If I had to gauge my current pain levels vs. my preoperative levels, I’d say I have about 80% relief right now. I’ve been tapering off many of my medications, and the pain levels have increased. A month ago I would have said I was experiencing 90-95% pain relief. But I was taking more medication then. But I’m determined to come off all the medication, and try to live with the existing pain as best I can.

The last time I visited my surgeon, he told me that the pain I was experiencing would be excruitiating to some people that didn’t have the long-term experience that I’ve had. But since I spent over 10 years in pain, the pain I feel now is tolerable. Before having my tailbone removed,  every single time I would sit, I would hurt. Everytime I stood up, the pain was even more excrutiating due to the shift in my coccyx. And then for some reason, about a year ago the pain got progressively worse, so I knew had to do something about it. I was tired of injections, tired of doctors who think you’re crazy, tired of people not understanding the suffering that someone with severe coccydenia is experiencing.

I knew the time was right when I found a new pain management doctor who just so happened to work right across the hallway from an orthopedic surgeon who had experience performing coccygectomies. Now…. no looking back. I’ve had approximately 30 pre-op and and post-op visits (between the surgeon and pain doc), so this surgery is nothing to take lightly. But if you’re suffering, a coccygectomy could very well be the right move.

I’d love to hear from you if you’re considering surgery, or are recovering. There is very little information available on the internet, so I welcome comments and questions. 

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The insurance company also denied the anesthesiologist, and that’s still pending an appeal.

I needed bit of good news! For those of you expecting to undergo surgery to remove your tailbone (coccyx), be sure the insurance company has pre-certified your surgery and the hospital stay. Prior to my hospital stay, the insurance company told me they couldn’t approve the stay in advance of the surgery, but they would be willing to review all records afterwards to see if it was necessary. I had to provide 180 pages of records including: surgical notes, daily nursing notes, and records from all of my previous doctor’s visits.

Now I can put this behind me (no pun intended) and focus on my health, and not my checkbook.

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If you have suggestions for the checklist, I’d love to hear them. I wish I had something like this before my surgery!

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I’m have 90 to 95 prevent pain relief compared to my preoperativepain levels. My medications are controlling the pain well, and I’m tapering off of the oxycodone.

My medications are:

900 mg gabapentin 3x daily
Celebrex 2x daily
500mg Tylenol 4x daily
.1 mg clonidine as needed

This part is pretty embarrassing to write about but I’m starting to see some changes in my bowel habits. The muscles that control your sphincter have to be detached from the coccyx and reattached during a coccygectomy, and I’m sure in starting to develop some scar tissue inside. I’m going to keep a close eye on this. I have my monthly visit with the surgeon this week and I’ll be sure to chat with him about this.

I am convinced that the coccygectomy was the best thing I’ve ever done. I can go to the movies, play the piano, and sit at a desk with minimal pain. I’m a religious person, and the prayers and support from my church and my family have also helped me come through this.

The post 17 Weeks Following Coccygectomy (Tailbone Removal) appeared first on Robert's Notes.

I am currently 80-90 percent pain free. I find that I can go to the movies, sit at a desk, and play the piano without focusing on the pain that does remain.

In fact, I am doing so well that my surgeon thinks there is a chance that I could be 100 percent pain free within 18 months.

My surgical wound is about 95 percent closed, and should be fully closed within two more weeks.

I have resumed all previous activities, but I still get winded easily from laying down for 8 weeks during my recovery.

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My pain levels are comparable to my pre surgical pain levels, and there are some days that the pain is significantly less than I had before my surgery. So it appears that things are definitely moving in the right direction. I am back to work and I’m sitting for much of the day without any serious complications.

The nerves are starting to grow back, and they are firing very angry signals sometimes. Sometimes I will just be laying in the bed and a sharp shooting pain will come out of nowhere. It feels like somebody has stuck s knire in my back. The good news is this pain will only last for a few minutes, and then it goes away. These episodes occur up to 5 times per day. The pain is certainly high enough to make me jump. But this is the only significant pain but I’m really concerned about right now. But my doctor tells me this is a good sign because it indicates that the nerves are growing back and they are sending signals like they should pay.

I am now back to visiting with the pain management physician. We are working on tapering off many of my medications, and trying to find the right combination of medications that will control the pain that I am certain to feel over the next year or so. I was told that it will probably be about 18 months before I will know what the rest of my life will feel like. So for right now it’s just a waiting game.

My wound is still open. It seems like it will probably take another 2 to 4 weeks to completely heal. The wound is closing from the inside out so I have to be very patient. The risk of infection is nearly gone but I still cannot be complacent about my wound care.

All in all I am pleased with the outcome of the surgery and I’m confident that I will have a complete recovery.

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My wound is still open by about 1/2 an inch, and it’s slowly closing from the inside. The doctor said that my wound looked the best he’s seen since the surgery. There is no sign of infection, and he thinks it will take about another month to fully heal.

The pain levels are getting better, but I’m beginning to experience a myriad of sensations near the surgical site. While I still feel pain 100% of the time, the pain is much lower while I’m laying down and keeping pressure off the wound. I am still only able to sit for about 45 minutes per day, so there hasn’t been much improvement in that regard. The nerves are beginning to grow back, and there are times where I feel as if someone is pushing heavily into the wound. This sensation will last about 5 minutes, and then stop, and the pain certainly makes me jump. It’s not at all pleasant, but the surgeon said it’s a good sign that the pain will come and go, as it indicates the nerves are functioning correctly. He says he would be more concerned if the pain were constant, which would indicate an infection.

My surgeon says he is delighted that I’m progressing so well, especially given the percentage of patients who wind up contracting an infection. I take up to 5 showers per day using a handheld shower head and I use Hibiclense to disinfect the wound. The surgeon told me to “keep doing what you’re doing”.

I’ve been taking photos of the wound, but have been reluctant to post on my blog, as they’re not fun to look at. I’m happy to show photos via email, so if you’d like to see, just use the ‘contact me’ button in the main menu. However, I drew a picture of the wound, and have attached it to this article.

Coccygectomy wound weeks after surgery. The wound had to close from the inside to prevent infection.

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The first couple weeks were brutal, and luckily I had a surgeon who was not afraid of helping me control my pain. That, combined with my handy contour foam knee pillow, I was more comfortable sleeping and laying on my side. I bought my pillow at Bed Bath and Beyond, but these can be easily found on amazon.com as well.

I have read of people using a massage table that allows a person to lay on their stomach without their face being covered up. I considered such a purchase, but decided against it. In retrospect, I made the right decision – I was able to lay on my side and on my back during the recovery without the need to lay on my stomach.

A knee pillow is indispensable following a coccygectomy.

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The most important consideration in deciding whether or not you should be driving is how much pain medication you’re taking. For the first few weeks after the surgery, I was on fairly high dosages of morphine and percocet; I certainly wouldn’t be driving after taking this medication.

So, I’m happy to say that if you can sit in a chair, you can drive, but you should certainly consult with your doctor to see if you should be driving.

If you’re considering having your tailbone removed, or if you’ve had the surgery, drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you.

It is important to consult with your surgeon to determine if you should be driving following a coccygectomy.

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