Tailbone and knee pain following weightloss?

Hi all =/ I'm hoping to get some insight on some problems...... I'm 4ft 11, and hit my biggest weight at 228lbs.  I struggled with abuse from a ex and I just had no motivation till i moved out this last yr =) I'm down to 178/179 (fluctuates day to day) I WAS walking and doing moderate exercise but for some reason, my knees have really started to hurt and have even given out. Ive also been dealing with horrid tailbone pain and have no clue if they both are related to my weight loss, or if its something i should just tough out?  

I encourage you to get your knees and tailbone checked.  I struggled with knee pain for quite a while and it only got worse.  I had RNY in 2001 but had to get a total knee replacement a few months ago.  I had an x-ray done on both of my knees and they were bone on bone by the time I finally got them checked. I'm doing better now after the knee surgery.  If I'd gotten my knees checked out earlier, it would have been better because I thought I could tough it out only to have them get worse.

Congratulations on your weight loss.  Take care of yourself with your knees and tailbone by getting checked so you can fully enjoy your life without being limited by pain.  

Please post updates as to what you find out. 

Someone brought up tailbone pain at our support group this week. A handful of people who have lost a good amount of weight had said it was because there wasn't as much "padding" to cover it so it hurts. Their suggestion for this gal was to shift positions frequently or sit on a pillow to help.  

The other thing we learned from the guest speaker who is a professional trainer and owns a gym, is that sometime knee pain is caused by a muscle being tight higher up in your leg. Try stretching your quad and hamstring muscles really well to see if that helps at all.  

Good luck! 

You should still talk to your doctor, but I thought I'd share what I learned. 

A lot of knee pain can come from tendons and ligaments that become too tight.  I would first get them checked - because being heavy for a long time probably did a number on them.  Go to an orthopedist who specializes in knees.  Then look up stretches for quads, hamstrings and IT band.  A foam roller really helps with all of these. 

As for the tailbone, welcome to the world of WL patients!  A have a Kabooti cushion (Amazon.com) that I use at work AND home.  

Actually the quad and hamstring exercises worked for me.  When I first started to workout my knees started hurt too.  I was told to strengthen my muscles around the knee.  This helped and within a few weeks the knee pain went away and never came back. 

As for the tailbone pain.  I have heard many people complain of this after weight loss.  Your butt is used to all that padding and now it's gone.  I am lucky enough not to have that issue.  But have had issues with my hip bone at night when I sleep on my side....same thing.  No padding. 

I guess there are worse things to deal with.  Than not enough padding. 

Definitely get yourself to an orthopedist!

Do you generally have to have a pmc refer to a ortho or is it possible to just make a appt?

It depends completely on your insurance.  

And I caution against a chiropractor.  They'll adjust till the cows come home, but very few will give you the skills you need to maintain that adjustment.  

Seen a chiropractor yesterday due to pain in my tailbone and left side of my back.  To my surprise my tailbone is out of alignment.  I didn't have problems until after surgery.  So I wonder if its always been like that and the fat just masked the issue.

I was about to suggest a chiropractor. Will help both areas (especially teamed with the stretches and IT band work).

Very DEFINATELY rapid weight loss affects your alignment. The same way the slow gain did too. Only you did that slowly so didn't notice it the same way. Add in that most of us go gungho at working out... Oh yeah you'll need some adjustments.