Painful coccyx

Coccyx pain, or pain in the tailbone, is an ailment that is becoming more and more common. This condition can have a drastic impact on the mobility and general quality of life because it affects an area that is used all the time during everyday activities.

Coccyx pain is usually a chronic condition that may last for months or even years. The pain varies from mild to severe but even the slightest pain in that specific region can cause many problems. Patients suffering from coccyx pain have trouble sitting or lying down, getting out of the bed, going to the bathroom. In some patients, it even causes insomnia and insomnia-related problems because it is hard for them to find a comfortable position in bed.

There are three most common causes of coccyx pain and people who suffer from it need to identify exactly what is causing it in them in order to be able to take an adequate course of action.

Back injury

Tailbone injury or trauma is commonly caused by falling down. It is not rare for people to fall on their bottoms in slippery surfaces, for example on frozen ground during winter. Falling while walking down the stairs or while getting out of the bathtub are just as common. An injury to the coccyx may cause bruising, which usually goes away after a few weeks, or it may cause a fracture, which is a bit more serious, may take months to heal and cause more severe pain. People who suspect a tailbone fracture are advised to seek medical assistance.

Back pain during pregnancy

Women often experience back pain during pregnancy, which may extend to the tailbone. However, the tailbone can be injured during delivery, when the baby’s head hits it while passing though the birth canal. Because of the pain involved in the actual act of childbirth, women usually notice coccyx pain only a few days later.

Psychosomatic pain

Psychosomatic pain is the most common type of back pain, no matter which part is affected. Coccyx seems to be subject of psychosomatic pain quite often, especially in patients who have already suffered injury to the tailbone area. It is important to identify that the problem is psychosomatic and this spare the patient of many costly and uncomfortable treatments. Knowledge therapy is very effective in distinguishing the psychological factors from physical conditions and dealing with them.

Treatment for chronic coccyx pain may include surgery. The procedure includes the removal of the tailbone altogether. It is an expensive surgery with significant recovery time, although it is relatively easy to perform.

Because of this it is recommended to exclude the possible psychological factors and consult different specialists before going for this option.