Best Treatment For Coccyx Pain, Coccydynia & Tailbone Pain

Coccyx pain, called Coccydynia or tailbone pain, is a common condition seen in athletes, men & women. It is a widespread complaint during pregnancy. Learn about the best-targeted treatment options that address the cause of coccyx pain, coccydynia & tailbone pain instead of covering up the symptoms.

Tailbone Pain: Coccyx, Coccydynia & Tailbone Pain

Coccyx and coccydynia are common disorders affecting millions. Coccyx for coccydynia is impossible without thoroughly addressing issues impacting the coccyx bone. The coccyx bone is the last bony structure in our spinal column. It is the smallest bony segment of the spine, located right below the sacrum.

The tailbone’s bottom tip (coccyx) comprises four bones connected by fused, semi-fused, or disc-like ligaments. In the old days, the coccyx bones were fused, thus inhibiting movements between the bones. However, the latest studies have shown that the coccyx is not a single solid bone but several small bones, permitting the slightest movements because of the fibrous ligaments that connect them.

The coccyx begins with a mass of cartilage at birth, ossifying gradually from the superior to inferior segments. The end of puberty terminates in the ossification process. Coccydynia is a condition that results from prolonged sitting. Prolonged sitting or a poor sitting posture places undue stress on the small bones at the end of your spine (coccyx bone).

Accumulated tensions or sitting for an extended time will worsen an existing coccyx issue or cause one. So, heed our advice and avoid prolonged sitting. Chiropractic Specialty Center® has the best non-surgical clinical teams to properly treat and heal tailbone pain. Call us today for lasting pain relief.

Role Of The Coccyx Pain & Painful Tailbone

misalignment of coccyx bone or tailbone shown

Pain in the tailbone area is called Coccydynia. It is the term descriptive of nerve pain at or around the tailbone area or coccyx.

The coccyx bone is the last bone at the bottom tip of your tailbone. The coccyx serves as an attachment point for several muscles in the pelvic region; for instance, the gluteus maximus has one of its origins attached along to the coccyx. The notion that the coccyx is entirely useless is false and based on old premises. In addition to providing attachment points for several tendons and muscles, it helps stabilize the spine in a seated position.

CSC offers the best back pain treatment in KL through advanced methods incorporating the best of chiropractic combined with physiotherapy; WhatsApp us now if you have back pain or tailbone pain; we can help. 

The Levator-Ani and other Coccygeus muscles that form the pelvic diaphragm help delay defecation and urination by constricting the pelvic floor’s organs. Lastly, the coccyx supports the anus by holding the external anal sphincter in place through the anococcygeal ligaments.

Where Is The Tailbone & Is The Sacrum Part Of It?

 The coccyx bone is the true tailbone. The coccyx is the bottom tip of the tailbone extending about 15-25 millimeters (less than 1 inch in length) upwards, just beneath the sacrum. The sacrum is the triangular bone that connects to your pelvic bones on each side.

The adult sacrum is a triangular bone that connects to the pelvic bones on the sides of the lumbar spine above and the coccyx below. However, some consider the sacrum part of the tailbone. To avoid confusion, we will refer to tailbone pain as coccydynia and tailbone pains involving the sacrum, as seen in patients with malformed or misaligned sacral bones. 

Are There Different Types Of Tailbone Pains?

In general, there are three different types of tailbone pains:

  1. Congenital tailbone pain: Tailbone pain caused by a malformed, cracked, or bent coccyx (lower tip of the tailbone) or sacrum (upper more broad part of the sacrum. Spina bifida is another cause of tailbone pain, but it is scarce. 
  2. Developmental tailbone pain: These are the tailbone pains that develop during pregnancy, childbirth, or within the first six months after pregnancy. Developmental issues with the tailbone result from poor posture as it weakens the ligaments and muscles connecting to the sacrum and coccyx (the two prominent bones of the tailbone)
  3. Traumatic tailbone pain: The slip & falls that most have through life can and often do come back and haunt us with tailbone aches and pain, especially during pregnancy or childbirth. 

Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy & After Childbirth

Pregnancy comes with changes and challenges that often include pain. Tailbone pain during pregnancy is a common complaint. Several factors cause tailbone pain during pregnancy:

  1. Changes in the center of gravity resulting from weight gains 
  2. Hormonal changes
  3. Poor posture
  4. Notation and counternutation

Nutation and counternutation are changes in position or forward and backward movements of the tailbones as it applies during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum (after pregnancy). During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, the tailbone (sacrum and coccyx combined) is under excessive stress due to hormonal and ligamentous softening that widens the pelvis. 

Relaxin and progesterone are two hormones that increase significantly during pregnancy and stay at elevated levels for up to six months after childbirth. The primary role of the progesterone and relaxin hormones is to prepare for gestation (pregnancy) and delivery of the baby. Most women start developing pregnancy aches and pains along the lower back, groin, hips, and tailbone regions during pregnancy, most notably in the second and third trimesters. 

The uterus is connected to the pelvic bones, pubic bone, and sacral bone or sacrum. These connections are through a series of six ligaments:

  1. Round ligament 
  2. Broad ligament
  3. Cardinal ligament
  4. Infundibulopelvic ligament
  5. Pubocervical ligament
  6. Uterosacral ligament

What Is The Best Treatment Option For Tailbone Pain During Or After Pregnancy?

Chiropractic Specialty Center® in Kuala Lumpur offers the most holistic pregnancy aches and pains, including pregnancy tailbone pain and treatments for back pain during pregnancy, by top-rated chiropractors. Safe and conservative pregnancy-specific physiotherapy and chiropractic methods are ideal for all pregnant women.

Our leading chiropractor, Yama Zafer D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic), is an American with over 25 years of experience. Contact us today for all types of pregnancy-related aches and pain, including prenatal and postnatal care for pregnancy issues, from Malaysia’s most experienced pregnancy chiropractor in Kuala Lumpur

What Is Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)?

Unfortunately, many suffer from acute or chronic pain around their tailbone, medically termed coccydynia. The pain arises from the coccygeal nerve’s impingement that supplies neuronal stimulation to the skin’s part around the tailbone’s very bottom portion.

The most common cause of tailbone pain is the slip and falls you had years ago. The hard landing some had years ago on their tailbone often haunts them. Traumatic injuries to the tailbone lead to degenerative changes in joints, ligaments, and muscles attached to the coccyx. As the degenerative changes progress, so will the likelihood of pain and symptoms. Contact us if you have had a few falls and suffer from tailbone pain.  Slip, and falls are common causes of degenerative changes in the spine, such as Modic Type-1 or Modic Type 2 changes. These changes can also impact the tailbone area when it involves the sacrum or the L5.  

Prolonged and improper sitting postures may lead to increased stresses on the tailbone. The improper loading may stress the coccyx’s nerves (coccygeal nerves), leading to nerve irritation and inflammation. Tailbone nerve pain (called coccydynia) is relatively common during pregnancy. We will cover the pregnancy causes of the tailbone in a separate heading.

Acute Coccyx Or Tailbone Pain

Acute coccydynia is often due to micro or macro trauma. Micro-traumatic injuries are related to improper sitting postures, while macro-traumatic events involve landing on the buttocks following a fall. In both cases, the coccyx may misalign at either the sacrococcygeal junction or between the coccyx’s four bones. Studies have shown that the activities that require prolonged sitting, such as biking and cycling, have a higher tendency to cause coccydynia due to repetitive micro traumatic events involving the tailbone and sacrococcygeal segments. So, avoid prolonged sitting and opt for our non-invasive physiotherapy and chiropractic treatment of the tailbone today.illustration of poor sitting and sitting on tailbone shown

Inflammatory processes following a traumatic event and pinched nerves are the culprits that produce pain. Axial loading or repetitive micro traumatic events (cycling) may place undue amounts of pressure on the coccyx, resulting in misalignment in the coccyx and compression of the nerve. The compressed nerve can generate a burning or tingling sensation in that area, and some report numbness around the coccyx, with moderate compression of the coccygeal nerves. You may even experience leg pain.

Earlier, we mentioned that tailbone pain is prevalent during pregnancy. The section below covers the tailbone that causes back pain during pregnancy and the best nonsurgical treatment options for faster pain relief.

What Are The Causes of Coccyx Pain Or Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy?

Tailbone pain is an exceedingly common complaint during pregnancy. It is the most common complaint in the later stages of gestation or pregnancy. As you progress through the gestation periods, your body goes through changes. These are the needed changes to make room for your growing baby and prepare your body for delivery. The uterus grows exponentially during pregnancy.

