Back pain due to coccydynia can be quite miserable – just ask anyone who has ever developed it after a fall on a slippery floor, a skid on the ice, or a bumpy landing while skiing or snowboarding.

Coccydynia is pain in the coccyx, or tailbone, the boney area at the end of the spine between the buttocks. Sometimes referred to in layman’s terms as a ‘butt ache’, it is a nagging pain, which can become excruciating, and increase with pressure from sitting or moving to stand up. It has been described as a pain similar to sitting on a sharp knife or a marble that rolls around or a feeling of being impaled on a cane or broomstick. The pain and discomfort may persist for months to eventually become chronic.

Causes

Falls On The Buttocks.
• This is the most common cause, often diagnosed as a fractured coccyx.

Unstable or Dislocating Coccyx
• The most common cause of pain is due to a coccyx which dislocates or moves more than normal when you sit down. This may develope after a fall, from childbirth or injury in a car accident. The actual cause is often unknown but this disorder is responsible for 55% of cases of coccyx pain.

Childbirth
• If the joints around the pelvis become more flexible in preparation for childbirth, sometimes the coccyx can be pushed out of position easily.

Repetitive Strain
• This is common after a great deal of rowing or bicycle riding

Misaligned Or Long Coccyx
• In this condition, the coccyx bone points forward or is angled forward about 70°, which is greater than normal and causes pain.

Boney Spur Or Spicule On Coccyx
• This has been the cause of pain in 14% of patients.

Muscle Spasms In The Gluteus Maximus Muscle Of The Buttocks
• These muscles help lower the body from a standing to a sitting position. Muscle spasms cause pressure where the glutueus is attached to the coccyx.

Piriformis Syndrome
• The piriformis muscle runs horizontally from the lower spine to the top of each femur (hip bone). It crosses the sciatic nerve and spasms in the muscle cause pain in the hips and down the leg. Sitting may aggravate it.

Pilonidal Cyst
• This is a birth defect in which an abscess develops at the end of the tailbone, causing pressure, swelling, inflammation, and pain in the coccyx area. The cyst is usually removed surgically.

Symptoms Of Coccydynia
• Pain during or after sitting
• Acute pain when moving to standing after sitting
• Deep ache around coccyx
• Shooting pains down both legs
• Pain during bowel movements
• Pain during intercourse
• Pain during menstruation

Coccydnia may clear up after a few months but in the case of persistent pain, it is wise to have a medical evaluation to determine the cause.

Paul G Miller is a South Miami spinal decompression therapist who has worked with individuals with back pain problems for seven years. If you would like to receive a free weekly newsletter on back pain relief visit www.usspinecare.com and also to get more in-depth information.

Coccygectomy, spine and back pain

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Coccygectomy.org does not provide medical advice, diagnosis nor treatment. This website is simply a source for education and personal experience and should not be used as a source for medical advice. Please consult with your physician before attempting any treatments mentioned on this site.

11 Comments

  1. lenejoseph32 lene on October 31, 2010 at 9:21 am

    Great info, I will bookmark your blog and follow your future content. Are you allowing us to post any medication for back pain to your blog? If so any referrals?

    thanks



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  9. Courtney on April 13, 2012 at 4:40 pm

    Thank you for this information! I have had this condition almost all my life and it is miserable especially after having my lite girl it got worst my gynecologists said having a baby could break my tail bone i guess I need to get my butt to the ortho doc literally lol. It’s definitely a pain in the butt sometimes it’s do bad I could cry I have to sit on my hips and now my hips are hurting



  10. […] Coccydynia, coccyx pain and coccygectomy During a vaginal child-birth, great pressure is exerted on the coccyx. There is enough pressure of the baby moving through the birth canal that the coccyx can be bruised and in some cases actually break. Breaking of the coccyx is pretty rare. There is potentially some general soreness for a number of weeks in the area of the coccyx simply from the stress of child-birth, but if the pain continues for longer than a few weeks it is recommended to see your health care professional to alert them to this issue. In our experience, if the pain continues after a comfortable length of time, you will need to consider some options to alleviate the pain – including a coccygectomy or surgical removal of the coccyx. This should only be done after consultation and from a qualified surgeon who has had experience in coccyx removal surgery as it can be a delicate procedure based on the location.A coccygectomy should be a last resort to help manage the pain, and there is no guarantee of success. In our case, it was successful, but there is still occasional pain and soreness even ten years after the surgery. Our quality of life is much better than before the surgery, so we’d recommend having a coccygectomy if it’s an option for you. […]



  11. Donald on June 16, 2013 at 11:59 am

    I had a Coccyxectomy Surgery about 6 or 7 years ago. Now for the last several months when I sit for long, or even when I am up on my legs, I have developed severe pain that starts around the Tail Bone area, travels through my buttocks, and goes all the way down my right leg and into my right foot. It feels like pins and needles sticking into the bottom of my foot.

    The only thing that offers even a little relief is to lay down.

    I am trying to find out if maybe scar tissue from that Tailbone surgery I had years ago, could be pressing on my sciatic nerve now causing this horrible pain.

    What do you think about that possiblility?