NeuroTalk Support Groups - Chronic tailbone pain?

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- - Chronic tailbone pain? (https://www.neurotalk.org/spinal-disorders-and-back-pain/5331-chronic-tailbone-pain.html)

Doody, whatever happened with this tailbone pain?

I'm a new member, and that is one of my problems too. My neurosurgeon said that an MRI doesn't help either, as the tailbone doesn't really show well. So while he wants surgery for my cervical spinal stenosis, and initially conservative treatment for my other disc/spine issues, he flat out told me that little can be done for tailbone pain in terms of treatment.

Cameron

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doody (Post 33774)

Well in addition to other spinal problems, I have a tailbone situation that nobody can seem to figure out and I am sick and tired of the pain. I went on a trip recently, and by the time I got home, I thought I'd die from the pain in my tailbone. A 13-hour car trip, 2 ways and the airplane seats! I thought I'd pass out.

I've never seen anyone here discuss tailbone problems. I do know of a yahoo type group that has one, but wondered if anyone here has a tailbone issue.

My doctor made an appointment for me to have an MRI done in a week and is referring me to the back specialist here. I've been going to the pain clinic here forever for this and last time I was there he just shrugged his shoulders and said I'd have to live with it.

My ****! I don't think so.

Oh, and yes, I've had injuries back there, LONG ago. I just woke up one morning a few years ago and thought, hmmmm...I hurt back there. Within a few days it was such full-blown pain I couldn't walk. And I hadn't taken a fall or anything! As I said, I've taken hits to the tailbone in the past, but way in the past. I was also kicked there by an abusive husband (but that was 37 years ago), slipped off a horse who decided to rush up the high river bank (and landed on the tailbone), have had numerous bad car accidents with resultant whiplash. But still, the pain just up and started all by itself one day and has never let up. Occasional trigger point injections have helped (OUCH!), but you have to get eXACTLY the right spot for them to work.

I just posted on Cameron's post about SS and PT work and spineuniverse stretches and exercies I do....acupuncture and special PT helped me a lot when I ended up with SS after a hip replacement.....

@CSWright: the tailbone shows just fine on a high resolution MRI with full spinal imaging slices and contrast.

The problem is that there is no coding for sacral spine imaging so it typical it gets done as a general pelvic MRI. The image field is far too large and the slices aren't tight enough to see the spine well. It's like taking a photo of something you want to see up close from afar.

It's not a limitation of the MRI equipment, if you find a place with a (3T) high resolution MRI. Request the pelvic MRI be ordered as for full spinal imaging of the sacrum to coccyx, then they should include MRI imaging protocols for the spine that include up close imaging and the axial slices of the spine. There are also specialized protocols to view the pelvic levator and other pelvic muscle and nerve issues. It's how Tarlov cysts are best detected as well as other neuropathic pelvic anomalies like pudendal neuralgia.

Another option is to request an MR neurography be done at the same time so that the spinal nerves can be better viewed.

The only thing I did to bring on coccyx pain was to spell it during a game of bananagrams. X-yay showed mild osteoarthritis, and CT scan w/out contrast remains denied by my insurance. I am 4 weeks post onset from my spelling injury and suddenly it got worse. 2nd opinion on Monday and PT starting next week. I have a history of hypoparathyroidism, which was bad news for proper bone formation for 3 years, ending in acute renal failure from calcium overdose. I now have stage 1 kidney disease so many drugs are not healthy for me, including naproxen. Naproxen helps the pain but at a cost to my kidneys. I also take Voltaren externally. I use a coccyx pillow and have a sit stand desk. Bones crack when I stand up.