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Having Pain, Swelling In Tail Bone And Thoracic. Diabetic, Heart Patient And Having Disc Disease. Lung Nodules Shown In CT Scan. Advise?
Question: I have horrible pain and swelling at the lower left of my tailbone and getting worse for over a year. also horrible pain and swelling in the right thoracic at the back right on the spine. it keeps swelling and the pain is hideous as is the tailbone pain. about two years ago, seems like the muscles on both my thighs just started melting or something. i am a diabetic and heart patient, also, i have severe disc disease. need a laminectomy at L5-S1. i am female and weigh 200 lbs. do you think this might be cancer? My body is totally weak and am losing all my strength. Just too weak almost to get out of bed. Can you let me know what your opinion might be. I am age 63. I have been to doctor after doctor. I have had CT scans and MRI's. CT of DEc 2012 said i had a couple lung nodules on right lower and upper lobe. they suggested another CT of the chest this Dec. 2013. Please let me know your opinion. I am so ill and so scared. My doctors just want me to to go into a facility for depression. My pain is so very bad and its not in my head. Also severe muscle spasms all over my body. And small tremors in my fingers on both sides of body. Feel like charley horses all over my body. In arms legs feet and hands. Been going on for several weeks.
Thanks you.
XXXXXXX
Thanks you.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Unlikely to be a Serious Condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing to XXXXXXX
After keenly going through your description and all your reports, I am of the opinion that there is nothing serious or threatening.
Your pain in the area of the tail bone could most possibly be COCCYDYNIA (as your MRI shows no other significant lesion in that area) which is more often seen in OBESE individuals. Simple measures which will resolve that pain include -
* Sit completely upright with proper posture — keeping your back firmly against the chair, knees level with your hips, feet flat on the floor and shoulders relaxed
* Lean forward while sitting down
* Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion
* Apply heat or ice to the affected area
*Physical therapy involving strengthening of pelvic area muscles , stimulation with ultrasound therapy
* Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) as needed.
The pain in the thoracic area could be attributed to LEVO SCOLIOSIS which you have (as per the MRI finding). This most often is muscular pain. Use of a Thoraco lumbar spinal brace or support will resolve the pain by maintaining the alignment of the vertebral column. Use of Muscle relaxant creams with gentle massaging will help your symptoms. Also, Moist heat fomentation over the painful area will relax the underlying tight muscles and also improves the blood supply in that area providing relief.
Your muscle pains and spasms could be due to
*the Disc degenerations present in Cervical & Lumbar spine regions or
*the Neuropathic changes that might have occured secondary to Diabetes or
*the intake of STATINS (either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin, which you might be taking regularly as you underwent CABG). These statin group of drugs are said to result in disabling muscle aches & pains all over the body.
Most of these muscle pains also result due to either POTASSIUM or CALCIUM deficiency. So, I advise you to take foods such as bananas, potatoes, prune juice and dried fruits which are XXXXXXX in potassium and seafood and fish, almonds, flaxseed, oats, prunes, sesame seeds which are calcium fortified foods.
Getting enough sleep, avoiding too much caffeine & acidic foods like tomatoes and vinegar and eating healthy foods (like lots of fruits and vegetables) can help prevent some muscle aches.
I also suggest you to take daily supplementation of Vitamin B2,B6,B12 as they are very effective in regulating the neuropathic pain.
Hope I have addressed your issues. Happy to help further.
Unlikely to be a Serious Condition.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for writing to XXXXXXX
After keenly going through your description and all your reports, I am of the opinion that there is nothing serious or threatening.
Your pain in the area of the tail bone could most possibly be COCCYDYNIA (as your MRI shows no other significant lesion in that area) which is more often seen in OBESE individuals. Simple measures which will resolve that pain include -
* Sit completely upright with proper posture — keeping your back firmly against the chair, knees level with your hips, feet flat on the floor and shoulders relaxed
* Lean forward while sitting down
* Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion
* Apply heat or ice to the affected area
*Physical therapy involving strengthening of pelvic area muscles , stimulation with ultrasound therapy
* Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) as needed.
The pain in the thoracic area could be attributed to LEVO SCOLIOSIS which you have (as per the MRI finding). This most often is muscular pain. Use of a Thoraco lumbar spinal brace or support will resolve the pain by maintaining the alignment of the vertebral column. Use of Muscle relaxant creams with gentle massaging will help your symptoms. Also, Moist heat fomentation over the painful area will relax the underlying tight muscles and also improves the blood supply in that area providing relief.
Your muscle pains and spasms could be due to
*the Disc degenerations present in Cervical & Lumbar spine regions or
*the Neuropathic changes that might have occured secondary to Diabetes or
*the intake of STATINS (either atorvastatin or rosuvastatin, which you might be taking regularly as you underwent CABG). These statin group of drugs are said to result in disabling muscle aches & pains all over the body.
Most of these muscle pains also result due to either POTASSIUM or CALCIUM deficiency. So, I advise you to take foods such as bananas, potatoes, prune juice and dried fruits which are XXXXXXX in potassium and seafood and fish, almonds, flaxseed, oats, prunes, sesame seeds which are calcium fortified foods.
