Tailbone Question

I know it's normal to have some discomfort in joints and other areas while we're losing rapidly. This summer (near my 1 year mark) my tailbone began to be "sore" - I can understand that - the area lost quite a bit of padding. I mentioned it at my surgiversary appointment. My surgeon said that give it a month or 2 and things would be back to normal (either they'd be normal or I'd get used to it).

It's gotten worse. Now after a long car trip over Christmas - the dang thing is killing me. The chair at work hurts. The truck seat is out of the question. Even the sofa hurts it.  My surgeon is over 2 hours away (one way) and the thought of driving to see him makes it hurt even more.

Has anyone else had prolonged problems with theirs? Would a chiropractor help? Suggestions?

- Iris

p.s. Yes I've called and left a message with my surgeon about it and to get his advice but in the mean time I thought I'd try here too.

My tailbone will get sore if I sit in a car too long or on a harder chair.  Even if it is cushioned I can get tailbone pain.  It is easily felt if you are looking to feel it.  I know, TMI.  But I have found that if I sit forward or on something cushiony it is better.  I now use a memory foam square in my car seat.  It really helps.  Your situations sounds a little more painful than mine though.  Maybe you just need to use a cushion and let it stop feeling bruised.  I think your PCM would be able to help though so that you don't need to drive 4 hrs.  It maybe from the surgery but tailbone pain is tailbone pain.  Go see your PCM.

The tailbone issue, along with being cold, has been my main problem since my surgery.  I fell about 12 years ago when my husband and I went to the mountains and hurt my tailbone but after that didn't really have problems until recently.  I talked to my surgeon about it the last time I was there b/c it was getting really bad.  Depending on whose car I'm in a 5 minute ride is bad!  He said to get a pillow because it probably wouldn't get any better and not to EVER let anyone operate on it. 

So here's the funny part...I got two "butt pillows" (one round one my dad ordered from QVC and a square one with the horseshoe shape cut out the back from my sister) for Christmas.  My sister also gave me a set of cuddle duds.  She said "I don't want to hear another word about you being cold or your butt hurting".  The pillows have helped.  My recliner is the worst and I have the square pillow there permanently.  Hope this helps.

Iris:

I feel your pain, literally!

One of the main reasons I had the surgery was because of horrible back pain that I have had for over 5 years.  When I started losing the weight, I couldnt believe how much I hurt, it was in so much pain!!! 


I went to my Dr.s and said, "What going on?"  I am taking more pain meds, I hurt more, this is crazy!  I expected to hurt less, not more.  No one, except my chiropractor, has given me much of an answer.  He said the fat was providing a type of support and since it all fell or disappeared that support around my muscles and my joints did too.  He had me do more core training to strengthen my core to support my body better.  It has helped a little.  He also said I need to wait  for my body to stablize at a certain weight for my body to figure our there is no more changing. 

To be honest, I dont think anyone really knows why I hurt more.  It just was very frustrating for me and like I said, I really feel your pain.

If you get any answers, please let us know.  I would like to know if it lines up at all with what I have been told.


Melissa

SW / CW
309/145.5

Hi Iris,

I realize that I haven't hit the 1 year mark for this forum yet, but I've hit goal and I'm trying to maintain so I've been lurking here to get some insights.

I had MAJOR tailbone problems from 4 months to 8 months out.   My wife pointed out that not only did I lose the "fat padding" on my rear but I also lost a good amount of muscle on my gluteous maximus.    So, I started adding "Glute kicks" http://www.ehow.com/way_5261950_gluteal-hamstring-toning-exe rcises.html  to my workout program about 6 weeks ago and it has made a WORLD of difference.   I also make it a habit of "flexing/relaxing" my glutes when I'm sitting down in my office on a long conference call (alternating side to side).  

Instead of sitting on a "fat pad" I now have some additional muscle back there to lift the tailbone off the seat and it makes a BIG difference.

Good luck