- 1. Fall or hit
- 2. Repetitive effort
- 3. Pregnancy
- 4. Bad posture
- 5. Pilonidal cyst
- 6. Herniated disc
- 7. Excess weight
Pain in the coccyx, although not very common, is usually not a sign of a serious problem, being, in most cases, caused by situations such as falling on the floor or riding a bicycle for a long period of time, for example.
However, if the pain is very severe, do not allow walking, if it lasts more than 1 week or if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling in the spot or fever, it may be a sign of a more serious problem and, therefore, it is important to consult a general practitioner to identify the problem and start treatment, which varies according to the cause.
1. Fall or hit
Accidents that have a strong impact at the end of the spine, such as falling sitting down or being kicked during a sport, are the main cause of pain in the coccyx. Although most of the time, the pain goes away after a few minutes, there are cases where it can last for a few hours or days, decreasing over time.
However, if the pain becomes more intense or if it is intolerable when sitting, for example, it may be a sign that the blow caused a fracture, which needs to be treated in the hospital.
What to do: The best way to relieve the pain of a blow to the coccyx is to relieve pressure on the bone, so you should avoid sitting or lying on your back. In the first 48 hours, cold compresses can also be applied to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
2. Repetitive effort
Frequently practicing physical exercises such as cycling or rowing, or doing them for a long time in a row, can result in a repetitive strain injury, which means that the muscles and ligaments are stretched and stretched, making it difficult to keep the bone in correct location and causing pain to arise.
What to do: apply an anti-inflammatory ointment with Diclofenac and avoid doing activities that put pressure on the coccyx.
3. Pregnancy
During the last 2 months of pregnancy, the bones of the lumbar spine, as well as the coccyx, become more flexible to allow the baby to pass through during delivery. Due to increased flexibility, the bone moves more freely and, therefore, pain can arise, especially when sitting or standing, for example.
What to do: Applying cold compresses on the spot and giving light massages can help relieve the pain. However, to prevent it from reappearing with such intensity, small changes can be made in the day-to-day, such as sitting and standing up slowly or using a circle-shaped pillow, open in the center, to reduce the pressure on the tailbone when sitting. Here's how to relieve other discomforts of late pregnancy.
4. Bad posture
Having a bad posture, especially when sitting, such as when working in front of the computer or driving, for example, can put a lot of pressure on the coccyx, resulting in pain during the day.
What to do: Doing a light massage at the site of the pain, as well as avoiding sitting for a long time can relieve the pain, however, one must adopt techniques to try to have a correct posture during the day. Watch this video on exercises to improve posture:
5. Pilonidal cyst
Pilonidal cyst is a small infection that arises in the coccyx region and is caused by the accumulation of hair and dead cells under the skin. In these cases, in addition to the pain at the site, which worsens over time, a small lump may also appear that increases in size.
What to do: you need to go to the emergency room or health center to drain the pus from inside the cyst. In some cases, this treatment may be sufficient, however, if the cyst recurs it may be recommended to have a small surgery to remove everything. See more about how the treatment is done.
6. Herniated disc
In some cases, the pain in the coccyx may be caused by problems in other places, one of the most frequent being the development of a herniated disc in the lumbar region of the spine, for example. See other signs of herniated disc.
What to do: If there is a suspicion that the pain is being caused by a problem in the spine, you should go to the orthopedist for tests, such as X-rays, to identify the correct cause and start the best treatment.
7. Excess weight
Being overweight causes an overload on almost the entire body, especially the tailbone when sitting. Over time, this excess weight on the coccyx can lead to the onset of mild but constant pain, which worsens when sitting.
What to do: in these cases, the ideal is to lose weight to relieve excess pressure on the coccyx, but using a circular pillow open in the center, whenever you sit, can also help to reduce the pressure on the place. In addition, sleeping on your side at night, instead of belly up, also helps the place to recover.
See if you are above your ideal weight using our BMI calculator:
