What type of doctor should I see to get my Tailbone (coccyx) checked out?

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
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No trauma that I can recall, but its been painful for about a week now. Wife checked it out and said the spot is red, so there is definitely something going on.

Since i'm on a PPO, i don't need a referral so I'm trying to determine what type of doctor to call;

1. Orthopedic
2. Proctologist
3. General Practitioner
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,713
12
56
Took a little spill at the sand dunes today? :p


May be a pilonidal cyst. I think your GP can diagnose that and he/she would be quicker to get you in as compared to a specialist.
 

JEDI

Lifer
Sep 25, 2001
30,160
3,300
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Originally posted by: aphex
No trauma that I can recall, but its been painful for about a week now. Wife checked it out and said the spot is red, so there is definitely something going on.

Since i'm on a PPO, i don't need a referral so I'm trying to determine what type of doctor to call;

1. Orthopedic
2. Proctologist
3. General Practitioner

where;'s the pole?

General Practitioner ftw!

and if u did break your tailbone, your SOL. there's no cast, or wrap. you just have to take painkillers till it mends itself
 

cKGunslinger

Lifer
Nov 29, 1999
16,408
57
91
Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: aphex
No trauma that I can recall, but its been painful for about a week now. Wife checked it out and said the spot is red, so there is definitely something going on.

Since i'm on a PPO, i don't need a referral so I'm trying to determine what type of doctor to call;

1. Orthopedic
2. Proctologist
3. General Practitioner

where;'s the pole?

General Practitioner ftw!

and if u did break your tailbone, your SOL. there's no cast, or wrap. you just have to take painkillers till it mends itself

And sit on a donut!
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: aphex
No trauma that I can recall, but its been painful for about a week now. Wife checked it out and said the spot is red, so there is definitely something going on.

Since i'm on a PPO, i don't need a referral so I'm trying to determine what type of doctor to call;

1. Orthopedic
2. Proctologist
3. General Practitioner

where;'s the pole?

General Practitioner ftw!

and if u did break your tailbone, your SOL. there's no cast, or wrap. you just have to take painkillers till it mends itself

And sit on a donut!

mmmmmmmmm donut.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
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Originally posted by: moshquerade
Took a little spill at the sand dunes today? :p


May be a pilonidal cyst. I think your GP can diagnose that and he/she would be quicker to get you in as compared to a specialist.

Seemed like all the references to the cyst said there would be an actual cyst/bump on the surface... For me, there is nothing except a red spot

Thanks for the tip though...

So all are voting for my GP?
 

RapidSnail

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2006
4,258
0
0
Originally posted by: aphex
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Took a little spill at the sand dunes today? :p


May be a pilonidal cyst. I think your GP can diagnose that and he/she would be quicker to get you in as compared to a specialist.

Seemed like all the references to the cyst said there would be an actual cyst/bump on the surface... For me, there is nothing except a red spot

Thanks for the tip though...

So all are voting for my GP?

GEE PEE!!! GEE PEE!!! GEE PEE!!!
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,264
3
76
go to your GP. you may very well have a pilonidal cyst that just hasn't matured yet. for your sake, i hope you don't.
 

ATLien247

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2000
4,597
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0
Originally posted by: SsupernovaE
Just pray it's not a fistula.

That was my first guess.

I remember some poor schmuck posted the details about his fistula ordeals a while back. OUCH!
 

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
1,637
0
0
Went to a GP for the same thing. Two years and counting. he gave me some anti-inflams and told me if the pain didn't go away, seem him in 30days. next step would be steroid injections, then surgery. Pain didn't go away. I'm just bearing up with it now as the idea of surgery doesn't appeal to me. My dad had hip surgery around 3 years ago, they screwed up the job, and an infection set into his spine. Nearly killed him; so I'm somewhat leery of any kind of surgery that's even remotely related to the spine. Donuts don't work (for me anyway). I had to drive 4000 miles in 5 days last year; the pain by the time I got done was indescribable.

Some days are worse than others. I find that soft cushoins are not a good thing, prefer to sit on something hard that doesn't cause my tailbone to "fold" under. Good luck with wehatever you decide to do. Let me know if you find a miracle cure.


 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
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Update: Finally made it to the GP, he didn't see anything unusual so he sent me in for xrays, came back negative. Going to an orthopedic spinal surgeon on thursday, hopefully he will be able to help diagnose the pain.

The pain wasn't so bad for a few weeks, but just recently returned with a vengeance. Its very point specific, I can actually feel the spot on the left side of my tailbone where its sore as hell. Its rare that something can actually make me yell, but if you press on the right spot, i sing like a canary.

Hopefully a simple cortisone shot will do the trick. We'll see.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
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Jul 19, 2001
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So i got a cortisone shot today on my tailbone. I've had them before, but never... I REPEAT... NEVER.... had one as painful as this one. It seriously hurt worse than anything ive ever felt in my life, and i've broken bones and had surgery before...

As he stuck the needle in, he said since its tender it may hurt and sure as hell, it did. I actually let out an audible yell, then the tears started flowing, it was horrible :( It took about 15 seconds for the numbing to kick in, buy my lord, that was painful. :(

Fingers crossed it will work.
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,713
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Originally posted by: aphex
So i got a cortisone shot today on my tailbone. I've had them before, but never... I REPEAT... NEVER.... had one as painful as this one. It seriously hurt worse than anything ive ever felt in my life, and i've broken bones and had surgery before...

As he stuck the needle in, he said since its tender it may hurt and sure as hell, it did. I actually let out an audible yell, then the tears started flowing, it was horrible :( It took about 15 seconds for the numbing to kick in, buy my lord, that was painful. :(

Fingers crossed it will work.
Awww, that sucks. :(

but you know it will be worth it if it helps.