Tailbone Surgery
A Brief Introduction to Tailbone Surgery
Tailbone surgery or coccyx surgery is performed for two reasons. One is to remove the tailbone to help the patient deal with chronic back pain and in the other case the surgery is to fix an injury or trauma that has made the tailbone become misaligned. In both cases tailbone pain is the reason for a doctor’s visit which can lead to a recommendation of surgery. There are strong positions regarding the question of tailbone removal and each patient should educate themselves about the issue before working with a medical professional to make a choice that feels rights.
Before debating the issue of surgery, it is a good starting point to figure the cause of tailbone pain or discomfort. Tailbone pain is usually caused by one of several different possibilities: coccyx fractures, which refers to a fractured, chipped or broken tailbone, coccyx dislocations or coccyx sprains. These tend to be the result of a fall and poor landing, an injury during labor and delivery in pregnant women and also sports related injuries and trauma. There are also occasions where there is no discernible reason for the onset of the tailbone pain. There are cases where the tailbone pain is tracked to a cancerous or malignant growth in the tailbone and in such situations surgical removal is very often recommended as the first option. However, those patients experiencing tailbone pain should not worry unduly that it immediately signifies cancer because this is not really that common a cause for coccyx pain.
Some patients dealing with this tailbone pain try out aides such as a wedge cushion or donut cushion to provide support to the area while sitting. Between the use of non-prescription pain killers and a cautious approach, there are patients who manage the pain. However, the pain can easily become persistent and so it is important to talk to a doctor at the earliest possible. Make it a point to consult a doctor with experience in dealing with tailbone related issues to get the latest and most comprehensive information available about the matter. A well-informed patient can ask the doctor for non-surgical treatment option to tailbone problems.
There are good prescription medicines and pain blockers which work well in many cases. There are medicines that can be taken orally and others which need to be injected. There are some medicines that are also applied to the area which provide relief by numbing the pain and reducing any possible swelling. When it comes to injections, these are usually given with the use of fluoroscope to avoid hitting a random nerve. Given that the tailbone region is close to many critical human organs, doctors are likely to proceed with caution. In many cases these oral medications, injections and topical applications provide noticeable relief and minimize the need for surgery.
However, some patients find the tailbone pain incessant and are unable to function normally because of it. In these cases, because the quality of life is affected, tailbone surgery becomes the only option. Coccygectomy is not a lightly made suggestion and a doctor is likely to explore other options before bringing it up. At this point, you should find a surgeon experienced in this procedure and feel comfortable asking the surgeon all your questions. This trust and comfort are also important elements in the success of the surgery.
It is important to note that the surgery is knows to have some risks. There is the possibility that the surgery will not relieve the tailbone pain and 1 in 3 patients report this as an outcome. There are possibilities of post-operative infection and there is also the reality of post-surgical pain. Some patients also contend with sagging or prolapsed of the pelvic floor.
A tailbone surgery has the possibility of significantly improving life and there is some risk inherent with the procedure also. A patient should assess the situation in the context of his or her life and choose a course of action that makes them feel at ease.