Neuroma removal solved 5 years of coccyx pain

Mary, UK - mary.sevenoaks@gmail.com

Posted 2021-11-28

My coccyx pain began 5 years ago for no particular reason, I hadn't suffered from any injury or previous back pain. I started with a BUPA-suggested steroid/anaesthetic injection (ultrasound directed) which gave me good relief for 9 months. When the pain returned, a second injection helped for only 6 months. I thought that I couldn't keep having injections so decided to try various physios but with no real success from the manipulations and exercises. In September 2019, I was really struggling with the pain and visited a spinal surgeon who diagnosed coccydynia from my symptoms although the MRI scan did not show any particular deformity of the coccyx. I then had "gold standard" treatment of injection of steroid/anaesthetic and manipulation of the coccyx under a General Anaesthetic. There was a slight reduction in pain afterwards but it did not last for more than 2-3 months.

The pain continued to get worse during 2020 and 2021 until eventually I couldn't stand or sit for more than a few minutes at a time, and I couldn't sleep properly. I tried two different chiropractors and even sought some complementary posture therapy, but no real help from anything. I was constantly taking Ibuprofen tablets and gel to try to get some rest at night .

I had meanwhile been reading everything that I could find on coccyx pain and discovered Jon's wonderful website (thank you!). I thought that I would probably need a coccygectomy as nothing else had helped and from the excellent reports on Mr John Hardy on Jon's website, I contacted him (see Doctors and specialists in the UK, London).

As mentioned in other testimonials, Mr Hardy is very personable, gives you all the time you need, goes through a very thorough diagnosis and has set up an excellent team in The Coccyx Clinic in London (more time than BUPA UK would allow, so I had to pay directly). I had a new MRI scan, they then detected the neuroma which was visible also on the previous MRI (2 years before) but had not been picked up as significant. It had grown in size (7 mm to 11 mm) during the intervening time). I had a further MRI the same day using gadolinium marker dye which confirmed that it was nerve tissue and I had my operation in mid October to remove the neuroma. All very carefully done, easy recovery and stitch removal and one week later, I was completely pain free. Now after 1 month I am so happy to be able to sit normally and sleep without pain at night.

I highly recommend Mr Hardy as a true coccyx specialist.