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Suggest Treatment For Back Pain Caused By An Injury
Question: I fell backwards when dancing and being twirled. I landed on my tailbone/coccyx on 4/15/17/ It was x-rayed by my primary care ( the radiology tech and my PC looked up what to x-ray (in other words they were trying hard but not very experienced experienced in this injury). They said it was not fractured but bruised. and would take 4 months-6 months to heal.
I am a health provider in psychiatry and sit during appointments and when charting. I have been enduring and managed to go on our trip (this ws a previously planned trip England and Sweden paid for without refunds) to see family and take a cruise to Norway ad Scotland. It took endurance, lots of pillows/ chairs,a memory foam mattress and TRAMADOL which to my XXXXXXX relieved the pain .
I can't sit on hard surfaces at all (cars have been a problem). I can't stand on hard surfaces for long times. My left hand can become numb and tingly. At first I had to walk slowly. Now I am back to our traditional walks in the morning (slower) but am doing it (going up and down gradual hills) . I have to walk at a slower pace and stairs are harder and I have to go slower. I have done walking biking and swimming prior to the my fall to rehab due to previous injuries . I have previous long time neck (T boned MVA in 1985) and a previous incomplete spinal chord l(ower back injury 1980 (L4-5 h laminectomy) in 1980 after a bear attack, while riding a horse in Glacier NP, (Afterward, I could not feel legs at first which came back after 24 hours, did intense PT rehab to learn to walk and balance again, had the laminectomy during this time in December and ongoing PT). A side itemwas that this inuury occurred onmy daughter's birthday so I had to hire us both daily sitters/child care because I could not lift her or catch her.
For some time I have taken XXXXXXX prn for muscle spasms and pain (I prefer 1/2 tabs because I don't like the onset side effects of whole tabs and am working FT). XXXXXXX has been very helpful. Also I have done regular deep trigger point massage, and chiropractic interventions. I have lived with the above since I was age 31 or so. I am now 68. I have always worked except for the year of PT. Recreationally, I love to skate cross country ski, swim, bike, and walk. I cannot run and am a shaky down hill skier because I am afraid. I wifall. I "fear falling in any type of skiing ( especially downthill but also cross country(because I cannot get up on my own). My family and especially my husband know I cannot get into my equipment myself or get up by myself. They subtly help me get into my ski boots on and connect my bindings. etc. I love the outdoors, snow and trees. We live in SLC with wonderful mountains.
Now I will get to my coccyx question which is why I am writing!!!!!!! None of the above treatments are helping except the tramadol and XXXXXXX
I am miserable with pain and getting more and more discouraged about the "time will heal concept". The injury is not getting better. I have returned from my trip and am working full time plus!!!!. I can see my patients but have a hard time keeping up with charting (typing notes) due to the sitting and leaning towards the keyboard. *which puts pressure on the urethra and not the sit bones. I am slower and behind in charting so I am getting home late and go in extra on weekends and my day off Tuesday which means more sitting . Today is my day off and I will rest soon laying on my side (which is only temporary relief and irritates my neck) and then go in to work to catch up on notes
Ultimate question!!!!!.
I have reviewed orthopedic and neurology physician bios in SLC Ut and no one talks about coccyx expertise.
These are my current symptoms:
When sitting or stand too long, I get urethra pain,a more intense urge to pee (and usually pee a fair amount)) and have the urge to defecate when I don't have to. Often it is just a sensation from sitting/standing tool ong. I am not great at sitting on my sitting bones since I am feel female and used to sitting in professional dress with my legs together. The traditional coccyx injury pillow opening ends right under the urethra and has caused considerable pain which complicates the situation. Now with the coccyx injury I get only get benefit from XXXXXXX and tramadol. I am not improving with time.
What treatment and speciality and who would you recommend in SLC ?
I am a health provider in psychiatry and sit during appointments and when charting. I have been enduring and managed to go on our trip (this ws a previously planned trip England and Sweden paid for without refunds) to see family and take a cruise to Norway ad Scotland. It took endurance, lots of pillows/ chairs,a memory foam mattress and TRAMADOL which to my XXXXXXX relieved the pain .
I can't sit on hard surfaces at all (cars have been a problem). I can't stand on hard surfaces for long times. My left hand can become numb and tingly. At first I had to walk slowly. Now I am back to our traditional walks in the morning (slower) but am doing it (going up and down gradual hills) . I have to walk at a slower pace and stairs are harder and I have to go slower. I have done walking biking and swimming prior to the my fall to rehab due to previous injuries . I have previous long time neck (T boned MVA in 1985) and a previous incomplete spinal chord l(ower back injury 1980 (L4-5 h laminectomy) in 1980 after a bear attack, while riding a horse in Glacier NP, (Afterward, I could not feel legs at first which came back after 24 hours, did intense PT rehab to learn to walk and balance again, had the laminectomy during this time in December and ongoing PT). A side itemwas that this inuury occurred onmy daughter's birthday so I had to hire us both daily sitters/child care because I could not lift her or catch her.
