Discussing Tailbone Pain should NOT be Taboo

Discussing coccyx pain (tailbone pain, coccydynia) and other pelvic pains should NOT be TABOO.

Talking with family, friends, online groups, physicians, and physical therapists may help you find answers and relief.

Tailbone Pain Tip 4, Discussing Coccyx Pain should NOT be Taboo, Coccydynia
Tailbone Pain Tip 4, Discussing Coccyx Pain should NOT be Taboo, Coccydynia

COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

COCCYDYNIA means Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain). It is NOT a full diagnosis

“COCCYDYNIA” means coccyx pain (tailbone pain).

“Coccydynia” is NOT a full diagnosis.

This term just says that the pain is AT the tailbone.

Just like “chest pain” or “knee pain”, you need to find out WHY the pain is there.

Tailbone Pain Tip 3, Coccydynia means Coccyx Pain
Tailbone Pain Tip 3, Coccydynia means Coccyx Pain

COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

Tailbone Pain Tips, a new educational series

“Tailbone Pain Tips” is a new series of education ideas & images all about coccyx pain…

Watch for future posts!  🙂

 by Patrick Foye MD

Teaching you about:

Tailbone pain, Coccyx pain, Coccydynia

Coccyx Cancers

Tailbone Pain and Pregnancy

Coccygectomy

Diagnostic tests for Tailbone Pain

Treatments to Relieve Tailbone Pain

… and more!

Tailbone Pain Tips, Overview
Tailbone Pain Tips, Overview

Social Media Disclaimers

•I love interacting, learning, and teaching on social media. And…

•My social media posts, comments, replies, videos, website, etc.: 

•are intended to be educational information.

•are not to be considered individual medical advice.

•are not a doctor-patient relationship.

•are not endorsements of any products, treatments, or people.

•are not representing the views of any employer or University or hospital.

•are not implying that I know you in ‘real life’.

•mainly focus on a niche area of clinical expertise: coccyx pain (tailbone pain).

•Consult with your own treating clinicians regarding your own care. Please discuss with them anything you learn from my posts.

•I generally do not use direct/private messages on social media.

•I do not do formal radiology readings (MRI, x-rays, etc.) on social media. (I do that privately for my actual patients, off social media.)

•If you ARE an actual patient of mine… Note: on social media I will generally not explicitly acknowledge that I know you in ‘real life’.

•If you want me to become your treating physician (e.g. for tailbone pain) go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com and call my office for a formal appointment.  Thank you!    — Patrick Foye, M.D.

Social Media Disclaimer
Social Media Disclaimer

Can you FUSE the Coccyx to Treat Tailbone Pain, Coccydynia?

In other parts of the body, immobilization and fusion are done after fractures/dislocations/instability/etc. Meanwhile, at the coccyx, these options are very, very limited.

We can’t put the coccyx into a cast or sling or brace they we could for an injured wrist/ankle/etc.

Also, the small fragile bones of the coccyx are not really sturdy enough to hold the rods, pins, or screws that are used after fractures of the hip, for example.

There is just one single case worldwide published about one patient where a thin surgical wire/pin was inserted. See: https://tailbonedoctor.com/no-surgical-hardware-for-tailbone-pain/

CEMENT TO FUSE THE COCCYX?

There have been a very limited number of publications about injecting surgical cement after coccyx fracture. The research is very limited, and there is the potential side-effect of fusing the coccyx into a bad position (since you can’t immobilize it after cement injection). Also, I have inherited one patient whose pain was MUCH worse after her cement injection (basically, she said that she still had her original coccyx pain, PLUS now felt like she was sitting right on a blob of cement, which she actually was). Lastly, some movement at the coccyx is needed and normal to help the coccyx to move out of the way (flexing to tuck itself into the pelvis when you sit, or extending to create more space in the pelvis during bowel movements and during childbirth).

I’ve published a little on this topic. See:

Cement or Calcitonin to Coccyx Fractures, for Tailbone Pain, Coccydynia, by Patrick Foye, MD
Cement or Calcitonin to Coccyx Fractures, for Tailbone Pain, Coccydynia, by Patrick Foye, MD

COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

Webinar for Pelvic Clinicians on Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia

I’m looking forward to speaking tonight re: Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia.

This is a webinar for pelvic clinicians, coordinated by Tracy Sher PT/CEO Pelvic Guru, and Global Pelvic Health Alliance Members (GPHAM), April 6, 2021.

Coccyx Pain, Tailbone Pain, Webinar by Patrick Foye MD, for Pelvic Guru, GPHA, April 2021
Coccyx Pain, Tailbone Pain, Webinar by Patrick Foye MD, for Pelvic Guru, GPHA, April 2021

Live access will be for members of the Facebook group for “Global Pelvic Health Alliance Members (GPHAM)”.

