Tight pressure sensation in sacral area

[susancook]

Yes, I am back!

I continue to have a sensation of pressure or tightness in my sacral area that increases as the day progresses. It is especially uncomfortable if I walk a lot. I believe that it has been discussed before on he forum, but I could not find it.
Does anyone know what causes the pressure/tightness sensation? Is there an exercise that can help?

Susan

[titaniumed]

Susan

Did all this start right around 3 weeks ago? Because that's when the temps dropped and the winter storms started up again.

I blame it on the weather......weather related pain. I have the bear traps again, gripping in the thoracic, and what many in their immediate recoveries call the planks. Like having a plank in the lumbar area.....Sigh....

Biometeorology
http://www.anapsid.org/biomet.html

Ed

[LindaRacine]

Susan

Did all this start right around 3 weeks ago? Because that's when the temps dropped and the winter storms started up again.

I blame it on the weather......weather related pain. I have the bear traps again, gripping in the thoracic, and what many in their immediate recoveries call the planks. Like having a plank in the lumbar area.....Sigh....

Biometeorology
http://www.anapsid.org/biomet.html

Ed

It's not exactly scientific, but I started having the thoracic pain recently again as well.

At some point, I think it's good to start thinking about what pain one can live with. I'll never say never, but it would take very extreme conditions for me to do anything about pain. Thankfully, I know that this pain is temporary, and I'm just looking forward to it being gone.

Perhaps those of us who have recently had new or recurring onset of pain can compare when it goes away/comes back.

--Linda

[titaniumed]

At some point, I think it's good to start thinking about what pain one can live with. I'll never say never, but it would take very extreme conditions for me to do anything about pain. Thankfully, I know that this pain is temporary, and I'm just looking forward to it being gone.

Perhaps those of us who have recently had new or recurring onset of pain can compare when it goes away/comes back.

--Linda

"To think about pain, or not think about pain", that is the question.....Are we ever allowed to completely ignore our pain? Are we ever allowed to forget?

Scoliosis has been a lifetime of training and effort. From our early aches and binding, to our alarming nerve related pains that trigger thoughts of surgery, and eventually doing surgery. To come out clean and re-visit pain again is never an easy thing, I was mentally ready to have my neck done, but the dangers were once again brought to light, a reminder by my surgeon who knew the truth.....who also might have been scared to knock that stack of cards down. So now, really knowing about the risks and reality involved with the spine, has sort of quelled or softened any pro stance, a realization that we really do have to be prepared for future pain once again. A cycle that seems to repeat itself like the seasons....Accepting this emotionally takes a long time. It can be done.

Doing nothing is not as crazy as it seems.....I've done both through the years. Never really proactive, my decisions usually always based on "levels" of pains. Ignoring pain became or becomes this thing that we become experts at, we can maintain through a lot, and our faces reveal our true status. I can hang through thick and thin, but when I crash, I crash like a man on stilts. I have to lay down NOW. Many of the times, there is no answer, or we simply don't know, and a day or two of down time resting usually does the trick.

Stress reduction is also key.....Outside induced financial stress, or unwanted emotional stress created from others.....I don't know what to say, but it happens, and it happens a lot. (with family members who usually want money from Uncle Ed) Its a killer, let me tell you! I need a placard or Yes, No sign like Robert De Nero has in the movie "Casino". Saving money is easier than earning it......I blame half of the cause of my scoliosis on this alone!

Eat a hot dog damn it! I know, nutritionally disgusting, OMG! but sure is funny......

All these people have all these problems that are freaking emergencies, and all we are trying to do is survive around here. Give us a break!

Ed

[LindaRacine]

"To think about pain, or not think about pain", that is the question.....Are we ever allowed to completely ignore our pain? Are we ever allowed to forget?

Scoliosis has been a lifetime of training and effort. From our early aches and binding, to our alarming nerve related pains that trigger thoughts of surgery, and eventually doing surgery. To come out clean and re-visit pain again is never an easy thing, I was mentally ready to have my neck done, but the dangers were once again brought to light, a reminder by my surgeon who knew the truth.....who also might have been scared to knock that stack of cards down. So now, really knowing about the risks and reality involved with the spine, has sort of quelled or softened any pro stance, a realization that we really do have to be prepared for future pain once again. A cycle that seems to repeat itself like the seasons....Accepting this emotionally takes a long time. It can be done.

Doing nothing is not as crazy as it seems.....I've done both through the years. Never really proactive, my decisions usually always based on "levels" of pains. Ignoring pain became or becomes this thing that we become experts at, we can maintain through a lot, and our faces reveal our true status. I can hang through thick and thin, but when I crash, I crash like a man on stilts. I have to lay down NOW. Many of the times, there is no answer, or we simply don't know, and a day or two of down time resting usually does the trick.

Stress reduction is also key.....Outside induced financial stress, or unwanted emotional stress created from others.....I don't know what to say, but it happens, and it happens a lot. (with family members who usually want money from Uncle Ed) Its a killer, let me tell you! I need a placard or Yes, No sign like Robert De Nero has in the movie "Casino". Saving money is easier than earning it......I blame half of the cause of my scoliosis on this alone!