For some time I have taken XXXXXXX prn for muscle spasms and pain (I prefer 1/2 tabs because I don't like the onset side effects of whole tabs and am working FT). XXXXXXX has been very helpful. Also I have done regular deep trigger point massage, and chiropractic interventions. I have lived with the above since I was age 31 or so. I am now 68. I have always worked except for the year of PT. Recreationally, I love to skate cross country ski, swim, bike, and walk. I cannot run and am a shaky down hill skier because I am afraid. I wifall. I "fear falling in any type of skiing ( especially downthill but also cross country(because I cannot get up on my own). My family and especially my husband know I cannot get into my equipment myself or get up by myself. They subtly help me get into my ski boots on and connect my bindings. etc. I love the outdoors, snow and trees. We live in SLC with wonderful mountains.
Now I will get to my coccyx question which is why I am writing!!!!!!! None of the above treatments are helping except the tramadol and XXXXXXX
I am miserable with pain and getting more and more discouraged about the "time will heal concept". The injury is not getting better. I have returned from my trip and am working full time plus!!!!. I can see my patients but have a hard time keeping up with charting (typing notes) due to the sitting and leaning towards the keyboard. *which puts pressure on the urethra and not the sit bones. I am slower and behind in charting so I am getting home late and go in extra on weekends and my day off Tuesday which means more sitting . Today is my day off and I will rest soon laying on my side (which is only temporary relief and irritates my neck) and then go in to work to catch up on notes
Ultimate question!!!!!.
I have reviewed orthopedic and neurology physician bios in SLC Ut and no one talks about coccyx expertise.
These are my current symptoms:
When sitting or stand too long, I get urethra pain,a more intense urge to pee (and usually pee a fair amount)) and have the urge to defecate when I don't have to. Often it is just a sensation from sitting/standing tool ong. I am not great at sitting on my sitting bones since I am feel female and used to sitting in professional dress with my legs together. The traditional coccyx injury pillow opening ends right under the urethra and has caused considerable pain which complicates the situation. Now with the coccyx injury I get only get benefit from XXXXXXX and tramadol. I am not improving with time.
What treatment and speciality and who would you recommend in SLC ?
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, given the persistence of the symptoms in time. Tailbone pain is an often under-recognized issue affecting the life of many patients.
Usually treatment is conservative, the overwhelming part of patients improve over the course of months. Since you aren't getting better spontaneously local injections of anti-inflammatory medication and analgesics (steroids and lidocaine) should help in reducing inflammation and alleviating the pain.
Physical therapy is also very important, with stretching exercises to reduce muscle tension. If pain doesn't allow it the above mentioned injections may provide the relief needed to continue with the exercises.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is another safe method which helps in blocking transmission of pain signals by sending electrical stimuli through a TENS unit.
In terms of medication, gabapentin or duloxetine are also commonly used options for chronic pain.
It is very rare that surgery by an orthopedic surgeon is needed, not very advised. I wouldn't advise it before at least 6 months of trying the other methods.
For the moment I would advise to bee followed by a physiatrist, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). The XXXXXXX academy of PM&R provides a search function for specialists in your area, you can find it following this link: https://members.aapmr.org/AAPMR/AAPMR_FINDER.aspx
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern, given the persistence of the symptoms in time. Tailbone pain is an often under-recognized issue affecting the life of many patients.
Usually treatment is conservative, the overwhelming part of patients improve over the course of months. Since you aren't getting better spontaneously local injections of anti-inflammatory medication and analgesics (steroids and lidocaine) should help in reducing inflammation and alleviating the pain.
Physical therapy is also very important, with stretching exercises to reduce muscle tension. If pain doesn't allow it the above mentioned injections may provide the relief needed to continue with the exercises.
TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is another safe method which helps in blocking transmission of pain signals by sending electrical stimuli through a TENS unit.
In terms of medication, gabapentin or duloxetine are also commonly used options for chronic pain.
It is very rare that surgery by an orthopedic surgeon is needed, not very advised. I wouldn't advise it before at least 6 months of trying the other methods.
For the moment I would advise to bee followed by a physiatrist, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). The XXXXXXX academy of PM&R provides a search function for specialists in your area, you can find it following this link: https://members.aapmr.org/AAPMR/AAPMR_FINDER.aspx
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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