Coccydynia Coccalgia Tailbone Pain Homeopathic Treatment

Coccydynia is typically caused by the following underlying anatomical issues:

Hypermobility, or too much movement of the coccyx puts added stress on the joint between the sacrum and coccyx and on the coccyx itself. Too much mobility can also pull the pelvic floor muscles that attach to the coccyx, resulting in tailbone and pelvic pain.

Limited mobility of the coccyx causes the tailbone to jut outward when sitting, and can put increased pressure on the bones and the sacrococcygeal joint. Limited coccyx movement may also result in pelvic floor muscle tension, adding to discomfort.

In rare cases, part of the sacrococcygeal joint may become dislocated at the front or back of the tailbone, causing coccyx pain.

The above factors may result from an injury to the coccyx, or may develop as idiopathic coccydynia.

Falling

Who hasn’t fallen backwards onto their behind? Maybe your feet slipped out from under you on the ice. Maybe you fell off a ladder. Or, maybe you were leaning too far back in your office chair and took a tumble. If you take a really bad fall you can bruise, break (fracture) or dislocate (knock out of place) your tailbone (coccyx).

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Sports like bicycling and rowing require you to lean back and forth and stretch your spine. Too much of that repeated motion can strain the tissues around your coccyx.

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.

Cancer

Only in rare cases is tailbone pain a sign of cancer. It is extremely unlikely.

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.

Initial Diagnostic Methods for Coccydynia

A complete medical history collected will likely include information on current symptoms, as well as when and how symptoms developed. A doctor may also look for environmental or lifestyle factors for the patient’s pain, such as recent injury, exercise habits, or obesity.

After a medical history is collected, a doctor will begin a physical exam. A thorough physical examination for coccyx pain may include:

Palpation to check for local tenderness. A doctor will feel by hand (called palpation) to identify swelling and tenderness around the coccyx. Palpation may also be used to identify potential coccygeal spicules (bone spurs), cysts, or tumors.

Intrarectal exam and manipulation. In some cases, a doctor may choose to manipulate the coccyx manually through the rectum, in order to assess limited or excessive mobility of the sacrococcygeal joint. Intrarectal manipulation may also be used to assess any muscle tension in the pelvis connecting to the coccyx.

Diagnostic Tests for Coccydynia

Diagnostic tests are usually not needed for coccyx pain. In some cases of severe, unrelenting pain, a diagnostic test may be used to determine how pain is being caused and how it can best be alleviated. Diagnostic tests for coccydynia may include:

Dynamic X-ray imaging tests. While there is some debate over the efficacy of imaging tests for diagnosing coccydynia, it is generally agreed that dynamic x-ray imaging is helpful. A dynamic X-ray produces two images—one of the patient sitting and another of the patient standing. A doctor will compare the images and measure the angle of pelvic rotation as well as the coccyx’s change in position from sitting to standing. If these measurements are outside of the normal range (between 5 and 25 degrees), too much or too little coccygeal movement can be identified as the cause of pain.

Coccygeal discogram. Similar to the same procedure done on the lumbar spine, a coccygeal discogram consists of an injection of local anesthesia in the sacrococcygeal region. The injection targets a specific area in the spine, such as an intervertebral joint or disc, to identify the precise location where pain is being caused.

CT or MRI scans. A static image of the coccyx taken by MRI or CT scan (one that does not illustrate pelvic rotation or movement) may be used if the suspected cause of pain is a fracture, tumor, or abnormal mobility of the sacrococcygeal joint. Static images, however, are usually not helpful for diagnosing coccydynia and are used sparingly when a source of coccydynia cannot be clearly identified using other means.

In rare cases, routine blood tests are obtained to rule out the possibility of an infection or tumor. A doctor may also order a guaiac stool test to determine if the issue has its origin in the gastrointestinal tract.