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I used sanitary pads/napkins to cushion the area. Quoting Peggy Willocks <[log in to unmask]>: > 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 > ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn