What is Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
May 12, 2021 Bone Health 688 ViewsMeaning of Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
What is Coccydynia?
Any injury to the tailbone causes pain and discomfort in the tailbone, and this condition is called coccydynia. Fracture of the tailbone carries the risk of joint separation and can cause bruising of the bone. An injury to the tailbone takes some time to heal. However, during the treatment, the doctor recommends taking precautions along with rest. The tailbone is located at the very bottom of the spine. Coccydynia is more common in women than men. It is usually caused by an accident or fall. In some cases, the cause of tailbone pain is not known. If there is a pain in the tailbone, then get it diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Let us discuss in detail coccydynia (tailbone pain) in today’s article.
- What are the Causes of Coccydynia?
- What are the Symptoms of Coccydynia?
- Diagnosis of Coccydynia
- What are the Treatments for Coccydynia?
What are the Causes of Coccydynia?
The most common cause of coccydynia is direct trauma to the tailbone that leads to pain and discomfort. There may be some other reasons also.
- Falling in a sitting position on a solid surface causes injury to the tailbone. Damage to the tailbone area causes pain.
- In some cases, the exact cause of coccydynia is not known.
- Childbirth may damage or fracture the coccyx.
- A direct hit or pressure on the coccyx can cause injury to the tailbone.
- In some people, excessive cycling can cause tailbone pain.
- Pain may occur due to an infection in the tailbone.
- Coccydynia may result due to spinal cord injury.
- Increased pressure in the veins or bone can cause tailbone pain. (Read more – Causes of spinal pain)
What are the Symptoms of Coccydynia?
Symptoms of injury to the coccyx include pain due to pressure on the tailbone. Pain gets severe, especially during sitting. Apart from this, other symptoms include:
- Inflammation
- Numbness
- Severe pain
- Weakness in legs
- Having difficulty with bowel movements.
- Tenderness
- Having problems with stopping urination.
- Women experience pain during sexual relations. (Read more – Decreased libido in women)
Diagnosis of Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
- Injury to the coccyx is a medical problem for which a doctor performs a physical examination to diagnose it. Also, an X-ray is performed to identify the injury.
- After an injury to the coccyx, the doctor can also check other organs such as the rectum, nerves, spinal cord, etc.
- In case of tailbone injury, consult a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. If the cause of tailbone injury is not clear, anesthesia may be injected into the affected area. An x-ray is performed to detect the lesion of the tailbone. In some cases, X-rays may not be able to detect the injury to the tailbone. Tailbone pain is not a critical condition, but it is necessary to consult a doctor. (Read more – What is the treatment for bone pain)
What are the Treatments for Coccydynia?
- A tailbone injury is often painful. If the pain is becoming more severe, then it needs to be medically treated.
- The doctor may prescribe some painkillers. These medicines are effective in pain relief.
- If there is constant pain in the tailbone, then an anesthetic drug may be injected.
- In some rare cases, the doctor may recommend surgery. The coccyx is removed through surgery.
However, coccydynia or tailbone pain can be treated through physical therapy. To strengthen the tailbone, the doctor may recommend some exercises. Apart from this, you can use hot fomentation. A physical therapist will explain how to sit and get up properly to prevent tailbone pain.
(Read more – What are the benefits of Kegel Exercises)
We hope that we could answer your questions regarding coccydynia through this article.
If you experience tailbone pain, you can contact the Orthopedist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication, treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice because no one else is better than them.