Coccydynia, or discomfort in the tailbone, can make routine activities at best uncomfortable and at worst intolerable. The tiny, triangular coccyx bone, which is located at the base of the spinal column, is prone to bruising and even fracture. Walking reduces pain whereas sitting increases it. The biggest changes can be seen when using at-home medicines and altering habits like spending too much time sitting down.
Coccydynia, also known as tailbone pain, is discomfort in and around the tiny triangular bone at the base of your spinal column, above the cleft in your buttocks.
Given that it resembles a bird’s beak with the tip pointed downward, the word “coccyx” is derived from the Greek word for “cuckoo.” Because “dynia” is the Greek word for “pain,” the term “coccydynia” literally translates to “pain of the coccyx.” Because it is situated where an animal’s tail would be, the bone is referred to as the “tailbone.”
What does the tailbone/coccyx do?
Your coccyx has three to five fused vertebrae (bones). It is situated below the sacrum at the base of your spine. Several tendons, muscles, and ligaments connect it. The two bones that make up the floor of your pelvis, the coccyx, and the ischial tuberosities, support your weight when you sit down. A coccyx that curves slightly rather than pointing downward is present in two-thirds of individuals, but a coccyx that curves excessively is unnatural and uncomfortable.
Why is the pain in my tailbone?
The discomfort in the tailbone might be mild or severe. It might linger for several weeks, months, or even longer. Three situations can result in tailbone pain:
External Trauma: A fall-related fractured, dislocated, or bruised coccyx.
Internal Trauma: Injury brought on by a difficult delivery or by spending too much time seated on a small or hard surface.
Other: Tumors, infections, and abscesses.
It’s interesting to note that the reason for coccydynia in one-third of cases is unknown.
Coccydynia, or discomfort in the tailbone, is it chronic?
No. Pain in the tailbone is rarely permanent.
How prevalent is coccydynia, or discomfort in the tailbone?
The tailbone often hurts.
Women experience coccydynia five times more frequently than males do. Adults and teenagers are more frequently affected than youngsters. Obese persons are three times more susceptible than those who are at the ideal weight, according to the BMI (Body Mass Index) scale. Furthermore, if you lose weight too soon, you expose yourself more. unknown.
What causes coccydynia, or discomfort in the tailbone?
Falling
Who hasn’t tripped over and landed on their behind? It’s possible that you lost your footing on the ice. Perhaps you fell from a ladder.
Or perhaps you fell out of your workplace chair because you were leaning too far back. When you fall particularly hard, your tailbone may be fractured, broken, or knocked out of place (coccyx).
Injury from Repetitive Strain (RSI)
You must sway back and forth when engaging in sports like rowing and bicycling to lengthen your spine. The tissues around your coccyx may become strained if that motion is performed too frequently.
Pregnancy/Childbirth
During the third trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body releases hormones that soften the area between the sacrum and the coccyx.
As a result, during childbirth, the coccyx can migrate as needed. Even though this is a routine process, the movement may excessively stretch the muscles and ligaments that surround the coccyx, increasing pain. Because of the stress placed on these soft tissues, they are unable to keep your coccyx at the correct angle.
Obesity
More weight puts more pressure on the coccyx. The coccyx may slant backward as a result. It will hurt if your tailbone is out of place.
Underweight
It may result if there is insufficient fat in the buttocks to keep the coccyx from rubbing against the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Soft tissues become inflamed from the friction.
Sitting
Simply doing this can exacerbate coccyx pain, especially if you’re seated on a hard or constrained surface. Try your best to get up frequently, stretch, and go for a quick stroll. Better still, use a cushioned seat or look for a softer, more pleasant area to sit.
Cancer
Pain in the tailbone is only occasionally an indication of malignancy. It is quite improbable.
What are the signs of coccydynia, or discomfort in the tailbone?
Coccydynia signs and symptoms include:
Pain in the tailbone that is sharp or achy.
greater discomfort when getting out of a sitting position and standing.
When sitting for extended durations, the pain becomes more intense.
Having bowel movements that hurt.
suffering when having sex.
Other relevant signs and symptoms of coccydynia include:
Depression.
Anxiety.
bad sleep.
aching buttocks.
back ache
