I'm temp. in a wheelchair, and right below my tailbone hurts. Is this the sciatic nerve? How do I stop/help it?!
Question: I'm temp. in a wheelchair, and right below my tailbone hurts. Is this the sciatic nerve.? How do I stop/help it.?
Okay - I know that sounds weird. ;0)
In May of this year my husband and I were in NY and got side swiped by a city bus. I broke my right shoulder, my collarbone, my elbow and some ribs, I also shattered my right hip, knee, leg and ankle. I've had a right hip replacement and a partial knee replacement. I still have a cast on my leg/ankle - since there's four surgeries, there is a metal plate in the front of my leg and pins in my ankle (we got hit on my side, my husband was driving - and just for the record, he broke his pinky. that was it! lol). Anyway, I was given the wheel chair because I couldn't hold myself up with the crutches, not with my shoulder and everything. After all the surgeries it's just easier for the moment - that and my legs aren't that strong anymore, but I have PT four times a week. ;0) So I'm getting there.
It's like right below my tail bone, right about my *** - it goes numb and hurts a lot - like there's a lot of pressure. The few times I actually get out of the chair (I can walk around for small amounts of time - as long as I use canadian crutches or my actual crutches).
Any suggestions as to what I could do to ease some of the pain. I've heard someone suggest my sciatic nerve (I think I spelled that wrong) - but I'm not sure as to what that is - or how affected it would be by sitting.
Any suggestions are welcome! Thank you!
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Answers:
i really hope you're not developing a pressure ulcer because those can be really difficult to heal. ask you husband to look and see if your skin is all reddened in that area. just google images of pressure ulcers and you'll see what i mean. they are a terrible terrible thing that can lead to big holes in your skin and can also develop bad infections. i'm an RN and i have seen so many over time. just be careful and make sure you change positions as frequently as possible.Health Question & Answer
you poor lady! >.... ( and lucky lady )
I'm really not sure if this would help you, but there is a blow up cushion that is a ring, it's actually for people that have hemorrhoids, but I think sitting on that would take the pressure off your bum and your tailbone would be sitting on something softer then the seat of the wheel chair.
I have a bad back and I have a pilates ball that I roll on, it feels pretty good on my back, but you may not be up to doing something like that yet.
And I'd make that Mr Pinky finger if you a nice massage!
And I think it's Sciatic ... you got it rightHealth Question & Answer
I'm really not sure if this would help you, but there is a blow up cushion that is a ring, it's actually for people that have hemorrhoids, but I think sitting on that would take the pressure off your bum and your tailbone would be sitting on something softer then the seat of the wheel chair.
I have a bad back and I have a pilates ball that I roll on, it feels pretty good on my back, but you may not be up to doing something like that yet.
And I'd make that Mr Pinky finger if you a nice massage!
And I think it's Sciatic ... you got it rightHealth Question & Answer