Your rib cage, abdominal muscles, and pelvic griddle need stretching and widening to accommodate this growth. And that is where the Relaxin hormone comes in. Relaxin is the hormone that prepares your muscles, ligaments, ribcage, and pelvis for your growing baby and, of course, the delivery process.

The Relaxin hormone is present at high levels throughout the entire pregnancy. Your body maintains and secretes high levels of this hormone after delivering your baby. The presence of the Relaxin hormone after the delivery enables milk letdown during breastfeeding. High levels are present four months after you have stopped breastfeeding.

Tailbone Pain Caused By Sciatica & Slipped disc.

nsd therapy for back pain and tailbone pain shown

Sciatica and slipped discs are common causes of pain in the tailbone area. A slipped disc and sciatica cause nerve impingement in the lower portions of the lumbar spine (lower back). A pinched nerve in the lower back involving the L4-L5 or L5 S1 causes nerve irritation, leading to muscle tension around the tailbone.

A large slipped disc, such as an extruded or a fragmented disc, can pinch the traversing nerve root. Traversing nerve roots are the nerves that exit at lower segments. A large extruded disc at the L5-S1 segment can impinge the exiting l5 nerve or the traversing S1 & S2 nerves. Impingement of these nerves is a common cause of tailbone pain.

At CSC, we assess the entire spine for patients with coccyx, coccydynia & tailbone pains. If the cause is identified as sciatica or a slipped disc, unique treatments are given to rectify them. The best treatment for sciatica and the slipped disc is NSD Therapy®. NSD Therapy® is advanced spine care through the combined efforts of CSC’s clinical physiotherapists & chiropractors in Malaysia. More importantly, NSD Therapy® focuses on repairing the damaged area through breakthrough therapy devices such as shockwave therapy, laser therapy, and spinal decompression as given by the RxDecom®.

Coccyx Pain During Pregnancy

Coccyx pain in expecting mothers and mothers with newborns is often the result of hormonal changes coupled with poor posture. Back pain and tailbone pain during pregnancy are everyday occurrences. All expecting mothers go through it. Unfortunately, for some, it becomes disabling to the point where they are bedridden. What is worse is the fact that most clinicians are clueless in their management of mothers in pain. Our clinical teams’ understanding of the root causes is the leading reason for the successes we have achieved in treating expecting mothers and mothers of newborns. Our prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy combined with chiropractic is the best solution for pregnancy-associated aches and discomfort. CSCs have specialized methods of treating back pain and pregnancy. Our treatment plans are safe for both mother and child. 

Targeted therapy is only possible when the team treating you has an in-depth understanding of causes and conditions. It is just that simple! So, before opting for chiropractic or physiotherapy, ensure your chiropractor and physiotherapist have an in-depth knowledge of back pain and pregnancy.

Chiropractic and physiotherapy combined is the preferred method of treating tailbone pain. But, for the expecting and new mothers, the type of chiropractic or physiotherapy you get matters. Relaxin letdown is the main culprit in tailbone pain or back pain during pregnancy. As the name applies, this hormone relaxes your muscles and ligaments excessively. Therefore, the chiropractic or physiotherapy treatment you get must consider this fact.

What Type Of Treatment Is Best for Coccyx Pain? And What Should You Avoid?

You must avoid the rotatory methods of spine manipulations or adjustments provided by chiropractors and physiotherapists. The rotatory techniques are those where you lie down on your side with a knee bent, and the chiropractor or physiotherapist turns or rotates you, emitting a popping sound. While it may feel beautiful, it could harm you more. You can learn more about our tailbone pain treatment for expecting mothers and mothers of newborns by visiting the best chiropractic and physiotherapy centers in Malaysia today.

Can The Coccygeal Bone Misalignment Lead To Tailbone Pain?

These misalignments are referred to as “Subluxations” in chiropractic practice. Chiropractors have provided the highest benefits to those suffering from tailbone pain. The primary reason for our chiros’ clinical success is the coccyx bone’s targeted realignment. Generally speaking, there are two distinct methods of realigning the coccyx bone through targeted chiropractic treatments called “adjustments.” Sufferers can have either an internal coccygeal adjustment (treatment that realigns the coccyx) or external chiropractic adjustment.

