Do you have pain in the tail bone area?

[dreamy]

I have noticed a soreness and pain in the tailbone and the butt area. Has anyone experienced this? What helped you with this? Is this common for people with IC?

[GriffsMommy]

There is a seat cushion sold in the ICNShop that is really great for these type of problems. It has a cut out down the middle so the sensitive areas do not have as much pressure on them. Painful sitting is a very common problem for IC patients, I don't know if alot of people specifically have tail bone pain. I bought the seat cushion for my pudendal nerve issues and it has really helped me, espically in the car.

[Annie2]

I am not sure how common this is, but I have heard several others complain of this. For 6-8 months before I developed any IC symptoms, I had a lot of discomfort in that area. It was particularly uncomfortable when climbing stairs or when movement forced my pelvis forward or back. I developed IC very suddenly, as in fine one day and in agony the next. The tailbone discomfort continued through my first couple of years of IC. Though he could never give me an explanation for it, my uro found this symptom VERY interesting.

I later developed colitis and, with all that going on in my pelvis, I also developed severe pelvic floor dysfunction. I found a fantastic physical therapist who specializes in PFD and has over 20 years of experience treating IC and PFD patients. I've been working with her for well over a year. I went for PT frequently in the beginning, but only need to go in for reviews and adjustments to my exercises about once a month now. I have had tremendous success with PT. My IC and colitis are helped greatly and my PFD is under total control. If I feel any "twinges" in my pelvic floor muscles indicating a problem beginning, I can immediately do stretches and procedures taught to me by my therapist and stop the problem before it gets going again. The big point I want to make is that right after starting PT my "tailbone" discomfort went away....totally....haven't felt it in over a year now.

Have you been evaluated for PFD? If not, it might be worth checking into.

[ICNDonna]

I get pain in my tail bone area, but it's because when I was 18 and backed up to a chair to sit down, a bratty relative yanked the chair and I landed HARD on the floor, injuring my tail bone.

Donna

[Trishann]

I also did get pain in my tail bone area and doctors couldn't figure it out. Strangely after having a hernia disk repair in my neck, no more pain.
This pain could be from something else other than IC but again maybe IC is causing it.

Hugs, Trishann

[francis]

Hello,

I have beem complaining about pain in tail bone and rectal area. Almost like you have the urge to go all the time......
It seems to bother me when I am sitting down and in the car.
When I asked my urologist he thought I was nuts.
When I spoke to my mother in law who has had IC for 15 years, she said it was quite common with IC.
Make sure you speak to your doctor about this.
I will speak to my new urologist in the new year..perhaps she won't think I am nuts.

Francis

[bjmedd]

Please don't think you are alone in this, and it IS, in my opinion related to IC. I had severe tailbone pain before I had anything else, and it went into full blown IC symptoms. That was the first time around. I was in pain for 5, almost 6 years. I finally ended up seeing a PT and they went in rectally and worked at loosening the muscles around the very base of the tailbone. I'm not sure if I was beginning remission or not, but it was soon after that, that my bladder pain seemed to disappear. I had been pain free for about 4 years. Last month I noticed that my tailbone pain returned. I hoped that it was just a fluke and it was just something I may have done. However, *with* my tailbone pain, 3 weeks or so later my IC symptoms have returned. I will be calling a PT to see if I can get someone to help me again.

[Smokey]

i get pain sometimes in the tailbone/butt area because I have the start of arithitis there. i go to a chiro or oesteopath to help in that area.

[Annie2]

I, too, have documented arthritis in my hips. Also, my hubby and I were skiers when younger (had to give up the sport many years ago after my husband's 2nd very serious back injury and surgery as he didn't dare risk another bad fall). I took many hard falls during those skiing years. Falls into soft powder weren't bad, but when the slopes were covered with hard packed ice....ouch! Perhaps all of that contributed to my arthritis, may have injured my tailbone and could perhaps have been a contributing factor to developing PFD and pelvic pain. However, my tailbone pain that preceeded IC was MANY years after we quit skiing and responds so well to PT. For me, there is a definite connection of some kind, though I can't define it, between tailbone pain, IC, colitis and PFD.

[RAS6]

YES!! I do and it can be VERY BAD some days!! I purchased the cushion others were takling about and it is a life saver for me. I do have PFD, so I am unsure if it is that or IC causes the buttock/rectal pain/lower back pain. Heat works wonders for the tailbone/lowerback pain. Some days I will sit on my heating pad at home if I really hurt. I have alot of vaginal pain as well and sitting on my electric heating pad set to low can help alot (it isn't always good to have direct pressure on a heating pad, obviously can cause burns, so I keep it on the lowest temp). Hot baths help with all those pains temporarily too. I can't tolerate bath bubbles or salts or beads, I just use a good shake of baking soda.

The only med that has helped my rectal pain and also helps my vaginal pain too is Valium. I used to take another muscle relaxer that did help alot for back and tailbone pain, but it made me dizzy so I stopped. I wish I could think of the name now...I'll have to look it up.
Please don't feel alone with this or embarrassed to talk to your Doctor (I was at first) if this is causing you alot of pain or interfering with your life.
To be honest, even the first few Uro's I saw who weren't that updated on IC seemed to think the rectal/tailbone/lower back pain was all connnected to IC. My IC specialist knew and was able to help quite a bit.
I hope you get answers and relief soon!

[francis]

Hello,

Thanks guys!
Now I know that I am not alone or crazy for that matter.
What will happen next?
Is everything down there moving or something.

Bye for now

Francis

[dreamy]

Hey Griffsmommy Ive been wondering if anyone has that seat cushion. I am glad you like it. I am going to get one. I can hardly sit even in padded chairs sometimes. It feels like it puts too much pressure on the bladder. Thanks for the advice!

[dreamy]

Oh and I appreciate the feedback about this subject. This has been very upsetting to me. And I am trying to do all I can to get better.

Hey RAS6 I also like using baking soda in my baths. I have valium but was wondering if I should use it vaginally. I can do it either way I was told.

Also, this is kind of embarrasing to share but I need to know if anyone else has a hard time holding their BM before they get to the toilet? I can make it to the toilet but I am saying it tries to exit before I am sitting on the toilet. Ive noticed that since I have been dealing with this IC thing. I have had my gallbladder out so I naturally go more. Now if I have to go I cant wait long to get to the restroom.

[ICNDonna]

Was it your doctor who said you could use valium vaginally? If not, then I wouldn't do it without first asking the doctor.

Bowel urgency sometimes happens after gallbladder surgery. My mother had the problem for a couple of years after hers. Fortunately I didn't have that happen; the only difference I saw after gallbladder removal was that I don't feel full time nausea and upset stomach.

Donna

[Annie2]

It would be a good idea to discuss your bowel urgency issue with your doctor. There are many things besides gallbladder removal that can cause this problem and only your doctor can help you find the cause.