Tailbone pain, also known as coccydynia, is a pain in or around the bottom of your spine (coccyx). It can be caused by falling or other impact trauma, sitting for lengthy periods, especially on hard or unforgiving surfaces, biking or other repetitive activity that puts prolonged stress on the area, degeneration of the joints, and even from giving birth.
| The coccyx, or tailbone, is the last segment of the spine. It’s shaped like a triangle and is attached to the sacrum and held by ligaments that run front, back, and both sides that directly articulate with the sacrum.
In a healthy alignment, your tailbone is mobile (moves slightly when pressed upon), center line, and pain-free. However, in a dysfunctional alignment, it may be painful to touch it or the tissue around it, immobile and even noticeably off-center. It may feel like it is “digging” into your body rather than lined up with the rest of the spine. Tailbone pain can be caused by trauma which causes bruising or fracture to the coccyx (tailbone). Tailbone pain can also be caused by dysfunction or misalignment of the adjacent joints or other structures in the low back, pelvis, or hip joints. |
Symptoms of Coccydynia
Symptoms of tailbone pain may include:
- Sensitivity over the tailbone region
- Tightness or swelling over the affected area
- Uncomfortable when sitting
- Tendency to shift weight from side to side when sitting (to alleviate pressure on the area)
- Pain with bearing down with bowel movements (as those create internal pressure on the tailbone)
Treatments for Coccydynia
Treatment for tailbone pain varies depending on the severity of it but can include the following:
- Lean forward while sitting down.
- Sit on a pressure-reduction or wedge-shaped cushion. Some people find a wedge-shaped one most helpful for reducing pain.
- Apply heat or ice to the affected area.
- Use gentle massage to the muscles attached to the tailbone to help mitigate tightness and pressure.
- Establish proper ergonomics (appropriate posture in general)
- Maintain an active lifestyle to keep your body’s supporting anatomy and structure strong.
- Get adjusted
How Chiropractic Care Can Help Our Patients Who Experience Coccyx or Tailbone Pain
How can chiropractic care help our clients with sore tailbones?
Proper spinal alignment helps the body with its many functions, so getting regularly scheduled chiropractic adjustments with Dr. Lydia or Dr. Bethanie can help your entire spine stay balanced and working optimally. Specifically, tailbone alignments can help release tight ligaments that can be a source of coccyx pain or discomfort.
For our moms-to-be, consistent chiropractic adjustments offer great prevention to help your rapidly changing body. Your baby is resting on your hip, low back, and tailbone regions.
Visiting Vaida throughout your pregnancy can help mitigate some of the associated aches and pains of all phases of pregnancy and ensure proper coccyx alignment. And adjustments postpartum are especially beneficial because we can ensure proper coccyx alignment while your tissues find their home and heal.
Be sure to Schedule your next visit for chiropractic care at Vaida.