Tail bone pain any input?

[Brad]

Hi Everyone
I have a bad L5/S1 and L4/L5. Up to about 6 weeks ago I had 99% low back pain only. I woke up one day before christmas and it felt like I had a broken tail bone. It hurt like heck. It felt like a combination of a break and an infection at the same time (burning and ache). I went to my Ortho and he took films. Nothing could be seen. He said that it is probably my L5/S1. I cannot imagine that one day I wake up and my tail bone hurts from my L5/S1.

I have spoken with a few that said that they also have had this. Is this really that common?
I also asked Regan and he said it is true that it happens.

This may be the last thing that pushes me over the mental ADR hump. I am having more trouble with my tailbone pain than my low back pain.

If anyone out there has experienced these symptoms please let me know. Also, if anyone had these symptoms and had it fixed (or not) by the ADR procedure I would love to hear about it.

Thanks in advance!
Brad

[spotty14]

I don't know if this is the exact same pain that you are describing but I get shooting pains going through my tailbone sometimes and pain that feels like pressure. It's very painful and I use ice and sometimes muscle relaxants if I have to. Luckily I don't have it all the time but I can't remember what specifically would set it off except for sitting longer than I'm able to. Then it just seems to go away for awhile.I haven't had ADR surgery so I can't answer that part of your question.

Brad,

Cross knee stretching can help. Pull till you feel the stretch. Release and pull a little farther. A good sports massage will help too. Tell the massage therapist what you are feeling. It may have to get a little personal, butt you will feel better in the end. Sorry for the puns, butt it was too easy. You can also get a cusion that has a cutout for the tail bone for when you are seated. It will help take some preasure off it.

Good luck

[Mariaa]

Brad,
I think you were asking Regan that question and I was next to you on the front row recliners. I too have had that feeling tho for over 20 years off and on. More on after the 2nd spine surgery failed leaving me with this awful tailbone pressure and burning pain that was constant for years. It has been much helped with Neurontin and Methadone...
I've been told it's due to flattened L5S1 and to the scar tissue on the rt.S1 nerve root. Was told the sacral nerves all exit same area so if one is scarred tends to bother all...
However, I was impressed when Regan was giving his talk and answered a question about decompressing nerve root (flipped person over and worked on that and then flipped them back and worked on ADR). Supposedly a benefit of not being in a study so there were no trial parameters to stick to per se. He could do what was needed.
One thing I know is the tailbone stuff is a shear pain in the butt. Nothing like stretches help at all as it's not something that can be stretched out but rather something that causes nerve root inflammation, nerve compression, or there has been nerve root scarring.
Even the donut pillows don't help me, just have to not directly put pressure on this area by either lying down on side or lying down with knees propped up. Standing and sitting aggravate the pain as does walking when the pain is flared up.
Are you on Neurontin or Topamax by any chance?

[andromeda1111]

I have had tailbone pain, it comes along with L5,S1 degeneration, caused by overcompensation of the musculature in that area resulting in muscle spasms. Use ice and anti-inflammatories, it will go away.

Andro1111

[Sabrine]

Hi Brad,

I have a bad l5-s1 disc which leads to a lot of pelvic-instability- and it hurts! My PT learned me some exercises to get the symphysis pubis and sacrum(tail bone) in a neutral positionuse.I do this many times daily. I don't know whether it has any value to your symptomes, just thought I could mention it..

[Brad]

Thanks so much you guys, this information is great.

I have bought the pillow with the cutout and it helps just by getting the pressure off when I sit. I have not tried cross leg stretching but will.

Mariaa, yes you were one of the few that I was referring to that I had heard it from (also from Jeffrey). Your description of your symptoms match mine to the tee. I have not had any surgeries which would create scar tissue and it came on over night so hopefully it is just an irritation that will go away.

I am still amazed that this feeling is being created by the L5/S1. It absolutely feels like the problem is right on the tip of my tailbone. I also get however the feeling of pressure all around the area.

Brad

[JeffreyD]

Brad,
I did remember one incident that triggered horrible tail bone pain that lasted for a few months (normally, mine begins and ends with no apparent provocation):
It was when I had a diagnostic SI joint injection. It didn't help any of my pain (so SI joint ruled as not a cause of pain), but man, did it set off my tail bone pain. Could have been the needle access, could have been the positioning, who knows?

Jeff

[Mariaa]

Brad,
I just remember when I first got this feeling of pressure around the tailbone. I had my first spine surgery which was open and did great with it. L5S1 discectomy and partial laminectomy. Then I had a 2nd knee surgery a year later and woke up with a long leg cast on. I was ok with this until I had to sit as the leg with the cast demanded that I sit with that leg extended out in front of me.
I remember getting this weird sensation around my rectum (sorry for being so graphic), it was like an odd pressure tho not painful, just really annoying. It continued for a while but eventually went away.
Then when L4 went out, the pressure in the tailbone was so intense. It lasted for a long time. Couldn't sit for months! Had to work my way back up to standing and walking for any length of time tho I remember taking off 3 months from work because my "back went out"...
Ok, then the tailbone area would give me great pain after "intimacy" or when my back would go out from "overdoing", sitting was particularly bad for me- and I would have burning in the buttocks and anterior thighs really badly, and in this particular area.
Tho it would gradually fade away after about a week.
After my 2nd discectomy tho this pain was pretty much there for 5 years! Elavil helped as this is what I was put on via PM back then in the early '90s tho the exercises described above by Sabrine really helped to relieve the pain temporarily as I was told I had this problem also.
I think that in your case, maybe it is an acute onset flare up because of the disc situation at L5S1. Sounded like Regan thought so too as he seemed to think ADR would help this feeling from what I understood. I sure hope so~

[Ken (AKA-KP)]

Hey Brad, I have DDD with L4/L5 fusion and have been advised that my relief lies with a 2-level ADR. One of the levels is L5/S1 which is my guess of what is causing the tailbone pain. I get sporadic tailbone pain that you have described. Meds, Ice and Rest helps it pass for me. I have that same dilemma with the ADR that you have mentioned and can't seem to bring myself to "just do it". Hope this helps -Good Luck Brad

Ken