Question:
Post Op- Seeking Remedies for Aching Buttocks
This was covered a little bit in an earlier question, but I'm in severe pain here and need help. My buttocks just ACHE all the time - to the point that I can't sit. I have asked my PCP and my surgeon. Both felt anti-inflammatories would help, BUT of course said I can't have them with my newly healing pouch. They recommended alternating heat/ice packs and continue with my pain liquid. I've tried this, but have no relief. The pain liquid doesn't seem to help at all. I'm also using a "ring" shaped pillow to sit on. Last night I tried a muscle rub cream and woke up feeling like I was sitting on a grill, lol! I had to sit in 2" of cold water for awhile. Right now, I can't even sit on my desk chair. I'm kneeling on the floor. Please, please, has anyone else suffered from this and WHAT DID YOU DO????? — Liz R. (posted on July 12, 2003)
July 12, 2003
Many (probably most) post-ops go through the general 'my butt bones hurt
when I sit' phase. It sounds as if yours is worse than the typical phase
we all go through. I remember having to alternate which butt cheek I would
put my weight on and switch sides for relief. If you are finding that the
doughnut pillow is providing some relief and you cannot tolerate sitting at
all, you may have something else going on. A friend of mine suffered with
a dislocated coccyx bone (tail bone) for a couple of years, and the docs
couldn't figure out what was wrong with her. I got on the internet and
searched for tailbone pain, along with other symptoms she was having, and
she took the info to the doc and was diagnosed. She said that she can't
remember doing anything to cause it. She was always standing and I felt so
bad for her. Anyway, If you can't sit AT ALL, then I would explore other
answers besides the typical post-op achiness that we get. This could be
totally out there, but it just sounded so familiar to me. Hope you feel
better soon. And I hope it IS just something simple.
— Cheri M.
July 13, 2003
This sounds like when I cracked my tailbone falling on my deck steps. I
could not sit at all!! The pain was incredible. And I didn't fall very
hard at all. Ask your md to do an xray. That should show right away what
you did. It took nearly a year before it totally went away. I used a
special cushion that is shaped like an M. It has a big chunk out of the
top where the two arms of the M go down that leaves a big hole. When you
sit on the pillow you have the hole where your tail bone is, so there is no
pressure on it at all. For the first couple of months I used 2 of these
cushions stacked on top of each other to be sure my tailbone didn't touch
anything!! I also have an extremely thin butt after surgery, and I can't
stand sitting on anything hard. I'll stand before I sit on anything
without a cushion. So I don't think this is normal "thin butt"
problem. I hope your md can help you!! karen (-150.5 lbs, 297/146, 9-6-01)
— Karen M.
July 13, 2003
You may want to check out a "kneeling chair" until you feel
better. (go to www.google.com and type in kneeling chair) These chairs are
great for those with low spine and back injuries. I have bad knees so I
can't use one, but my sister did and she loved it. I injured my tailbone
long ago and after surgery my butt hurt so much from lying on my back and
sitting I could hardly wait until my incision healed enough to sleep on my
stomach again! GOOD LUCK and I am sending healing energy and thoughts your
way! peace--terry
— Terry R.
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