Shooting pain in my tailbone every time I sat on a flat surface or rose from sitting to standing position

Lakshmi, India - laksh2706@gmail.com

Posted 2017-08-06

I am a lady in my late twenties working in Chennai. After riding long distances to work everyday on my scooter (which had very poor suspension) for more than a month, my back had been weakened by the travel stress.

On February 2016, A six hour train journey sitting on a wooden passenger seat crossed the breach point and I ended up with shooting pain in my tailbone, every time I sat on a flat surface or rose from sitting to standing position.

Countless physiotherapy sessions, treatment by renowned orthopaedic doctors and surgeons in Chennai (including Apollo Speciality Hospital) showed no signs of relief or even the slightest progress.

Few doctors suggested steroids, and went on to advise that it could be a life long condition as there is no cure for tailbone dislocation and advised to change my perception of life and make the best out of it in spite of the pain.

This began to take a toll on my career and personal life. I decided to take a one year break from work and be at rest to avoid further damage and tackle the issue full fledgedly.

I looked up the Internet and randomly came across Dr Rajveer Singh and Dr Syeda Mubashira's profile as Tailbone specialists (see Doctors and specialists in India).

I decided to give it a shot and met them on August 2016 and the very first thing they drummed into my head was that it's a completely curable condition, and to do the exercises they prescribed, with that positive thought since being stressed only adds to the issue.

The following things were done.

1. A few tests were run and I was diagnosed with critically low Vitamin B12 levels and poor nutrition owing to the lanky person that I had become.

2. Dynamic Xray revealed excessive curvature of the tailbone, which had to be straightened out.

3. Rigorous exercises were prescribed to tackle the issue, and diet modification and supplements were given to improve overall health.

4. Sessions of internal manipulation was done, which is the most important step and was not painful.

5. A special cushion was given, to use while sitting and during travel to avoid stress on the tailbone.

The shooting pain had reduced and after two months, I visited again and repeated the treatment with modification in the exercises. My vit levels had improved significantly, I was able to sit comfortably using the cushion.

Both the doctors were very kind hearted and motivated me a lot. I was told that the time of healing varies for every person but it is sure to heal at one point. I visited again and the pain very gradually reduced with each visit.

After my last visit on May 2017, I was told that my thin built and lack of muscles to support the tailbone while sitting led to direct stress and delay in healing, and advised to join a gym(with specific dos and don'ts) to develop core muscles and bone strength.

After that visit, I returned and joined a gym rightaway and by the combined efforts, in a week's time my pain had surprisingly disappeared completely.

After more than a year's distress and constant remarks by other doctors that I would never be completely ok again, I was so relieved and moved, to finally be pain-free again.

I am grateful to Dr Rajveer Singh and Dr Syeda for their ceaseless support and treatment, and would recommend them to anyone with similar or any kind of back issues.

Thanks again for everything!

Note from Jon Miles:

I emailed more than a year after this story was posted, to ask for an update, as the long-term outcome of treatment is of great interest. In this case I did not get a reply.