The coccyx is called the lower spine formed by the underdeveloped 4-5 fused vertebrae. Once these vertebrae supports the tail in human ancestors, and now the tailbone is vestigial, useless organ. However, this vestige of injuries and various diseases may cause a person serious pain and discomfort: you can not properly sit and walk, even sleep is hard to find a comfortable position.
Often the patient even for himself cannot determine the precise localization of pain and complains to the doctor for pain in the tailbone (this pain is called anorectal). The pain coccyx is actually called coccyalgia.
Experts must decide whether the pain of illnesses and injuries to the coccyx itself, or pain coming from other organs (intestines, pelvis, urinary organs) and simply "give" in the tailbone. From the solution of this question depends on the treatment.
Trauma often causes severe, sharp, acute pain in the coccyx. Injury of coccyx (broken, fracture, contusion, dislocation, displacement) may occur when a bad fall or blow to the buttocks. Pain after injury can be in the nature of attacks, or be constant. When walking and in a sitting position it increases. Localization of various post-traumatic pain in the coccyx, or near it (above, below, side).
Usually pain in the coccyx occur immediately after the injury. But in some cases it can be slightly expressed and quickly passing, and a few years later, when the patient forgot about the injury, suddenly appear a strong, burning pain.
In osteochondrosis, the cyst of the spine in the lumbar or sacral division is characterized by a combination of pain in the coccyx with back pain in the sacrum. However, the main complaints of the patient with pain in the back, and along the way – that the pain "gives" in the tailbone.
The same clinical picture observed in the pinching the nerve endings in the lumbar and sacral parts of the spine. Compression of the sciatic nerve (sciatica) is accompanied by burning, sharp pain in the tailbone or above it.
Lumbar and sacral pains accompanied by pain in the coccyx also hemorrhoids, diseases of the rectum.
Such pain is uncommon for injuries of the coccyx. Most often they are associated with postoperative scars in the perineum, or adhesions in the pelvic cavity, formed after the operation.
Pain when bending are usually the result of chronic inflammatory processes in the organs located near the coccyx (in the intestine or the bladder, the uterus and its appendages).
Pain in the coccyx when tilting occur when the patient has the following diseases:
As already mentioned, pain radiating to tailbone, characteristic of osteoarthritis, cysts of the spine, as well as for hemorrhoids, inflammation in the hip joints, diseases of the rectum, etc. Such pain may also be caused by postoperative scarring.
The reason for such pain is the habit of constantly sitting on upholstered furniture. The tailbone is in the wrong position. In the vessels that supply it with blood, have stagnation. This leads to deposition of salts in the vertebrae that constitute the coccyx, and the occurrence of pain.
Pain in the coccyx when sitting complaining athletes – cyclists and people engaged in horse riding. They have cause of pain other: microtrauma of the coccyx, occurs when engaging in these specific activities.
Pain in the coccyx when sitting is possible in women after childbirth, when there was a deformation (excessive flattening his intervertebral joints).
Finally, pain in the coccyx, aggravated when sitting, typical dermoid cyst of the coccyx. Dermoid cyst is a congenital malformation, consisting in the formation inside the coccyx of cavity, filled by the tissue growing hair.
Aching pain in the coccyx can occur if inflammation of the internal genital organs (prostatitis or BPH in men with inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes in women).
Gnawing pain in the coccyx is an additional symptom of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar or sacral spine. Sometimes it occurs when hemorrhoids and also the long sitting on the toilet due to frequent constipation.
Pain of this kind occur when prolapse of the perineum, with presence of scars in the anus, diseases of the rectum. Characterized by pain beneath the coccyx and trauma (fracture, contusion, subluxation' of the tailbone) that happened a few years ago.
Pain localized to above the coccyx, characteristic of neuralgias' (inflammation of the nerves emanating from the lumbar or sacral spine).
Such pain can accompany many gynecological and neurological diseases. It may be reasonable to begin the examination with the advice of a gynecologist and only exclude gynecological diseases, to consult a neurologist.
Pregnant women quite often have pain in the coccyx. Pain in the tailbone during pregnancy can have various causes:
Pain in the coccyx after birth, say the experienced gynecologist what happened birth trauma: difficult birth caused bleeding in the soft tissue surrounding the coccyx, or what happened to his excessive straightening (which is possible when large amounts of fruit).
In men, pain in the coccyx can be caused by so-called "pellentesque disease." This disease occurs with frequent riding unsprung transport (crawler tractors, army tanks, armored personnel carriers). The load on the coccyx when riding on such equipment is excessive. It can cause inflammation of pilonidal sinus or cyst of coccyx. This move, or cyst, is a hollow tube that runs beneath the skin from the end of the coccyx and ending blindly.
Inflammation of the pilonidal sinus and is called "pellentesque disease." If the inflammation passes into the purulent stage, often forms a fistula – pus breaks out. Treatment - only surgical.
For effective treatment of pain in the coccyx, it is important to establish its cause. Patients with such pain should appeal primarily to the proctologist. This specialist when necessary refer the patient (the patient) to a gynaecologist, neurologist, surgeon, osteopath. Sometimes require the assistance of a therapist.
Each of these physicians not only examines the patient but also very detailed questioning him. The patient should be ready to talk in detail about the nature of pain, its localization, recall of previous trauma and history of surgery.
In some patients with pain in the coccyx, the exact diagnosis cannot be established. Then apply symptomatic treatment, and in most cases, it leads to good results. Sometimes pain in the coccyx go away on their own, without treatment. But hope is not necessary - if you experience such pain you must see your doctor.
In most cases, pain in the coccyx is treated conservatively (i.e. without surgery). Comprehensive treatment involves providing patients with rest, pain medication, restore the impaired circulation through massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, exercise physical therapy.
All of the identified comorbidities subject to compulsory treatment.
To remove or weaken negative emotions are applied (after counseling) neuropsychotropic drugs.
No help can be given by doctors only when pain in the coccyx in pregnancy. Anti-inflammatory and pain medicine is contraindicated to pregnant. Radiological diagnosis is also excluded. Therefore, women have to endure the pain in the coccyx, enclosing under it a soft pillow or inflatable rubber circle in the shape of a donut (sold in pharmacies).
To sit on this circle, it is recommended not only to pregnant women but for all patients with pain of such localization. This simple device eliminates the burden and pressure on the coccyx while sitting, thus reducing pain.
Pain in the coccyx greatly facilitated by using finger massage of the muscles of the rectum and massage the muscles of the pelvic floor (if there is spasm).
The manual therapy techniques performed by experienced specialist, improve blood circulation in the coccyx, eliminate blood stasis, relieve muscle spasm and help restore the range of motion of the coccyx.
Acupuncture (acupuncture) is often used for pain in the coccyx, substantially reducing their intensity. The right choice of biologically active points of acupuncture can completely remove the pain.
Of the methods of physiotherapy for pain in the coccyx apply:
To exercise, perform morning exercises to the person with pain in the coccyx is not only possible, but necessary. With certain limitations: the exercise should be running, jumping, brisk walking, sudden inprobus movement, straining.
Exercises for pain in the coccyx should include the following exercises:
All the exercises for pain in the coccyx, the patient needs to run slowly, steadily, rhythmically, resting between repetitions of the exercise. You can turn on relaxing music. For greater efficiency it is recommended to do a set of exercises twice a day.
For pain in the coccyx traditional medicine uses the following tools: