Should my doctor do a visual exam?

Other conditions
1

I have a pain in the bum, literally. For about the last 8 months I have had a pain between my anus and tail bone when sitting. It doesn’t feel internal, but its hard to say. Its not unbearable, but is very uncomfortable since I work in IT and sit all day. I’m otherwise fit and healthy, and have only been to the doctors a couple of times in the last couple of decades prior to this.

Anyway, I have been to the doctors 3 times and seen 2 different doctors. On the first visit I explained the issue, and was sent for an x-ray. The second visit was to get the results, and was told nothing showed up, so hopefully the pain would go away after a couple of months (this was after already having this issue for a couple of months). A few months later the issue was still there, so I went back. This was with a different doctor, and I explained the issue again. This time I had blood tests, and was told if nothing was discovered to arrange to see a physiotherapist. Nothing was found in the blood test.

My question is (sorry for the long set up), should a visual exam have been done? During the 3 appointments, no one has actually looked at the area that is painful. Since its in an area that I can’t see, is it not possible its something visible, like an infected cut, abscess, boil… so on. Maybe I should take comfort that test have been done and nothing found, but I cant help but feel that maybe its something topical that that a visual exam would identify? I’m worried that the second doctor just assumed the first doctor did a visual exam, so didn’t bother. But I just think its odd. I thought the first thing you would do if someone complained of a pain, is to look at the area where the pain is.

My dilemma is that I feel weird demanding that a doctor look at my bum! Should I?

2

Hi,
this sounds very similar to a problem I had a couple of years ago. At first I couldn’t feel anything untoward, but, after persevering lying in a bath of warm water I felt a painful surface area. In between the anus and tailbone is a very tiny tuck of skin and this was infected. A couple of days rubbing an antiseptic cream around the area did the trick. Hope this helps.
Mike.

3

well,that does seem strange. No examination of the area?
It could be coccydinia or even a pilonidal sinus,although I think that may be more painful. Try Googling these two conditions to see if the symptoms match yours. Are you in UK?

4

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the suggestion, I will try antiseptic cream and see if this helps.

Hi Marina,

I’ve not heard of coccydinia before, but sounds similar to my symptoms. Though the only time I really have any pain is sitting and it does feel more topical. Pilonidal sinus was the type of thing I thought it was possibly causing it, though I’m struggling to tell if there is swelling in the area. There could be, sounds odd to say, but I’m not sure what is normal for that area. There is a slight bump but its very gradual and could just be a part of that area… Though when I google these conditions it does state that a doctor will do an examination, which to me would mean they would actually look at it at some point. Yes I’m in the UK. Thanks for helping.