#TailbonePain #CoccyxPain #Coccydynia #Coccyx #Tailbone


COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

Free Book on Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia, April 1, 2021

This eBook on Tailbone Pain is Free on Amazon worldwide: April 1, 2021, Pacific Time.

“Tailbone Pain Relief Now! Causes and Treatments for Your Sore or Injured Coccyx” by Patrick M. Foye, M.D., Director of the Coccyx Pain Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Learn all about how to find answers and relief for your Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia.

Click on “see all formats” (as shown by the red arrow in the image below) and then choose the e-book / Kindle version, which is FREE all day. You do not need a Kindle to get this free book… you just need an Amazon account, which is free. You can download the ebook to your laptop, desktop computer, iPad, e-reader, Kindle, etc.

Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Free-Book, April 1, 2021, coccydynia, by Patrick Foye MD
Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Free-Book, April 1, 2021, coccydynia, by Patrick Foye MD

Below is a List of Amazon Links Worldwide to get the Book “Tailbone Pain Relief Now!” The book is filled with useful information about coccyx pain (tailbone pain), including causes, tests, and treatments. You can use the Amazon website specific to your part of the world. In the UNITED STATES, use this Link: https://a.co/d/1O8WsAq or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0996453504/ In CANADA, use this Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0996453504 In the UNITED KINGDOM, use this Link: http://amzn.eu/0Sa2shL In GERMANY, use this Link: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B071CSVLX7 In FRANCE, use this Link: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B071CSVLX7/ In ITALY, use this Link: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B071CSVLX7 or http://amzn.eu/d/7PWTjW0 In JAPAN, use this Link: http://amzn.asia/d/4WIGBLs In INDIA, use this Link: http://amzn.in/d/bYF058l In AUSTRALIA, use this Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B071CSVLX7

COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

Tailbone Pain Book, for Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia, by Patrick Foye MD
Tailbone Pain Book, for Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia, by Patrick Foye MD

Long COVID is now called PASC... a ridiculous name change

“Long COVID” is now called PASC. PASC is the acronym for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). This is a ridiculous name change.

Long COVID is sometimes referred to as “Long Haul COVID”. Either way, whether it is “Long COVIDor “Long Haul COVID”, the term is easy for people to learn, pronounce, and understand. Long COVID is also relatively self-explanatory. Long COVID is simply long-term effects after a COVID-19 infection. That’s easy. Clear. Simple.

But sometimes when experts and bureaucrats find something that is working well they can not resist messing with it and making it worse. Much worse.

So, Long COVID is now called PASC.
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). 

PASC is a ridiculous term. 

Experts unfortunately decided to change the name from Long COVID to something that will be tough for most people to remember or understand. Learning and using the new name will be especially tough for the following people: those who do not work in medicine or science, those who do not have the privilege of advanced education (and the vocabulary that comes along with that), those with reading or learning or memory disabilities, and those who use English as a second language. As discussions increase about health equity, we should have our words provide easier access to medical understanding. Instead, the term PASC will be a hurdle that prevents many people from learning about this condition. Worse yet, if people do not know or understand what something is called then they will have a difficult time finding medical care for that condition. Creating and using unnecessarily complex jargon is one way that elite groups unintentionally make things difficult for others.

As physicians and medical educators, we are told that medical communication should strive to meet the public at the grade school reading level. This is not ‘dumbing things down.” Rather, it is speaking or writing in a way that is clear to as many people as possible.

But…  in the phrase “post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection” every single word will be unfamiliar to MANY or MOST non-medical people

  • “Post:” many people don’t know that this means “after.” Also, there are many non-medical uses of ‘post’ such as blog posts, post offices, fence posts, an office or position to which a person is appointed, Post-it notes, etc.)
  • “Acute:” many/most  people don’t know that this means “sudden in onset.” Also, acute can mean “severe,” which is thus potentially inaccurate since Long-COVID can potentially happen to those whose initial COVID was relatively mild, rather than severe. Also, there are non-medical uses of such as acute angles in mathematics. Also, acute can mean wise or insightful, such as an acute observation. Lastly, when spoken “acute” sounds like you are saying that something is “cute.”
  • “Sequelae:” many people don’t know that this means “effects that come later, after some prior cause.” Even fewer people can spell it. The word sequelae is so uncommon that my internet browser keeps telling me that I am probably just misspelling the word sequel. Also, this term is redundant since sequelae are always post (sequelae can only come *after* something, never before). So, “post ___ sequelae” are effects that happen “after ___ after.”
  • “SARS-CoV-2:” is a medical/scientific name. But despite all of us being more than a year into the pandemic the vast majority of doctors/scientists still don’t say SARS-CoV-2 in common discussions (they say COVID-19 instead), and almost zero non-science folks use the term SARS-CoV-2.
  • A bad acronym: Even as an acronym, PASC doesn’t quite work. For the letter “C” they picked a letter part way through the term SARS-CoV-,2 rather than the first letter (“S“). And the letter “I” at the start of the word infection fails to be included in the acronym at all. So really it would need to be PASCI. Also, when spoken in English “PASC” is tough for listeners to understand. It sounds like passed, or past. (PASCI would be just as bad, and it would sound like “pass key.”)

