Have you ever ever had an ache at the bottom of your spine? You will have thought it was attributable to sitting for too long, perhaps during a visit or during a protracted work day. While that explanation for the pain actually is feasible, you could possibly even be affected by coccydynia, or tailbone pain. This condition is more likely for those who also feel sharp pains in the world while standing or moving around.
Coccydynia is greater than a mere nuisance. It’s, in actual fact, a treatable condition. Discover more about tailbone pain and what it is best to do about it.
Coccydynia is localized pain of the coccyx. Colloquially referred to as the tailbone, the coccyx is a triangular bone that resembles a tail at the bottom of your spine. Five coccygeal vertebrae make up the coccyx. Just above the coccyx is the sacrum, a much larger triangle to which the coccyx is fused.
The sacrum and coccyx are weight-bearing structures of the spine. The coccyx specifically bears your weight whilst you’re sitting. Leaning back while sitting increases pressure on the coccyx, while remaining upright relieves the pressure. Tendons, ligaments, and muscles attach to the coccyx, and the bone is the insertion point for among the pelvic floor muscles.
Lower-back pain could also be one of the vital common kinds of pain people feel. While lumbar pain is common, you can too suffer from pain specifically within the coccyx.
Injury is a typical explanation for coccydynia. You will have fallen in your buttocks and thought the tissue saved you from real injury. Nevertheless, the coccyx can have taken the brunt of the autumn. The coccyx can grow to be injured and even fractured from a success, especially during contact sports. Even sitting on a tough surface for an prolonged time could cause the tailbone to ache.
Getting injured during sport is not the only way your coccyx can grow to be injured. If you happen to’re a rower or a cyclist, you possibly can develop repetitive strain injury. Pain develops once you put strain on the muscles and ligaments across the coccyx from the act of leaning forward repeatedly and for lengths of time.
A typical explanation for coccydynia later in life is
degenerative joint disease. Over time, the cartilage holding your coccyx in place can wear down. When the tailbone not has this support system, you will feel pain.
Finally, a cause that relates only to women is childbirth. As a part of the child-birthing process, your coccyx becomes flexible at the tip of pregnancy. The increased flexibility allows the coccyx to maneuver out of the best way during birth. Nevertheless, the muscles and ligaments across the coccyx can grow to be strained, causing the coccydynia pain.
Very often coccydynia will go away by itself so long as you take care of the affected area. Below are some suggestions to alleviate the pain:
- Use a donut cushion when sitting.
- Avoid sitting on hard surfaces.
- Avoid leaning back while sitting – lean forward enough to direct the load away from the tailbone.
- Stand up often, and walk around to avoid putting prolonged pressure on the tailbone area.
If the coccydynia is the results of an injury, alternate putting cold and hot packs on the world. Likewise, for those who feel more pain during waste elimination, consider taking laxatives to alleviate the pressure. You could possibly also alter your food regimen to incorporate high-fiber foods to melt the stools.
You must see a physician if the coccydynia persists for greater than just a few weeks. You might must undergo physical therapy to strengthen the muscles across the coccyx. A physical therapist can advise you on exercises to assist correct your posture.
If the coccydynia persists, your doctor might recommend receiving injections or undergoing surgery. Injections can include anti-inflammatory drugs, reminiscent of corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation and may dramatically reduce pain. They may also use or nerve blockers, which anesthetize the world. Surgery is a final resort.
Don’t suffer through coccydynia. Seek medical advice on alleviate the pain. Let the physicians at Specialists in Pain Management specify a treatment plan in your tailbone pain.
