Month: January 2013

Coping with Sleeping After Coccygectomy Approximately 6 weeks ago I had my tailbone removed in a procedure known as a coccygectomy, or coccyx excision. One thing is certain: if you have a coccygectomy, youll be spending a lot of time laying around as you wont be able to sit for at least a month. I have spent about 95% of my time laying around since my surgery. 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...

Driving After Having My Tailbone Removed Prior to having my coccyx removed, one of the things I stressed about most was whether Id be able to drive shortly after the surgery. In my case, it was about 3 weeks into my recovery that I was able to drive short distances. It has now been about 5 weeks following my coccyx excision and Im able to drive 45 minutes in a day. Ive found that the amount of time you can drive is directly related to how long you can sit at a desk. I cant drive 45 minutes every single day, as I do pay a price a couple of days after the activity: increased pain levels. In my case, the wound is still open, so I have to sit in a way that relieves pressure from the wound. I use my coccyx cushion and lean over to one side to relieve the pressure. The most important consideration in deciding whether or not you should be driving is how much pain medication youre taking. For the first few weeks after the surgery, I was on fairly high dosages of morphine and percocet; I certainly wouldnt be driving after taking this medication. So, Im 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...

1 Month and 5 Days Following Coccygectomy Today was my bi weekly meeting with my surgeon. He is happy with how I am progressing. One of my concerns is that my wound tends to bleed more often than at the beginning of my recovery. The surgeon told me it is because the wound is not as deep as it was before and there is no place for the drainage to go except for up and out of the wound . In fact, he says that the bleeding is a sign that there is healthy tissue just under the surface of the wound. So all in all a good visit with the...