Problem bum

Troy, Australia - troyscott@tpg.com.au

Posted 2016-05-22

I broke my tailbone when I was 19 – capsized my sailing boat and landed on a rope cleat. Took about a month or so to come good but did not have any problems with it again until March 2015 (24 years later).

I did not injure it again – it just started hurting when I was sitting down one day reading the paper. I than noticed it hurting sitting up in bed. I have a desk job so it was also hurting at work. The below points are what I have done for it over the last 14 months.

Visited my doctor who prescribed anti inflammatories. Did not help.

Tried physio, chiropractor, myopractor and acupuncture – none of them made a difference.

Had a CT scan, an x-ray and bone scan – nothing was evident.

Was referred to a musculoskeletal specialist. Was sent for cortisone injection into the area – made no difference. Was prescribed Alegron – suffered all of the side effects but no difference to the pain. Sent for anther cortisone injection – again no relief.

Back to my doctor and was referred to a different musculoskeletal specialist who did local injections into pressure points over a number of weeks – no difference. Prescribed Endep – again all of the side effects but no relief.

The frustrating thing is I am quite fit and I run and windsurf quite a lot and neither produce any pain. Only when I sit.

I purchased a coccyx relief pillow early on for sitting at work which helps and allows me to work but it does transfer the pain from the tailbone to the bum cheeks. When I am at home I lie down with a pillow under my upper hamstrings to take pressure off of my tailbone. I still get pain in the tail but not as bad as sitting down. I have been getting pain in other areas from laying down and I can't lay for long periods on my shoulders due other injuries when I was young and stupid.

Back to my doctor who referred me to a spinal surgeon. Took 2 months to get in to see him but when I did he was amazed at my story. He sent me for a Dynamic x-ray that day and got back in to see him straight after. The Dynamic x-ray showed that my coccyx moved quite a bit between the standing and sitting positions. He has recommended surgery and the removal of the coccyx. This was last week.

I have been reading all of the stories on the site and I am in 15 different minds on what to do. I know I need to do something but I think I will really struggle during the recuperation period particularly if it went on for a long period. And what if the surgery actually made it worse. It is hard enough putting up with it now.

So I have quite a bit of thinking to do.

cheers

Troy