Think of other examples. People became familiar with the term “Lyme disease” because this term is easy to say, spell, and remember. Having an easy phrase then allows people to learn the details of the condition. When Lyme symptoms are more long term, it is therefore simple to call it Chronic Lyme disease. But imagine if we changed the name from “Chronic Lyme disease” to “PASBD” as the acronym for post-acute sequelae Borrelia burgdorferi infection. PASBD would be a foolish and confusing change. Similarly, PASC is a foolish change.

Long COVID is now called PASC, a ridiculous name change
Long COVID is now called PASC, a ridiculous name change

Normally I focus on tailbone pain, but as a medical educator I am pointing out the problems with unnecessary medical jargon. The term “Long COVID” should stay. I will pass on PASC.


References:

Medscape Medical News, “Fauci Introduces New Acronym for Long COVID at White House Briefing”. February 24, 2021. Online at: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/946419

Medscape “Trending Clinical Topic: PASC”. online at: https://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/947023


Free Book on Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia, March 1, 2021


This eBook on Tailbone Pain is Free on Amazon worldwide: March 1, 2021, Pacific Time.

“Tailbone Pain Relief Now! Causes and Treatments for Your Sore or Injured Coccyx” by Patrick M. Foye, M.D., Director of the Coccyx Pain Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

Learn all about how to find answers and relief for your Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia.

Click on “see all formats” (as shown by the red arrow in the image below) and then choose the e-book / Kindle version, which is FREE all day. You do not need a Kindle to get this free book… you just need an Amazon account, which is free. You can download the ebook to your laptop, desktop computer, iPad, e-reader, Kindle, etc.

Tailbone Pain, Coccyx Pain, Free-Book, March 1, 2021, coccydynia, by Patrick Foye MD

Below is a List of Amazon Links Worldwide to get the Book “Tailbone Pain Relief Now!” The book is filled with useful information about coccyx pain (tailbone pain), including causes, tests, and treatments. You can use the Amazon website specific to your part of the world. In the UNITED STATES, use this Link: https://a.co/d/1O8WsAq or https://www.amazon.com/dp/0996453504/ In CANADA, use this Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0996453504 In the UNITED KINGDOM, use this Link: http://amzn.eu/0Sa2shL In GERMANY, use this Link: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B071CSVLX7 In FRANCE, use this Link: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B071CSVLX7/ In ITALY, use this Link: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B071CSVLX7 or http://amzn.eu/d/7PWTjW0 In JAPAN, use this Link: http://amzn.asia/d/4WIGBLs In INDIA, use this Link: http://amzn.in/d/bYF058l In AUSTRALIA, use this Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B071CSVLX7

COME FOR RELIEF: For more information on coccyx pain, or to be evaluated in-person by Dr. Foye’s Coccyx Pain Center in the United States, go to: www.TailboneDoctor.com

– Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Tailbone Pain Center, New Jersey, United States.

Baby Yoda: Pareidolia and Patternicity in Sacral MRI and CT Scans

I am thrilled that this month (February 2021) the medical journal “PM&R” published an article that I wrote. The title is: Baby Yoda: Pareidolia and Patternicity in Sacral MRI and CT Scans.

Dr. Foye’s summary: In medical education, we often teach using comparisons. This includes harnessing the human tendency to “see” faces or other patterns in various stimuli (see: Pareidolia and Patternicity). We propose using the face of “Baby Yoda” as a template when reading sacral MRI and CT scans. This “Baby Yoda sign” helps you recognize normal anatomy and also abnormal pathology. 

Baby Yoda truly is within us all! 🙂

Click on the image to see it in the proper proportions:

Baby Yoda, Pareidolia and Patternicity in Sacral MRI and CT Scans, by Patrick Foye MD

This journal article was fun to write, covers solid medical educational points, and the illustrator did an awesome job.

“Baby Yoda” is the popular name for the small, cute, fictional character named Grogu (or “the child”), on the cable television series, The Mandalorian. Baby Yoda is apparently the same species as Jedi Grand Master Yoda, from the classic Star Wars movies.

Read the full article in the PM&R Journal here: https://doi.org/10.1002/pmrj.12496

#BabyYodaMRI BabyYoda #Mandalorian #Grogu #StarWars #Yoda #Pareidolia #Patternicity #MedEd #MedicalEducation

Book Now Available! Click on the book to get it now:


Get the Book at www.TailbonePainBook.com

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