im 20 years old and had one of these a few months back i was concious about going to see my GP but the pain got so great i went straight to A&E at my local hospital, they gave me some pain killers for it but luckily on the train home (it was too painful to sit and drive) i whacked it on a hand rail so it popped and the pain went straight away,although it was a VERY uncomfortable walk from the station it felt MUCH better, my advice is to help relieve the pain for a short while run a bath as hot as you can stand it and have a long soak it certainly helped relieve my pain.

My painful cyst was lanced and drained in 1997 and packed with about 10" of gauze immediately afterwards. A few days? later I removed the packing and the 3/4" incision is probably about 1/4" 12 1/2 years later…...with infrequent drainage. Maybe once every year or two the area gets sensitive for a few days. I remain puzzled why the incision hasn't healed completely, but since that could result in another "boil" developing I don't really care.

I noticed the cyst almost 2 years ago but hoped it would just clear up by itself! how stupid i was. I'm finally getting it removed but I'm really relieved that it hasn't got at all as bad as the stories i have heard, I'm rarely in discomfort but I think getting rid of it ASAP is the way forward!

I am 19 and have had this for a bit more than a year now and thought i was the only one mainly out of embarrasment i didnt go and see my GP but after finding this article i finaly know what it is, i can trace it back to when i fell on a slippery floor quite hard but i have had no pain with it at all and only have the leaking fluids which makes me very concious all the time, i also had a small lump on one side but from the other comments i appear to have had it easy so first thing tomorow i am going to see GP as i have had enough of it and i am so grateful that information like this excists so thanks.

hi, iam 24 years old ihad pilodinal sinus 8 months before,due fallen down from hard steps i am feeling pain andiam very conscious about it,will it more extreme severe diseases caused by it,i have consulted nhs but they have taken it very longthey told we would do it in 18 weeks so pls doctor now tellme about my treatment and curement that how i can recover my health back.tthanks!

Im 18 years old and for the past three years have had 4 operations to try and remove this annoying sinus! I first noticed it playing rugby it was agony ever since then they have tried almost everything. First they stiched it then packed it then i had a skin graph and now i have a negitive pressure machine working on it. fingers crossed this is the last time!

I had a pilonidal sinus for about 3 years and eventually went to the doctors about it. The first thing he gave me was antibiotics which (surprise surprise) did not help. I then had an operation to open up the sinus and pack it. This did not help either. In the end I had another operation which involved a procedure called 'limberg flap'. Aftercare included a week in hospital and 3 weeks of keeping the weight of the area at home and taking pain killers as well as antibiotics. I feel so relieved now that its gone (hopefully for good). I can live a normal life! Ask your doctor about the limberg flap. Even though it has left me with a huge scar, it is definitely worth it!

I am 28 years old and have been suffering from a Pilodinal Sinus for a good few years now. I have seen a few consultants at my local hospital but they all seem very reluctant to operate, which is annoying because they are not the ones suffering from the discomfort of one.

Does anybody know of any other treatment I could use to ease the discomfort?

I had a cyst for 3 years before getting it removed. When I did have it, I kept going to the doctors to have antibiotics which just basically made it pop everytime. Having the root of it removed was incredibly painful and the recovery time seamed to last forever (due to an infection i got and the stitches splitting). I am now left with an awful scar but in the long run, its completly worth it so if you get the chance to get it removed, go for it!

I am 30 and I have a Pilonidal Sinus.I first noticed on holiday that it was agony to sit for long periods of time, which was necessary while traveling on buses. I had noticed a lump there before but though nothing of it. It eventually came to a head and now leaks pus. I have been given antibiotics but assured that surgery is not necessary. Can this problem go away without surgery? Does it always come back?