coccydynia and exercise

skweek35 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 02:08 PM

Hi,
I'm new to this site and looking for a bit of advice.
I have suffered from coccydynia for the past 4 years! I have had numerous 'pain relief' procedures. Most of these gave about 3 months pain relief. My NHS chronic pain relief specialist has said there is nothing more they can do for me.
I have read that doing some exercise can help towards long term pain relief. I started with a personal trainer last week and since then have had more pain than ever.
I'm now at a point where sitting is absolutely impossible. Even just trying to sit down for a minute results in immediate pain! So I avoid sitting at all costs. (am currently kneeling at the coffee table)
Should I call to cancel my personal trainer?

Maria · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 02:38 PM

I had severe coccyx/tailbone pain for years and couldn't sit hardly at all.

What helped me were ESIs, the caudal approach seemed to work best for this type of pain and of course a bit of opiod pain med, and some Neurontin (1800mg/day). Eventually I could "walk" for exercise tho that was a long time coming. Personally if it were me and I were in an acute flare up such as you sound like you are I would cancel the appt.

skweek35 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 03:00 PM

Thanks for the reply.
Please excuse my ignorance - what are ESI's, caudal approach, opiod pain med?

Maria · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 10:43 PM

ESI is epidural steroid injection
opioid medication - classification of medication like morphine, methadone, etc
caudal approach- basically there are varying approaches when doing lumbar ESIs. Caudal seems to the get to the sacral nerve roots and L51 and bathe the area in a general manner.

You can google each term mentioned and get a far better explanation however I'm guessing if you don't know what these are you've not had any such type of therapy and perhaps could benefit by seeing a good Pain Managment doctor (though it sounds like you have one already) and checking some of these options out re your own coccyxgeal pain.

Possilby you can reduce your suffering a bit more. Exercise is a good thing and believe me I'm all for it however there are some periods in a spiney's life when trying to exercise without really knowing what's being aggravated will exaccerbate (bring on and increase) the pain and then you spend more time just trying to get over that flare up so perhaps it'd be a good idea to have some Pain Management type of intervention and then start a very mild exercise plan.

I had a PT that worked w/me for a year while I was getting ESIs, on Neurontin 1800mg/day (for burning pains/neuropathies in my lower extremities) and starting a very low dose opioid pain medication.

This particular PT worked specifically with Failed Back surgery patients which I was after my 2nd spine surgery altho I had the coccyx pain episodically for years prior to my 2nd back surgery but after this it became chronic for a number of years. I avoided sitting for many years except when absolutely necessary like 10 minutes to drive somewhere.

cherylstewart67 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-2012, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skweek35

Hi,
I'm new to this site and looking for a bit of advice.
I have suffered from coccydynia for the past 4 years! I have had numerous 'pain relief' procedures. Most of these gave about 3 months pain relief. My NHS chronic pain relief specialist has said there is nothing more they can do for me.
I have read that doing some exercise can help towards long term pain relief. I started with a personal trainer last week and since then have had more pain than ever.
I'm now at a point where sitting is absolutely impossible. Even just trying to sit down for a minute results in immediate pain! So I avoid sitting at all costs. (am currently kneeling at the coffee table)
Should I call to cancel my personal trainer?

have you have a high intensity mri on this area? pain is not coming from nothing. i just wonder what they see going on.