coccyx pain (when sitting) and lower back pain in the L5-S1 (when sitting and when trying to sleep).

Treatments

Over the past 3 years, I have had the following treatments:

• Massage - very short-term relief
• Visits to many physiotherapists and chiropractors - relief for about 1 day . (I received internal manipulation of the coccyx on a few occasions. I highly recommend this! The first time was very painful as the muscles around the coccyx were very inflamed, however, I could feel the relief after the 2nd session.)
• 1st cortisone injection in the coccyx - relief for about 4 days
• 2nd cortisone injection in the coccyx - no effect whatsoever
• 1 session of acupuncture - short-term relief
• Dr. Sarno's Book "Healing Back Pain" in audio format - unsure. I ignored the pain for a few weeks - which kind of worked. However, believe me, if you press my coccyx, the pain is not in my mind!
• Vitamins B6 and B12 - highly effective for me. Some months ago, I saw on your website that some people obtained relief from taking vitamin B6. I wish I had been aware of this years ago. Of all the treatments above, this one thing has reduced the coccyx pain (or pain in the nervous system) the most - by 70%!!

My coccyx pain was so bad that my nervous system was breaking down. To be honest, I have aged as a result of this condition.

Recently, while in London in Feb. 2008, on a business trip, I made an appointment to see Dr. Michael Durtnall in his Kensington clinic (see Doctors and specialists in the UK). Michael, very knowledgeable in the area of the coccyx, took an x-ray (see below) and pointed out that one of the joints seemed to have arthritis. I had several x-rays taken over the past 4 years and I have to say that Michael's was the clearest. My coccyx appeared fine on all the previous x-rays.

Going Forward

At present, I can now sit and work at my computer (provided the chair is comfortable) - without serious coccyx pain. I attribute this to the B6 and B12 vitamins.

If I sit on a hard chair or on the ground, the pain in the coccyx kicks in. Moreover, if I press hard on the coccyx, there is definitely pain.

At this point, I think my next steps will be to visit Dr. Maigne in Paris, with the following 'objectives': - try to arrive at a solution to address the pain resulting from the spondylolisthesis; - consider having the coccyx removed.

If any of you know of a site similar to Jon's www.coccyx.org for spondylolisthesis I would appreciate it if you could let me know.

I would love to be able to play tennis again - pain-free.

Best wishes to you all.

John McCarthy