Tailbone pain when sitting?

[carla_marie]

This is a strange question and perhaps not Crohn's related (but really, when you have this darn disease, what isn't related?) About a month ago, maybe a bit longer, I would notice a stiffness and a bit of pain after sitting for a bit, say 15 minutes in one position. Sort of like when you've been forced to sit on a hard chair for extended period of time. The pain was right in the tailbone area. It has gotten progressively worse over the last month. This happens even when I'm sitting on something cushy and soft. I contacted my nurse practitioner and explained my concern and she sent me for an xray and my usual bloodwork (I'm on Imuran). I haven't heard any results of that. She also said the doc wanted to get an MRI done. I can't seem to feel any kind of lump back there, so not sure about an abscess or cyst...maybe it's deep and I can't feel it? Any ideas? Any experience with this kind of thing? Thanks for your help...

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Have you been on prednisone by any chance? You might have poor bone density and need a DEXA scan by a rheumatologist to assess whether you have osteopenia or Osteoperosis.

 

[copeland]

Does it feel like bone/joint pain or tissue (skin/muscle) pain?

I can think of a few Crohn's related possibilities...

Joint pain is prett common with Crohn's, but so are fistulas/fisures/abcsesses in that area.

Before my diagnosis 10 years ago my first symptom was pain in the perianal area, which turned out to be an abscess forming, but it took a long time to make itself obvious as an abscess. But if it feels like your tailbone specifically (not just in that area) it's probably not that.

 

[carla_marie]

It feels like the tissue in that area, not just the tailbone itself. I have joint pain too, but that's always been and this is new. I was on prednisone for a bit last year, when I was first diagnosed but not in the past 6 months, the Imuran has been holding me. My brother has Crohn's and has had several abcsesses in that area and so I guess I'm a bit worried that's what I'm in for. Will an MRI show any of those things?

 

[PsychoJane]

If you contract your buttocks would you say the pain is more present? Have you noticed pain when sneezing or is it exacerbated when you are having a bowel movement, sexual intercourse or just at the moment of switching position from siting to standing?

There is more than one thing that can trigger that type of pain. The pain can be refer from another cause. Mine were part of my spondylarthropaty which is considered to be EIM of my CD. As you mentionned, abcsesses have to be ruled out as well as they share similar symptoms. MRI will normally allow to see if there are fluid masses, inflammation, cartilage anomalies, bone marrow edema, etc. to help distinguish these potential causes.

 

[carla_marie]

The pain in really only there when I'm sitting in certain positions and then at the moment of switching from sitting to standing. There's no pain during BM's, intercourse, etc. I walk fine, no pain. If I sit forward in my chair, resting more on my legs than my tailbone, there is no pain.

I suppose I will call the nurse again and see if there's a date for the MRI.

 

[Essieluv]

I have those symptoms as well, but mine is from a condition called Pilonidal disease. Often cysts develop under the skin around my tailbone, and cause pain. Usually these can be treated with antibiotics, but I have had to surgically remove it once. Since then, I haven't had a problem with it and it's been over a year (knock on wood). My colorectal surgeon diagnosed and performed the surgery.

 

[Jajabinks]

Hey Carla, I have been having the same problem for a few months now except in my case, the pain has now spread up my spine. My tailbone was a major issue when this started. I am seeing a rheumatologist now for possible Spondylitis. I feel your pain. ::Hugs:: Feel free to message me.

 

[Ronald]

I too have Pilonidal disease. I was referred to see a specialist about it and basically told me to just manage it by keeping the area clean, shaving the surrounding area and being careful when sitting down. I was hoping he'd operate, it hasn't flared up for a while or caused actual pain, but it often feels very tender. It looks like a permanent bruise on the outside, but when it flares up it gets really red and angry looking. Very swollen too.

I personally do think it's IBD related, like you said, what isn't? If I were you, I'd try get confirmation on exactly what it is because like Essieluv said, you may be able to get antibiotics to treat it. The only permanent 'fix' is to have it surgically lanced, but that's not to say another cyst won't form in its place.

 

[Eternal_Howl]

I've been having pain around my tailbone, just above the crack. The lump or vertebrae part seems like a lump compared to the rest. Have no clue what it is, but being in certain positions seated, or even lying down with my legs straight out on a hard surface (like the x-ray table at the hospital 2 weeks ago) was really difficult. It was hard getting up again. No pain while walking. I also noticed a few days ago my foot started vibrating or humming. Did searches on that and some say it's nerve related and could be coming from sciatic nerve. Not sure if that relates to anyone here, but thought it worth adding. I haven't brought up the tail pain to the doctors yet, but it almost feels like there's a lump that's slightly larger than the other ones you'd find along your lower vertebrae. I'm not skinny, but I'm not large either and should have good bone density, but this doesn't feel normal. I will bring it up with the doctor next time I see her and I recommend you do the same thing. Whether it's Crohn's-related or something else, it's uncomfortable and sometimes quite painful.

