“Pressure Pain” and Wheelchairs
Question: I have pressure pain, under my tailbone, from sitting or lying down. Mine isn't the tailbone itself but the skin and tissue below. I am very swaybacked and my tailbone protrudes. With loss of muscle and padding around the area I feel like the area is being stretched. I don't see any visible breakdown of the skin but it really hurts. I have tried the coccyx cushion but that hasn't helped either because it mostly feels like it's the tissue and skin being stretched and split from the inside out. Clothing, such as the seam in any pants including pajama pants only irritates it worse. Wheelchairs and skirts don't mix well.
I am in my wheelchair or bed 99% of the time. I'm so frustrated trying to get proper medical attention and being met with shrugs at every turn. What kind of doctor can properly treat this?
Dr. Bruno’s Response: There are a few possibilities that come to mind.
First is for you to lower the foot rests on your wheelchair which will drop your legs and make you less swaybacked.
Another option is to put a wedge beneath your wheelchair cushion, again to drop your legs in front and raise your pelvis to make you less swaybacked.
Perhaps a simple solution is a reverse "U shaped" cushion, like cushions that are placed on toilet seats that have the open portion in the back instead of in the front. That would put the weight on your pelvis instead of your coccyx.
There are wheelchair cushions that have compartments where you can add or remove foam to leave the area near your coccyx open.
Have you tried any of these? Perhaps a physiatrist (rehabilitative physician) can help.