Getting enough sleep, avoiding too much caffeine & acidic foods like tomatoes and vinegar and eating healthy foods (like lots of fruits and vegetables) can help prevent some muscle aches.
I also suggest you to take daily supplementation of Vitamin B2,B6,B12 as they are very effective in regulating the neuropathic pain.
Hope I have addressed your issues. Happy to help further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your quick response. Why is my pain so awful? I can only describe it as hideous. The lower part below the tailbone is terrible as well. The swelling and pain are terrible. Do you think there could be a cyst in there by the tailbone area?
Why is my body so weak all the time? I am so sorry to ask all these questions but my united states doctors dont seem to care. they only want to send me to psychiatrist for depression. i get more depressed though, with the worsening of my physical symptoms.
what is your opinion of those lung nodules? It was CT OF THORAX that I sent. can you let me know? thank you for your concern for me.
Why is my body so weak all the time? I am so sorry to ask all these questions but my united states doctors dont seem to care. they only want to send me to psychiatrist for depression. i get more depressed though, with the worsening of my physical symptoms.
what is your opinion of those lung nodules? It was CT OF THORAX that I sent. can you let me know? thank you for your concern for me.
Brief Answer:
Could be due to DIABETES.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Nice to hear from you.
It is possible that your pains are awful or unpleasant due to the presence of Diabetes. Diabetes affects all the nerves in the body leading to Diabetic neuropathy in which case they become very sensitive to pain perception leading to terrible pains. So,the one way of dealing with your pains is by maintaining a good Glycemic control. Also, a medication PREGABALIN in very useful in Diabetic patients presenting with chronic pains (I prescribe this drug to all my Diabetic patients with good effect).
As I mentioned earlier, the tail bone pain is due to coccydynia which is more prevalent in Obese persons. Please follow the measures as I mentioned in my previous answer. If the pain is unrelenting, then a local Steroid injection may resolve your tail bone pain, which has to be given by a qualified orthopedic surgeon. An xray of the sacrum or an MRI scan of the sacrum will diagnose, if there is any presence of a cyst or tumour.
Generalized body weakness is also attributed to DIABETES and also partly to the medications which you are consuming daily. I suggest you to have a good amount of physical activity in the form of brisk walking for atleast 20 minutes a day (preferably in the early morning hours) to keep yourself active and motivated throughout the day.
To be honest, I am not the right person to give my opinion on lung nodules. I suggest you to approach a Chest physician for the same.
Hope I have brought some clarity of thought in you. Good day
Could be due to DIABETES.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Nice to hear from you.
It is possible that your pains are awful or unpleasant due to the presence of Diabetes. Diabetes affects all the nerves in the body leading to Diabetic neuropathy in which case they become very sensitive to pain perception leading to terrible pains. So,the one way of dealing with your pains is by maintaining a good Glycemic control. Also, a medication PREGABALIN in very useful in Diabetic patients presenting with chronic pains (I prescribe this drug to all my Diabetic patients with good effect).
As I mentioned earlier, the tail bone pain is due to coccydynia which is more prevalent in Obese persons. Please follow the measures as I mentioned in my previous answer. If the pain is unrelenting, then a local Steroid injection may resolve your tail bone pain, which has to be given by a qualified orthopedic surgeon. An xray of the sacrum or an MRI scan of the sacrum will diagnose, if there is any presence of a cyst or tumour.
Generalized body weakness is also attributed to DIABETES and also partly to the medications which you are consuming daily. I suggest you to have a good amount of physical activity in the form of brisk walking for atleast 20 minutes a day (preferably in the early morning hours) to keep yourself active and motivated throughout the day.
To be honest, I am not the right person to give my opinion on lung nodules. I suggest you to approach a Chest physician for the same.
Hope I have brought some clarity of thought in you. Good day
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I cannot walk this morning. It is my tailbone feels like it is breaking with each step I take. What is happening. I can no longer walk now. The pain is so hideous on the left side of my tailbone. How does a human being take so much pain?
I thank you so much for all your help in answering my questions. I cannot thank you enough.
I thank you so much for all your help in answering my questions. I cannot thank you enough.
Brief Answer:
Consult an Orthopedic surgeon in your locality.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Only Narcotic medications like oxycodone or Hydromorphone will help in alleviating such severe pains.
I suggest you to have an MRI scan of your SACRUM which will pick up any sort of pathology present in the tail bone.
Approach an Orthopedic surgeon in your nearby locality for further management.
I wish you a faster recovery. Good luck.
Consult an Orthopedic surgeon in your locality.
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Only Narcotic medications like oxycodone or Hydromorphone will help in alleviating such severe pains.
I suggest you to have an MRI scan of your SACRUM which will pick up any sort of pathology present in the tail bone.
Approach an Orthopedic surgeon in your nearby locality for further management.
I wish you a faster recovery. Good luck.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement
Practicing since :1996
Answered : 2148 Questions
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