 

[Jajabinks]

How are you Eternal?

 

[Daisy123]

I have had problems sitting for about four years. I find it really uncomfortable to sit still even at the cinema, which is a bugger because seeing films is part of my job. I find I bleed if I sit too long. I was told it is because my sphincter has been half eaten away. I am trying to come up with a creative solution without having to take a donut cushion with me.

 

[Eternal_Howl]

How are you Eternal?

I'm doing fine. Thanks for asking. Tail bone pain is gone for now (with regards to the post). Wondering why food has begun to get lodged in my throat, but aside from that, I've been doing good. Just tired - that's normal. I hope you're doing okay!

 

[Revlot]

@carla_marie;
The pain I can relate to. Almost as tho the path of connection of my rectum to my tailbone is being ripped away. I don't think the pain is in either my tailbone or my rectum, but rather the strip of tissue that connects the two. I have had many years to analyze my pain. No external symptoms at all. Once again, here is where squatting helps me. When I can't sit I squat instead. I can now squat comfortably for over an hour - after over a months practice of training my body to squat. I used to sit cross-legged, or side-saddle. Any position that raised my butt up off the seat and put the force of sitting on my legs. What freaks me out the most is when my whole groin goes numb. Everything between my legs has no feeling at all. I change my position and start to massage the area and feeling slowly returns. Suddenly I will notice that my tailbone no longer hurts and then I notice that I can't feel a thing in my groin - distressing.

@Eternal_Howl;
I find that I swallow air as I eat, so after a short while I have to get rid of the air or it will have the effect of forcing my esophageal sphincter closed, making it impossible to swallow more food. Forcing it down with lots of fluid is painful and has the side effect of sometimes overflowing into my lungs making me cough. My preferred solution is to constantly try to burp (quietly) between swallows of food. Taking a drink of fluid with each bite helps to make the food slick enough to slide down. I avoid 'dry' food as it will absorb all the moisture in my throat before the food gets down, and then get stuck. As a side, once my stomach is full of food I can do like a cow and bring it back up as many times as I like for a while to re-chew it. Really freaks people out for me to start chewing food long after I have eaten it.

 

[Eternal_Howl]

@carla_marie;
The pain I can relate to. Almost as tho the path of connection of my rectum to my tailbone is being ripped away. I don't think the pain is in either my tailbone or my rectum, but rather the strip of tissue that connects the two. I have had many years to analyze my pain. No external symptoms at all. Once again, here is where squatting helps me. When I can't sit I squat instead. I can now squat comfortably for over an hour - after over a months practice of training my body to squat. I used to sit cross-legged, or side-saddle. Any position that raised my butt up off the seat and put the force of sitting on my legs. What freaks me out the most is when my whole groin goes numb. Everything between my legs has no feeling at all. I change my position and start to massage the area and feeling slowly returns. Suddenly I will notice that my tailbone no longer hurts and then I notice that I can't feel a thing in my groin - distressing.

@Eternal_Howl;
I find that I swallow air as I eat, so after a short while I have to get rid of the air or it will have the effect of forcing my esophageal sphincter closed, making it impossible to swallow more food. Forcing it down with lots of fluid is painful and has the side effect of sometimes overflowing into my lungs making me cough. My preferred solution is to constantly try to burp (quietly) between swallows of food. Taking a drink of fluid with each bite helps to make the food slick enough to slide down. I avoid 'dry' food as it will absorb all the moisture in my throat before the food gets down, and then get stuck. As a side, once my stomach is full of food I can do like a cow and bring it back up as many times as I like for a while to re-chew it. Really freaks people out for me to start chewing food long after I have eaten it.

You are one of many talents!

I'm not sure if this is TMI, but hubby and I were being intimate and nothing 'unusual', but I had to tell him go missionary as for some reason he was causing a pain in my butt, and that's an exit passage only, if you get my meaning, so for all intents and purposes, it was regular intimacy. I'm somehow thinking this is NOT related to the rest of it. That was just too weird. Normally, it's just a pain I get from lying a certain way or something, but the pressure seems to cause pain and other times it's fine. I'm thinking mine is a nerve.