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Keerthana - keerthana.sethu@gmail.com
Posted 2010-02-14
My name is Keerthana and I am 27 year old woman, software engineer from Chennai India. Until I got coccyx pain I have enjoyed very good health.
I have been suffering from severe pain in coccyx for last 15 months. The pain is very severe right now. Currently, I cannot sit normally even for a minute (irrespective of the chair). The company I work with got me a sit-stand desk and I have been working standing all day for last 6 months now. My work place also arranged for a dorm with beds where I can go lie down, when my legs ache due to standing.
Onset of pain:
15 months ago, I suddenly got pain while sitting (I was just sitting on the sofa watching TV). It was later diagnosed as coccydynia.
Cause of pain:
Cause has been assumed by my doctor to be 2 bad falls on my butt 3-4 years before onset of pain (the falls did not cause pain at the time). Apparently, pressure on the same spot over the years has caused sudden onset of pain which has now become chronic.
Diagnosis:
The X-ray and MRI shows "angulation of coccyx". I am told the bones as such is normal. I dont have any cysts. The angulation of coccyx is attributed to weak or torn ligament.
I did not under any dynamic x-ray. My doctor says he think I have mobile coccyx anyway so that will prove nothing. My doctor is Dr. Umachandran of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. He is a senior ortho surgeon. He is very good and I would recommend him to anyone. I have been seeing him for last 10 months.
Treatment:
From day 1 of pain onset, the best I have ever been is being able to sit 10-15 mins at a time (for a few months after first ultrasound and exercises it become 20-30 but this lasted only for a short while after which mistreatment worsened the pain).
- MEDICATION: I started off with anti inflammatory medications from my family doctor.
- CUSHIONS: I tried coccyx cushions and from the beginning I have found them be of no help (I have tried so many now).
- STEROID INJECTIONS: Then I went to a orthopaedist who administered 2 corticosteriod shots with 3 weeks in between (he dint suggest anything else!) and . The injections gave me very mild relief for a few months.
- PHYSIOTHERAPY (ULTRASOUND works best) When pain didn't still go, I went to a new doctor (my current one) who started me on ultrasound and laser physiotherapy. I am sure I would have got cured with ultrasound if only I started with it and took plenty of rest. I was also taught a set of pelvic and back exercises. I added daily 30 mins of brisk walking. The exercises strengthened my ligament probably and the ultrasound reduced the inflammation. This combination gave me great relief for 3 months. I would say about 60% relief. Sadly this did not last long due to the mistake of the next therapist (next ultrasound below).
- FURTHER ULTRASOUND: The first ultrasound helped a great deal. But a second one after 3 months reversed all my improvements. This therapist pressed too hard during therapy. She was literally rubbing the scan head on my coccyx really hard! I screamed with pain but I was told that's how it is done (My first time was not like that!). This proved very costly for me. The pain the came 1 week after this has not yet decreased. It just gets worse.
- THIRD CORTICOSTEROID: I took a 3rd steroid injection after 8 months since 1st 2 on my doctors recommendation. This injection gave me no relief at all. It may even have got worse actually.
Right now I do about 30 mins of Yoga daily and about 45 mins of spine/pelvic exercises.
Now I am really lost. My doctor says coccyx removal is not recommended for me as the bone is normal really. The angulation maybe due to weakened/torn ligaments. I do get his point, but I am very confused now. My pain is very severe now that I cannot sit for even a minute normally. I can sit on one butt for 1-2 mins and I cant repeat this for next 15 mins. If anyone has same diagnosis and coccyx removal helped, please let me know.
For all those in the earlier stages on this pain, I recommend exercises, yoga and ultrasound therapy. I am sure If I had started off with this treatment I would be pain free now.
Regards,
Keerthana