Coccydynia / Coccyx pain (Pain in the tail bone)

What is Coccydynia?

a Coccydynia is a type of tailbone pain, it is also known as coccygodynia is pain in the area of the coccyx or tail bone as it is sometimes called. It is five times more common in women than men.

Symptoms of coccyx pain

• Pain in the tailbone/coccyx, at the very base of the spine.
• Pain in the tailbone during or after sitting. Pain is often aggrevated by sitting and may continue for a few days.
• Pain in the tailbone can be worse when sitting on a soft surface as less of the pressure is taken by the ischial tuberosities (bones you sit on in the bottom) and more pressure placed on the coccyx.
• Sharp pain in the tailbone whilst moving from sitting to standing.
• This vary from mild discomfort in some people to acute pain in others.

Causes of coccyx pain

• An unstable coccyx which causes chronic inflammation.
• A fall or direct trauma to the base of the spine.
• Repetitive strain or overuse, particularly from cycling or rowing.
• Muscle spasm or tightness in the pelvic floor muscles, gluteus maximus, prirformis or adductor magnus muscles. This pain is often distinguished as is eases when sitting rather than getting worse.
• Problems following surgery.
• Childbirth.

What can the athlete do?

• Avoid sitting down if possible. Sitting is likely to aggrevate the injury and inhibit healing.
• If you have to sit, use a cusion with a whole or slit cut out to accommodate the coccyx and take the pressure off it.
• Apply hot or cold therapy to the area. Some therapists advise hot, some cold. Different approaches may be more successfull for some than others.
• For an unstable coccyx the injury will usually heal by itself over a period of weeks or months.
• Visit a doctor or other medical professional.

What can the doctor or therapist do?

• Physiotherapy can involve stretching and massage to the muscles around the coccyx including piriformis. Strengthening and relaxation exercises for the pelvic floor are often given. For pain related to muscle spasm deep tissue massage to release the tension and ease trigger points (localized knots in the muscle) and stretching can help.
• A steroid injection is sometimes given. This may provide permenant relief or temporary relief for a period of months.
• A chiropractor or oseopath may perfom and 'internal manipulation' by inserting a gloved finger into the anus and manipulating the coccyx!!
• A last resort is surgery to remove the coccyx which is successful in most cases.