Eat a hot dog damn it! I know, nutritionally disgusting, OMG! but sure is funny......

All these people have all these problems that are freaking emergencies, and all we are trying to do is survive around here. Give us a break!

Ed

For the record, I was talking specifically about the sort of pain that you describe as bear trap. For me, when the pain exists, it comes and goes during the day. And, it disappears for long periods of time (may be weather based as you mentioned). When pain is more constant and/or is there every day, it's much more difficult to ignore.

[titaniumed]

Linda, In trying to be a little more specific, I have mentioned scar tissue related, but I have had my large anterior procedure that does not grip or cause pain....so, its back side only, in the hardware zone. It seems to squash the scar tissue assumption. I have no gripping or pain from my front procedure.

Now I wonder if it could be a biofilm related occurrence since the gripping is only in the hardware zone. Are we constantly fighting bacteria, or some sort of metallic soft tissue reaction even if it is on a small level? I wonder if this is what is causing fatigue? Are any of the younger scolis experiencing fatigue years later after their surgeries? The only ones that would see this would be the surgeons upon revision, but usually only if something is drastically wrong....not in a mild case.

Another thing is that the bear traps usually happen in the throacic between the shoulder blades, and not so much in the lumbar. The lumbar planks that Susan has, I have only felt a few times.....(lumbar planks feel like a 2x4 in our lumbar area in varying degrees of stiffness) Several members have reported this here in the past.

I also have zero pain with my huge pelvic anchors. (Which are buried in bone) This leads me to believe that it narrows it down to soft tissue and not a reaction to screws being buried in bone.

This is also not a nerve pain.....its a gripping, tiring, sensation.....

The article below explains about the future of biologic coatings, antibiotic coatings, BMP coatings etc in hardware.....A very interesting article...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3582840/


Ed

[susancook]

Ed and Linda, thanks for your comments. I have had the sacral discomfort for a year or so. I am mainly interested in exercises to decrease the discomfort. My PT gave me an exercise with crossed ankles and squeezed butt cheeks which helps some.
Susan

[LindaRacine]

Linda, In trying to be a little more specific, I have mentioned scar tissue related, but I have had my large anterior procedure that does not grip or cause pain....so, its back side only, in the hardware zone. It seems to squash the scar tissue assumption. I have no gripping or pain from my front procedure.

Now I wonder if it could be a biofilm related occurrence since the gripping is only in the hardware zone. Are we constantly fighting bacteria, or some sort of metallic soft tissue reaction even if it is on a small level? I wonder if this is what is causing fatigue? Are any of the younger scolis experiencing fatigue years later after their surgeries? The only ones that would see this would be the surgeons upon revision, but usually only if something is drastically wrong....not in a mild case.

Another thing is that the bear traps usually happen in the throacic between the shoulder blades, and not so much in the lumbar. The lumbar planks that Susan has, I have only felt a few times.....(lumbar planks feel like a 2x4 in our lumbar area in varying degrees of stiffness) Several members have reported this here in the past.

I also have zero pain with my huge pelvic anchors. (Which are buried in bone) This leads me to believe that it narrows it down to soft tissue and not a reaction to screws being buried in bone.

This is also not a nerve pain.....its a gripping, tiring, sensation.....

The article below explains about the future of biologic coatings, antibiotic coatings, BMP coatings etc in hardware.....A very interesting article...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3582840/


Ed

I suspect it's a soft tissue issue, but not sure why that's the case. At an SRS meeting many years ago, I heard Edgar Dawson say something on the order of Fusing to the upper thoracic area is resigning patients to a lifetime of shoulder blade pain.

[babyboomer16]

Yes, I am back!

I continue to have a sensation of pressure or tightness in my sacral area that increases as the day progresses. It is especially uncomfortable if I walk a lot. I believe that it has been discussed before on he forum, but I could not find it.
Does anyone know what causes the pressure/tightness sensation? Is there an exercise that can help?

Susan

Hi, I havn’t been on here in a while. But today I got on and saw your post Susan. Did the pressure get any better. I am having the same kind of pressure right now. I feel like it is going to fly out of my body. I need to slow down after Christmas. I’v been running in circles trying to get ready for company Christmas Eve. It is cold here, so I blame every ache and pain on to that!! I believe it’s is a huge part of it. Hope you’re doing better. Thinking of you, Linda

[organicnancy]

Hi all, I've had a lot of help from Feldenkrais. I've had 2 surgeries, my last 6 years ago to fuse L3-S1. I started getting pain and pressure in that area about 6 months after my surgery and after trying PT, ice, Alleve, acupuncture i was ready to just give up. My friend became certified in Feldenkrais and i always thought it was hokey and definitely not for someone with a fused spine. But it really helped me. It's kinda like massage but not really, she moves around other parts of your body gently to get your brain thinking of moving in new ways. It's very subtle with small movements. She would stretch my rib cage and stretch my legs and arms. I still get pain there time to time but not like i was getting.
https://www.feldenkrais.com/practitioner-search/