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Ray I know I broke my tailbone (coccyx) in junior high while doing a cheerleader maneuver. It hurt like #@!$%, but I was too proud to go to the doctor. Today there is arthritic changes in that area, and guess what? It still hurts like #$@%! Take care of it now! Your problem is compounded because you have to sit in a wheelchair more often. Below is some useful information from "Your Health." Take care! Peggy Treatment Treatment aims to manage pain until the bone can heal. Even if the coccyx has moved out of its normal position, doctors usually do not try to correct the malalignment. Muscles in the area are powerful and can pull the coccyx back out of position. Because of the location of the coccyx and the number of muscles attached to it, immobilization is very difficult. That muscle movement also delays healing. The area may remain painful for an extended period of time, even after the fracture has healed. You may be advised to stay in bed initially for a day or two, or move only as comfort allows. After a reasonable healing time, steroid injections or surgery may be considered if severe pain persists. Surgery for a painful coccyx fracture is very rare and not very successful. Usually pain gradually disappears, although not as quickly as patients would desire. Pain Relief You may be given medication to ease the pain. To reduce discomfort during bowel movements: Drink plenty of fluids and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Stool softeners may help decrease straining during bowel movements. Sitz baths can help relieve muscle spasms. A sitz bath involves soaking the anal area in warm tap water for 10-20 minutes. Sitting can be very uncomfortable after a coccyx fracture. Suggestions to make sitting less painful include: Sit on an air cushion or doughnut pad. Alternate between sitting on one side of the buttock or the other. Try sitting on a hard chair. Sinking into a soft chair sometimes increases the pressure on the coccyx. Slouch to move your weight forward and off the coccyx. Note: This advice holds only until you are well enough to sit properly again. Sit on a telephone book, with the area of the coccyx hanging off the posterior portion of the phone book. Surgery If pain continues and causes persistent disability, a coccygectomy might be recommended. During this procedure, the doctor removes the coccyx. It is not a common procedure and the success rate is not what one would hope for. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn