Severe Tailbone & Lower Back Pain after Rapid Weight loss

[vonna2009]

I have been suffering from SEVERE tailbone pain, especially at night while laying in bed and its worse in the morning when I wake up.  I have lost over 130 lbs in last year following gastric bypass surgery.  The tailbone pain has been occuring for over 8 months.  I have been to several doctors but can get no help ask to cause & treatment.  I have had Xrays - no fractures or breaks. Had MRI that showed l am have bulging discs in lower back and also the area over my butt and between my lowest disc.  Believed they called it S-1.  However, my surgeon says it due to "losing so much weight and having no padding". I have suffered from herniated discs in neck (3) & back (4) since 2003.  I go to pain management doctor to treat the chronic pain, had 2 neck surgeries, injections, PT, etc etc but still no relief.  I am at my wits end with the pain from tailbone and its causing severe pain in my hips/pelvic area and lower back.  Please share any advice   you may have.  I have been told to have a "nerve block" to help w/tailbone back pain.  I have tried before for my back but they didn't help.  The doctors all act like the tailbone issue is no big deal and my current meds should be sufficent to reduce pain but they do not and its getting worse and it protrudes and swells up. Please help.

[vonna2009]

Thanks again for all the "Warm Welcomes" I have received and I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO FIND THIS FORUM.  I saw my Pain Mangmt. doc yesterday and  he changed my norcos to "opana 15 mg" 2 per day. Along with Fentanyl 75 mg patch, and soma that I have been taking for over 2 yrs.  However I am still in severe pain. Took new meds w/soma last night and just put me to sleep however I still woke up a few hours later from pain.  I scheduled the "steroid injections" w/sedation on Jan 31st.  So I will pray for relief.  I remember other injections I had to take in a series of 3 injections but he didn't mention that so I will see. He wanted to do w/o sedation but I can hardly handle sitting much less laying flat & having injection(s).  The Pain doc doing the injections told me that I do not need all the meds for pain and he will not prescribe them so he said to stay w/ current one for meds.  Now isn't that weird?  I live in rural town so I have to travel to a "bigger" city for specialists and not many to chose from.  I was told to see a orthapedic/spine doctor for tailbone issue but I have already seen my neurosurgeon about this who ordered MRI and referred me for injections.  What do you think?  Am I wasting time w/ortho?  I really appreciate your thoughts and your quick replies.  Hopefully I will be able to help someone w/my experiences. I have alot w/ heriated disc in neck & back. 2 cerical surgeries.  The second one they fused and put in plate and I  am so much better now in neck area. Anything you can share about tailbone would be so helpful.  I will keep ya'll posted and do the same.  Is Opana better than Norcos?  also prescribed Methadone...If anyonehas questions about gastric bypass..just ask.I have lost over 140 lbs since Nov 2009. affects me emtionally as well as physcially...still don't see myself as  normal weight

[optimus22mac]

Hi:) I did just send you a PM, but also wanted to give you a quick reply here.  I would try an epidural block or something similar at least one more time...I am looking into trying them after my next surgery is over with.  What medications are you on right now? Are you on an extended release medication that is long acting throughout the day? I find that having a medication like that with something short acting for breakthrough is good for me with my pelvic area pain...my sacrum and coccyx have permanent damage to them, so I am trying to explore different methods of pain management over the next year or so...since I'll be dealing with the pain indefinitely.  I know how debilitating this pain can be, and I am very sorry that you also have to deal with it.  I look forward to getting to know you better...this forum is a wonderful community for friendship and support...as you can see from the thoughtful answers from Tuck and Mama Sherry!
Love, Alison

[namnam46]

Hi Vonna,

First I want to welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad you found this Forum. I want to let you know that there are NO Doctors on this Forum only CP - Chronic Pain - Patients that help each other with our OWN expertise and experiences that we have developed through our OWN CP Issues.

I am having a very similar problem that you are.  I have just lost a lot of weight and have NO padding at all on my "rear" anymore and when I sit or even lay down on my bed, the wrong way, my tailbone is VERY sore and tender.  I lost almost 50lbs in less than 10 months and that's when the pain started.  I have nothing but bone back there.  I have the same problem with the bottom of my feet.  There is no padding at all on the bottom of my feet.  Going barefoot on ANYTHING but carpet is TOTALLY out of the question! :{  

Fortunately, the pain does NOT go to my hips and lower back BUT that may be because I've had  6 RFA's in my lower back and the nerves have been destroyed back there. I, also, have severe DDD in my back.  That being said, even with the DDD,  BEFORE the weight loss, I DIDN'T have the tailbone pain at all and I had PLENTY of padding.  :)

As Tuck suggested, it's CERTAINLY worth trying the blocks "one more time" because it's always a possibility that THIS time it might work!!  :)

I wish you the best and HOPE that you will be able to get some type of relief to your pain.  

PLEASE keep us updated as to how you are doing. :).............Sherry

[Tuckamore]

Hello Vonna,

I tend to agree with your surgeon. I have know other ppl that have had very similar issues following weight loss. I am far from an expert, it's just my personal opinion and past observations.

Even though the nerve blocks have not been successful in the past I would encourage you to consider trying another block. This is not the same area or the same pain.

Pain is pain and I would be dismayed by the dismissal of it by your physician(s). I hope they are treating your pain. If not be assertive and request pain management/treatment.

Often when one structure is in pain or inflamed it will effect other structures. Also I would imagine your gait has changed due to your pain.....when that occurs it places more demand on other structures/ joints and such in your body.

Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
~Tuck