Coccydynia, or pain in the tailbone, can be caused by injury, excessive activity, abnormal growth, or infection. It can impact daily life and professional activities. Diagnosis involves exams and imaging tests, and treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, and avoiding prolonged sitting. In extreme cases, the tailbone may need to be removed.
Coccydynia is medically defined as pain in the tailbone. Sometimes, the condition may alternatively be known as coccygodynia. The pain may be centered directly on the coccyx or tailbone or the area around it. Tailbone pain is commonly associated with an injury. Treatment for this type of pain may depend on the severity of the discomfort experienced by the patient.
The lesion is one of the most typical causes of coccydynia. The tailbone can be injured by a sharp fall on the back. Damage can also result from a particularly difficult birth or surgery. Excessive activity such as riding a bicycle can place strain on the area and cause pain as well. Some of the less common causes include an abnormal growth on the tailbone or an infection.
An individual with coccydynia may experience more immediate pain when sitting. Sometimes sitting on particularly hard surfaces can be more difficult for many with this problem. The longer the individual sits, the more intense the pain can become. In addition, it can be problematic to go from a sitting position to a standing position and vice versa. Often, people with this condition experience deep aches and pains in their tailbone.
Coccydynia can significantly impact various areas of a person’s life. On a more personal level, this condition can make bowel movements and sexual intercourse painful. Socially, some recreational activities may need to be postponed until the pain subsides. This type of pain can also interfere with an individual’s professional life. For example, individuals who make a living from a job that requires long periods of sitting and repeated bending over can be greatly affected by tailbone pain.
If patients develop pain of this nature due to an unknown cause, doctors will generally do everything to determine the underlying problem. Whether due to injury or not, a diagnosis of coccydynia can be made using a variety of tests. To start, doctors usually examine the patient carefully. An exam is typically followed by traditional imaging tests such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, and often a computed tomography (CT) scan. Some of these tests may require patients to sit or lie down in different positions for optimal vision.
To treat coccydynia, doctors can prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs and various pain relievers. Stool softeners can also be used to make bowel movements more comfortable. Doctors generally advise patients to avoid long periods of still sitting and to get up and move around periodically. A reposition may be attempted for a tailbone or tailbone that has been dislocated due to a traumatic injury. While not a particularly common practice, extreme circumstances may require the bone to be removed.
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