Question:
8 weeks post -- tailbone pain when I sit!

Since my surgery 8 1/2 weeks ago, I have really had a painful tailbone when I sit. Cars, planes, chairs, etc. This is new since surgery. At first I thought it was because I was spending so much time in chairs and in bed. No, I am perplexed. No, I didn't lose cushioning there. It started in the hospital (I gained 5 pounds that week!) and I am down 41 pounds now, most from my stomach. Trust me, my ass is huge. Any thoughts?    — Karen F. (posted on July 19, 2002)


July 19, 2002
Karen, how long was your surgery? I wonder if somehow it got damaged by your laying flat for the procedure for so long? I would definitely check with your doc on this. Hugs,
   — Robin W.

July 19, 2002
Surgery had complications. I think it was 4 hours with another 5 in the recover room. Thanks for the idea. Now is as good a time as any to pester the man. I am sure he misses me by now! Ha ha!
   — Karen F.

July 19, 2002
Hi. My tailbone hurts also. I've been told it's due to weight distribution--your center of gravity changes and so that throws everything else off! I know that for the first several weeks post-op my back and rear hurt like crazy. I woke up in the hospital in total back pain--thought I was gonna die from that! It eventually went away but my rear still hurts after sitting for a long period of time. In fact, it's bugging me right now--heehee! I do body squats every other day--you find a chair that when you stand up, hits the backs of your knees, then you stand up and sit down with your arms straight (I use 5 lbs weights to help) about 20 times to begin with, then gradually add 5. This is supposed to be really good for trimming the rear and upper thigh areas!
   — jenn2002

July 19, 2002
Okay, I called and scheduled an appointment (August 2nd) and mentioned to the receptionist my problem and said if this is NOT important, the doctor does not need to call me back. Yeeks! He just called. I just about had a breakdown when I found out who was calling. I said "this can't be good if you are calling me back!!!" He was very reassuring, was just calling to let me know he got the message. My weight is redistributing itself, thus the tailbone pain. He said it will likely continue for my whole weight loss period. If it gets worse, I am to call him immediately, but this is a consistent, predictable pain, so I guess it comes with the territory. Thanks for the suggestion to call the doc. I kept waiting for it to go away!
   — Karen F.

July 19, 2002
Hiya! I know you got the answer you needed but I just HAD to share my funny story with ya since we're talking tailbones! After losing approximately seventy pounds after surgery (unknown weightland for me!) I would sit in the driver's seat of my van and complain to my sons to KEEP YOUR TOYS OFF OF THE SEAT!! I would continually tell my son to "look under me and get that stupid toy!" He would say "mom there's nothing there!" LOL! This happened for a few days until I realized the bump I was feeling under my butt was my tailbone! LOL! NEVER in my life have I ever felt that- I almost cried tears of joy! I think my boys thought that I was losing my mind!! Good luck and hope your tailbone pain gets better! :)
   — ravikamor

July 19, 2002
Just had to say that I had the tailbone pain also. But now that I am 8 months post op, it doesnt' hurt anymore. I guess it just takes time to adjust. Now I have NO BUTT, flat, and it doesn't bother me, the tailbone, not the flat butt!
   — Cheri M.

July 19, 2002
Karen, Ask your Doctor if it's possible this pain could actually be you lower back?? I had a "hurting tailbone" & the Doctor said it was actually my lower back,not my tailbone,as I lose weight this would help relieve the pain. It has.
   — Janet C.

July 21, 2002
Hi Karen, I am having the same problem. I am almost nine weeks out. Since I have returned to work, I have had to place a cushion in my chair at the office. Whenever sitting at home, I keep a pillow nearby. I do not believe it's back pain. Last time I weighed I had lost forty pounds, I do believe that fifteen of the pounds came off my backside. I am hoping that the pain will soon go away.
   — Dee D.

July 21, 2002
Nearly 3 weeks post-op here and oh boy, can I relate! The tailbone and lower back, like it radiates up from there. And it's after sitting for too long...even 20 minutes is too long sometimes. I'm an apple shape with no butt, so if it's going to get worse, I'm in trouble! Hopefully though it will get better once the weight comes off the upper body/back. Good Luck to us all :) - Anna
   — Anna L.

July 21, 2002
This can get gross .When I was a 12 year old I was thrown off a horse onto my butt,it literally knocked the air out of me and broke my tailbone.At 19 I was having alot of pain in my tailbone area,so I went to my docter,he found a pore at the top of my(excuse me)crack and pulled a plug of stuff out of it.It was a polinydal cyst(not sure about spelling) ,more people have these and never know about them,which they can spread all over and become huge.Also when you lose alot of weight you lose your extra cushion on that tailbone.To this day I still have to use an o pillow when I sit for periods of time or the old wound will open back up and cause alot of pain.If you sit for a living these round pillows with the middle cut out of them are a blessing.
   — Lisa W.

January 18, 2006
This is an EXCELLENT website with lots of information on this problem: http://www.coccyx.org/
   — [Deactivated Member]




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