Had surgery, 9 months later still in pain
Nicole - nico@popflier.com
Posted 2010-02-28
I've been reading stories on here for ages. I've written countless "personal experiences," but never submitted any of them. I'm at my end. So frustrated. In incredible pain and very sad.
I've always been able to pin-point the pain. It's never deviated from it's location. It's always remained just where the top of my anus begins, but deep inside. Definitely a "bone" pain. If you press on that area the chances are I will be in horrible pain for the following 2 days. If I do ANY strength training on my right piriformis muscle (deep muscle beneath your main butt muscles) I will have tremendous pain in my tailbone area for a few weeks. Squats are okay to do, but any exercises where you lay on your side and lift your leg up…forget it. I'm done for.
Here's the bullet version:
- Injured myself at a work event in June 2006 while riding a mechanical bull
- First doctor diagnosed me with coccyxdynia, but retracted that after ordering a nerve block injection to prove his theory and I had no pain relief.
- Saw several other doctors who did every test imaginable on my discs.
- Did physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and MANY MANY injections.
- NOTHING gave me ANY pain relief. Not even for a day. In fact, most injections made my pain worse.
- Saw a doctor in Los Angeles who diagnosed me again with coccyxdynia. Was referred to another doctor in my state (Colorado) to have my coccyx removed.
- Had my coccyx removed in June 2009. Got an infection in August 2009, which was cleared up.
- Pain from coccyx removal was absolutely terrible. Surgery was in June 2009 and by December 2009 I was still having to take 3 -4 vicodin @ highest dosage every day. Mid-December 2009 my pain was getting worse. Was given an oral dosage of steroids, which completely messed up my body, but it helped to bring the pain down.
- My ortho said he could do no more for me and referred me to his pain specialist in his office.
- Was issued a medical marijuana card. Tried both edibles and smoking variety with not much relief.
- Had a bone scan. All negative.
- Pain specialist said he could only try one more thing and that would be another steroid injection.
- Two weeks ago I had the steroid injection. It's made my pain 1000 X worse! I feel like I'm in the same amount of pain as I was 2 weeks out from surgery. I can tell that the pain is slowly lessening, but I'm still in incredible pain.
Shortly after I was first injured I graduated with a BA in 3D animation after being in college for 15 years. This requires me to sit at a computer for 10+ hours per day. Unfortunately, I cannot sit AT ALL. I have an airline neck pillow that I sit on which helps SO much, but even still without significant pain meds my pain is less than manageable. I can't work, can't drive, can't go out with friends for dinner or movies or drinks, can't stand for extended periods of time, can't do much exercise as the last bits of physical therapy I did were apparently the cause of my December pain, can't do any of the things I love to do (snowboard, travel, work on my artwork (which requires me at a computer or doing hand detail work which requires me to sit at my drafting table.) The only position that is comfortable is laying down flat or on my sides. It's been like this for me for months now. This isn't living. This is absolute hell.
My doctors have given up on me. I'm out of suggestions and out of hope. I've read that some people had RH frequency done or rhyzotomy's. None of my doctors in Colorado do those. Does anyone know of someone in Colorado (Denver area preferably) who do these? Does anyone have ANY ideas of things to try? My massage therapist recommended rolfing, but my physical therapist didn't think I would be a good candidate for it. In addition to my now 6 – 7 high dosage vicodin per day I was just prescribed a medical marijuana card in December. Unfortunately, it's not doing much for me and I don't like the "high" you get, though I certainly did when years ago in highschool! Ha! However, mentally I just can't handle it right now.
If anyone has any ideas please email me.
Thanks for listening.
Nicole
