By Dr. Daniel Baronas, DC, Body Options Clinic in Vancouver BC
Yes, it can be admittedly a bit embarrassing, but on a more and more frequent basis, patients will come visit our offices at Body Options Clinic in Vancouver BC, complaining of moderate to severe tailbone pain (Coccydynia) and wanting to know what to do about it.
My name is Daniel Baronas and I’m a licensed chiropractor at Body Option Clinic in Vancouver, BC. I specialize in Coccydynia cases.
As a chiropractor, I can treat coccyx (tailbone) pain through various techniques such as spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
If you’re suffering from painful coccydynia, read the article below first, and if you’d like to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us 604-260-2713.
First, what is Coccydynia and why do they call it THAT?
Yes, it’s rather a weird name, isn’t it? Coccydynia (tailbone pain) is when there is a noticeably dull or sharp pain in or near your coccyx, the three to five fused vertebrae (bones) at the very end of your spinal column, just above your bottom.
Strangely enough, “Coccyx” means cuckoo in Greek. Because if you look at it, it looks kind of like a bird’s beak. “Dynia” (also in Greek) translates to the word “pain.” So coccydynia literally means pain in the bird’s beak.
That stated, given its location below the triangular sacrum and the appearance of a short tail, it’s also more commonly referred to as a tailbone. While it does do anything in particular, tendons, muscles, and ligaments are attached to it.
What is tailbone pain and how do you get it?
Regardless of what you call it, tailbone pain can be a real pain in the butt. Tailbone pain can make the normal, everyday things you do like sitting, intercourse, menstruation, and going to the bathroom excruciating.
Tailbone pain can be caused by an unfortunate and traumatic fall, sitting for long periods on a surface that’s hard or thin, joint changes, or having a baby.
The results? A broken, or dislocated coccyx caused by a fall. Interestingly, for one-third of those with coccydynia, the cause is unknown. What’s fascinating is more than half of all adults have a coccyx that’s curved. This often makes sitting painful.
CAUSES OF TAILBONE PAIN
What can cause tailbone pain (coccydynia)?
Hard Falls
You know it when it happens. Slipping on ice, falling down a flight of stairs, or falling off a ladder… these are the types of falls where you land right on your tailbone, perhaps bruising it, dislocating it, or even fracturing it.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Sports and exercises like spinning put unexpected stress on your spine. When done to extreme, your coccyx will hurt.
Pregnancy/Childbirth
During the third trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body secretes hormones that soften the area between the sacrum and the coccyx.
This enables the coccyx to move as necessary during childbirth. This is a natural process but, unfortunately, such movement may stretch the muscles and ligaments around the coccyx too far, causing additional pain.
Such a strain on those soft tissues keeps them from supporting your coccyx at the correct angle.
Obesity
Extra weight applies additional pressure to the coccyx. This can cause the coccyx to lean backward. Your tailbone will hurt if it is out of position.
Underweight
If you don’t have enough fat in your buttocks to prevent your coccyx from rubbing against the muscles, ligaments and tendons, that can cause. The rubbing inflames the soft tissues.
Sitting
Just this simple act can increase coccyx pain, especially if you’re sitting on a hard or narrow surface. Do your best to get up often, stretch and take a short walk. Better yet, find yourself a softer, more comfortable place to sit or use a cushioned seat.
SYMPTOMS OF TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYDYNIA)
The symptoms of coccydynia include:
- Achy or piercing pain in the tailbone.
- More severe pain when changing from sitting to standing up.
- More severe pain when sitting for long periods of time.
- Pain during bowel movements.
- Pain during sex.
Other related symptoms that may occur with coccydynia include:
- Depression.
- Anxiety.
- Poor sleep.
- Painful buttocks.
- Back pain.
WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYXDYNIA)
The good news, when you take the pressure off the tailbone, it often resolves itself within a few months.
Until then you have several options. I suggest:
- When you are sitting down, try taking the pressure off by leaning forward
- Buying a doughnut pillow and sitting on that
- Alternating ice packs and heating pads can often help reduce inflammation
- Drugstore pain relievers such as Advil or aspirin
Now if your tailbone pain doesn’t improve after all that, I suggest you call Body Option Clinic at 604-260-2713 and set an appointment.
Together, we’ll do an examination and determine the appropriate course of action.
NEXT STEPS…
If you’re currently suffering from tailbone pain (coccydynia), I encourage you to call our offices in Vancouver BC and set and appointment with me or one of our other chiropractors.
We’re licensed, trusted and extremely knowledgeable about this specific condition.
We’ll conduct an exam and if necessary, we’ll adjust your coccyx gently, slowly back into the correct position.
During the exam, we’ll answer all of your questions and concerns. Since every situation is different.
Your tailbone could be bruised, broken, or dislocated from a nasty fall. We won’t know until we discuss the matter.
Again, I encourage you to schedule an appointment (604-260-2713) and then try some of the home remedies I suggested above. Minimally, they’ll buy you some time until we conduct the exam.
