I can sit, study, and enjoy life again
Deborah, UK
Posted 2025-07-27
Background – Before Meeting John Hardy
I spent 7 years seeing various private consultants who referred me to have treatment with physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths for treatments that did not remedy my coccyx pain.
I also had 7 years of various procedures including over 15hospital admissions for steroid injections and coccyx manipulations under sedation, lower back nerve denervation (over a 6 year period) and 12 weekly coccyx manipulations/adjustments without sedation (over a 3 month period), which was excruciating and as it transpired, completely unnecessary.
I was prescribed various medications and eventually also had a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implanted into my lower back (with wires attached to my spinal cord). The SCS did not have any benefit and never helped with my coccyx pain and made having scans nearly impossible and I had to travel to the Wellington Hospital for specialist scans.
I also had many MRI and spect CT scans and was then referred to a very experienced pain consultant who recommended I seek counselling so I could learn how to mentally deal with (and accept) the constant daily pain.
Other private consultants advised that my coccyx seemed normal and they were very nervous when I discussed the possibility of an operation to remove my coccyx and they strongly advised me against removal at all costs, as I could end up with a colonoscopy bag from the extremely high risk of infection of such operation, which may cause my bowel to prolapse.
The daily pain I experienced was excruciating and I was left without hope and only a future ahead of debilitating pain. I could not sit for more than 10 minutes and I could not work nor do any activities/hobbies. I spent many days over the years lying in bed with pain, from when I had completed normal housework tasks in the morning then I would have to spend the rest of the day in bed.
Meeting John Hardy – Pre-Operation
At the initial consultation with John Hardy (see Doctors and specialists in the UK, London), he was the only consultant to recognise exactly how much pain I was in whilst sitting and he was the only consultant I have seen that suggested I could either lie down or stand (rather than sit) for the duration of the appointment.
Having examined my most recent MRI scan, he advised that my coccyx contained 2 bone spurs, badly fused bone, a cyst, oedema, fractures and a floating piece of bone (had become detached). He advised that it was one of the worst coccyx scans he had ever seen.
This was such a huge relief to me that a consultant finally recognised the dreadful state of my coccyx, the resulting pain I was experiencing and the only solution to remedy my pain would be to have my coccyx removed.
He was extremely surprised when I mentioned my fears (which had been instilled from the prior consultants I had seen), regarding potentially becoming incontinent and he put my fears at rest very quickly and confidently.
Mr Hardy demonstrated a high degree of empathy, is extremely calm and composed, and articulates his medical knowledge in a clear and concise way that is easy to understand.
He explained how he minimised intrusion, his technique regarding how he ‘butterflied’ the area and how he did not remove everything – e.g. leaving in inter-vertebrae cartilage to help the recovery. This expertise, the knowledge imparted and Mr Hardy’s approach gave me great confidence in his knowledge and abilities.
He was shocked at the number of steroid injections that I had received over the years and as a consequence of this he advised that he would not operate on me for 6 months, until I was steroid free, as the number of steroid injections I had previously had would impact the coccydynia recovery.
Whilst this was initially disappointing at the time, it demonstrated Mr Hardy’s commitment to help me and his drive to ensure that the coccyx removal operation he would perform would have the best chance of success and reduce the possibility of an infection.
He also checked my blood for gout, to ensure that this was not a factor and outlined the pre-operation requirements (e.g. reducing chocolate and how to clean myself properly ahead of the procedure).
At a follow-up he also fully outlined the post operation recovery and the need for me to stay local to the hospital following surgery (should there be an infection) and the importance not to sit for 2 weeks, nor lie on my back.
Meeting John Hardy – Post-Operation
Shortly after the operation Mr Hardy asked me to sit then stand (just the once) as he wanted to see if I could stand from sitting without the prior pain. I was amazed that I did not feel any pain from this exercise, for the first time in many years!
Mr Hardy explained all the requirements necessary for the post-operation period (whilst I stayed in London for 8 days), including how the wound needed cleaned, washing and the allowed activity.
Within a few days I could walk without the prior pain and the scar was unbelievably neat – and now is not visible – a super piece of medical work.
During the following weeks. the recovery was quite difficult and I was worried I was not recovering as quickly as I should be (I am a little impatient and I had read online that some people seemed to be recovering from a coccyx removal operation quicker than I seemed to be progressing).
I contacted Lydia (Mr Hardy’s PA) and she arranged for me to talk with Mr Hardy, who took the time to reassure me and he provided further guidance on what to do with my post-operation exercises and reiterated the need for me to be patient as the recovery period from this surgery can take 12 months and I was only 3-4 months post operation.
10 Months Post Operation
It is now 10 months since my coccyx has been removed(operation was September 11, 2024) and I am back to doing my favourite hobbies including horse riding (this was always one of my passions and this was not possible before the operation for many years).
I can now sit down for meals without noticing the pain and ‘shuffling about’ in my chair which I always did before the removal. I no longer lie in bed during the day and my mental health has been transformed as a consequence of the operation and the post-operation care.
Mr Hardy is clearly not just an absolute expert in his Field(and a level above the standard consultant, of which we had a few), but he has a great way with patients, has tremendous communication skills, demonstrates empathy and genuine care for all and his belief / experience provided me with the confidence to proceed with the operation - which has been a great success and has transformed my life for the better.
From first consultation, to operation, to post operation (many months later), my experience with John Hardy has been first class.
Likewise, Lydia was always a 'step-up' from prior P.A.s whom I had previously interacted with. She was always highly responsive, empathetic, professional – and she always tried to help me with appointments (I had a long drive to make these). She even managed to work with Mr Hardy to advise the Wellington Hospital team to conduct an Xray to view my SCS implant to identify the area where the wires were, to ensure that the specialist MRI scan could be completed.
I cannot recommend Mr Hardy, Lydia and the whole experience/operation enough.
