Pain in the butt - Can't sit down

Posted by ecalderman @ecalderman, Nov 21, 2012

I have had very intense pain at my sitz bones for over 7 months and am unable to sit down. when I sit, it feels like I am sitting on two hot pokers or rocks and it is really unbearable. So, I have been standing for seven months. I've been to a couple of spine and pain management doctors, an orthopedist, a chiropractor, a neurologist, an acupuncturist, and a massage therapist. The original diagnosis was ischial bursitis but that ha not appeared on any images. I don't have any issues with any of my lumbar disks. I'm in constant pain even when standing or lying down though those activities do not hurt as much as sitting. Has anyone heard of anything like this before?

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I’ve been having pain in the coccyx area for several years.
Can’t sit in the reclining position and it’s very painful when driving. I’ve been using a few different cushions to help with pain.
I’ve seen a few physicians, one proposed to remove the coccyx.
Interestingly, I’m just discovering that the MRIs they did didn’t actually include coccyx.
There is a special MRI that needs to be ordered to view the coccyx in detail. Lambar MRI isn’t specific enough for tail bone.
Meanwhile, I just had an epidural injection into the coccyx region and it hurts even more now, but I was told I should see improvement in a few days.
I will be asking for that special MRI that is specific to the coccyx area. So yeah very frustrating that we learn more from these forums and from a personal online research than from the medical doctors we see.

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Have you looked into a joint fusion if pain is coming from your SI joint?

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@susanfalcon52

westcom,
I saw Dr Feigenbaum in Dallas. I think I spelled it correctly. That was 6-7 years ago. The surgery scared me and the recovery time did too. Also, I did not care for him. The visit got off to a bad start and he knew that. Seemed to try to make up for it, but I need more of a connection and trust with a surgeon who is going to do that complex of a surgery on me.
I have decided to live with it. As I said, I have ‘butt cushions’ all over house. Sometimes it’s better than other times.
Are you seeing the surgeon in Sacramento? I absolutely wish you all the best. Please keep me posted. This is a complex problem. Just receiving a diagnosis is a challenge.

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I had similar issues after my AxiaLIF surgery in 2007. I believe it was scare tissue but I’m not sure. Finally after many years of suffering I got relief from Dr. Don Enty. HTA: (HTA treatments are safe, reliable, and closely monitored. Celera products come from full-term births. According to stringent FDA standards, mothers fully consent to this donation and are extensively screened for communicable diseases.) I had it in 2017 and I helped with my pain. No pain in that area since procedure. Look up Dr. Don Enty, you can probably find doctor in your area that performs this. This mayo connect wouldn’t let me post website for you.

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@westcom

Have you looked into a joint fusion if pain is coming from your SI joint?

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I think it’s part of the problem that it’s not clear where it’s coming from. My coccyx was originally dislocated after a fall in 2020, and the xray still shows it is still dislocated, I’m going through the pelvis floor therapy where they try to manipulate it into a correct position, but also just got a cortisone shot yesterday.
I’m hopeful that they will honor my request for an MRI of the coccyx and it will shed more light on the issue.
Sadly, the doctors don’t seem to provide a lot of details on the imaging.

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@vita831

I think it’s part of the problem that it’s not clear where it’s coming from. My coccyx was originally dislocated after a fall in 2020, and the xray still shows it is still dislocated, I’m going through the pelvis floor therapy where they try to manipulate it into a correct position, but also just got a cortisone shot yesterday.
I’m hopeful that they will honor my request for an MRI of the coccyx and it will shed more light on the issue.
Sadly, the doctors don’t seem to provide a lot of details on the imaging.

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I have something similar. Had all kind of injections etc. Dr. wants to give me a epidural to get to cossyx. I don't know. Just sharing Lorraine

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@lorrainebege

I have something similar. Had all kind of injections etc. Dr. wants to give me a epidural to get to cossyx. I don't know. Just sharing Lorraine

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Cortisone sounds right.
Lorraine

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@lorrainebege

I have something similar. Had all kind of injections etc. Dr. wants to give me a epidural to get to cossyx. I don't know. Just sharing Lorraine

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I had the cortisone injection and it’s been two days and the pain in the coccyx area is much worse than before the injection, my legs are also tingling and feeling weird after the injection, not sure what’s going on, if it’s just a cortisone flare or if they hit a nerve during the procedure

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@richman54660

@rstollery This is a long post: I basically had a bursitis / tendonitis in the glute and high hamstring region. It was stubborn. The Doctor did think I had bursitis and perhaps a tendonitis, too. He said, “I do think you had some kind of myofascial pain syndrome”. Along with that was all kinds of myofascial tension. My Chiropractor said my tension was myofascial (piriformis trigger points / tension in glutes). This caused mostly sitting pain at one time.

Later, I got very stiiff, too, when standing and with continued sitting pain. It was a crushing and burning pain. If I was moving, the pain diminished somewhat.
With chronic pain you can also get central pain sensitization - where you feel it more intensely. The supplements like turmeric help ease this somewhat. While speculative, I believe my main issue was from excessive fibrin (i.e. the protein involved in blood clotting) on the bursa / tendons & nerves and in blood vessels (sort of like a phlebitis in the glute region; I’d had that in legs, too). . I had nerve pain (nerve compression; some type of myofascial pain in the glutes, and all manner of sitting pain), tight IT bands, tightness down into lower left ankle. Tight quads. I could actually sense tension in various nerve plexes's in my abdomen, too, including into the diaphragm. It's much better now but I still have minor issues. While speculative, the fibrin might cause not only stiffness but promotes inflammation as it naturally recruits white blood cells (granulocytes) that promote a mild autoimmune inflammation of the tissues. This is a natural process for fibrin- essentially what happens in a cut or wound - but it may be more prevalent for that process to go haywire - especially as we age. The enzymes (nattokinase / serrapeptidase / lumbrokinase) can help reverse this - a small amount is actually absorbed somehow. I had only marginal help from myofascial release therapy until I found the right combination of enzymes and supplements (including several doses of Vitamin C and quercetin (<500 mg/day) and resveratrol and turmeric (500-1000 mg /day Youtheory Extra strength). Then it went away rapidly – especially when I added the enzyme regimen, below.

I also had a prior history of plantar fascitis and also lower leg phlebitis (and pain when pressing on lower leg veins). This is all consistent with tissue stiffening. As you may be aware, many people are eventually put on anti-coagulants by Western medicine due to forming clots / fibrin deposition - which may be more common with age and improper healing / tissue remodeling. The enzymes and Vitamin C and stretching & exercise took care of much of it for me - I only have a little residual sitting pain now. I believe what I had could have led to many different issues including amyloid polyneuropathy (eventually) and possibly other related disorders (other neuropathies) - had I not intervened with the alternative treatments (I was getting burning and tingling down in my left foot - that is now lessened; it might have been sciatica). NSAID's don't help this and that is what Western medicine tries. The stiffness and irritation can definitely cause nerve compression and nerve irritation leading to burning pains, spasms, etc., and sitting pain.

The enzymes are taken on an empty stomach (i.e. between meals). About 10% of the people get digestive issues. Most people have no problems with the enzymes, though. I've been on them seven months with no issues at all. I can actually feel the tingling of healing in different areas. You'll need to listen to your body. I've used: 2000 U nattokinase (Drs. Best in both am and pm) as well as a couple Serrapeptidase (Biomedix Laboratories brand; several different strengths are available in the am and pm, too) from Amazon. Also, recently I’ve been using Lumbrokinase, too ( stronger enzyme; Drs. Best brand). Start slow and ramp your way up. See how it goes. My doctor checked and if you have a bleeding disorder or are already on anti-coagulants they might be counter indicated. Otherwise, barring you have a clotting disorder or if you have an infection (discontinue during an active infection; as infections are often walled off by fibrin). Many people use these without issue and my doctor found little information - but not much for adverse effects, either. Most likely, these enzymes are safer than Warfarin and other anti-coagulants.

I am convinced the enzymes and the other supplements I mentioned above helped "cure" me of my sitting pain which maps to the pudendal and other interconnected nerves, too. At least, that was my case. I am 100% convinced about my fibrin hypothesis - for me at least. Any manner of movement helps this by getting better blood flow. Myofascial massages (including myofascial by a Barnes trained person) did little until I was on the enzymes. I now mostly lift weights, do pilates, use a TRX suspension system (great for core strengthening) and use a vibration platform (that REALLY helps!) and do some stair climber. All these help loosen up my myofascial and nerve pain. I don't get much massage anymore. I'm finally feeling much better.

Two things really help my pain: I still need the set of supplements I’m on AS WELL AS the enzymes or I slip back into pain (minimally I have some type of sciatica pain / something like Cramping fasciculation syndrome with extreme stiffness anywhere below the lumbal region – and one of the other main symptoms is stiffness (which causes sitting pain and clamps on nerves causing burning / tingling pains down my legs). When I am on both regimens, I have virtually no pain. If you are able, perhaps try the regimen I detailed, above. Perhaps it might help you if this is the cause of your pain. In the meanwhile, you can try sitting on donut cushions like those used for hemorrhoids to ease ischial bursitis type pain. It will take time to reverse this, even if this is what ails you. Good luck, hope this helps.

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Hi @richman54660
I just saw this now as I'm researching resveratol for inflammation. Could you provide the specifics of your daily supplement routine? Is this still working for you?
I hope your still using this site and I so appreciated any response.

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@lorrainebege

I have something similar. Had all kind of injections etc. Dr. wants to give me a epidural to get to cossyx. I don't know. Just sharing Lorraine

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My OB/GYN put the bone back in alignment. Hurts but it worked. No more pain.

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my question to you @ecalderman, is has anyone suggested Ischial Bursitis? it's sort of like Bursitis what you can get under your shoulder blade. that's where it's almost impossible to lift your arm more than maybe an inch from your side. very painful. i've had it. i'm not totally sure if it has anything to do with arthritis. @danny5

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