We have discovered the best method of treating tailbone pain is through the “Activator Chiropractic Methods.” Another way of managing a malpositioned tailbone is through an internal coccyx adjustment. Internal coccyx adjustments are somewhat intrusive. As such, we do not provide them. We get better results through targeted methods that don’t involve internal coccyx treatment. Call or visit us today.

The Activator method of chiropractic treatment allows for a price and targeted therapy that other methods fail. If you suffer from tailbone pain (Coccydynia), visit one of our centers today to discover your non-surgical treatment options. Best of all, the care you get in our center is further enhanced through the best clinical physiotherapists in Malaysia. In short, we offer you the best and most holistic means to eliminate your tailbone pain forever.

What Are The Non-Surgical Treatment Options For Pain In The Tailbone?

image of surgeon shown with caption to get chiropractic care first

Conservative treatments of coccydynia are beneficial. Clinical studies have published a success rate of 90% with focused, appropriate care coupled with a modification of daily activities.

Our clinical teams will thoroughly evaluate your condition to arrive at the cause. Moreover, we will help you with the lifestyle changes you need for a healthier life. The difference you get when you visit a Chiropractic Specialty Center® is not just our collaborative means of treatment or our advanced technology.

More importantly, it is our skills, knowledge, and abilities to communicate to patients the causes of their conditions. Modifying daily activities include sitting upright with back support and feet on the ground to reduce the risk of coccydynia.

In addition to the lifestyle modification recommendations, the care you get will involve our research-based doctors of chiropractic and our clinical physiotherapists in the Klang Valley. The two are better than singular efforts.

What Should You Do For Coccyx Pain?

Well, the first thing you must change is your sitting posture. Aside from falling on the buttocks, an improper sitting position is the leading cause of pain at the bottom of the spine. Chronic pain in the tailbone or the coccyx is often the result of weakness present in the pelvic floor muscles. The Pelvic floor muscles provide the support and instability your spine needs.

More importantly, they support organs such as the urinary bladder, bowels, and reproductive systems. Therefore, having great pelvic floor muscles is crucial for the bottom of the spine and the internal organs. Sitting in a poor posture for long periods can impact the pelvic floor muscles. Slouching forward in a seated position stresses the muscles of the pelvic floor.

The accumulative effects of these stresses can lead to weakening and degenerative changes that impact not just your spine but organs and fertility. Using muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medication, or injections is ineffective and harmful. Pain management through medication is short-lived at best but harmful with certainty. Our clinical teams are the experts you need to assess your spine and pelvic floor muscles thoroughly. The care we provide is through the collaborative efforts of our physiotherapists (physical therapists) and chiropractors. The treatments and pain management we provide are natural. So, opt for the best non-invasive drugless approach by calling our center today.

Dull And Achy Pain At The Bottom Our Spine Could Be Due To Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness Or Atrophy

A tired or achy pain in the tailbone or bottom of the spine is related to pelvic floor muscles’ weaknesses. Like other muscles in your body, pelvic floor muscles can weaken and even degenerate. However, degenerative changes in the pelvic floor tissues can lead to pain at the bottom of the spine, constipation, incontinence, infertility in females, and erectile dysfunctions in men.

The need for a targeted, holistic approach addresses the issues presented comprehensively. The first step is a proper assessment of all causes. Our centers assess the spine, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and joints. In short, we will evaluate all tissues or structures known to cause dull and achy pain at the bottom of the spine.

Coccydynia Exercises Of The Pelvic Floor Muscles

Exercise programs for coccydynia are essential to a speedy recovery. However, for exercises to be practical, they must be targeted and diagnosis-specific. Generally speaking, there are times when aggressive exercise programs are better. But a milder coccydynia exercise program is better for those with associated conditions such as spinal canal stenosis, sciatica, slipped disc (slip-disc), degenerative changes, and injuries.

To avoid damage, we encourage you to visit our center for a detailed assessment, and only then would we be able to recommend focused coccydynia exercises for faster recovery. The care we provide may include manual therapies, advanced technology, chiropractic, physical therapy, physiotherapy, and targeted exercises for the pelvic floor and spine. In our centers, the pelvic floor exercises given to patients are specific to their therapeutic needs.

The Best Conservative Tailbone Pain Treatment In Malaysia

Backache and tailbone pain patients can rest assured as their condition is treatable without injections or surgery. CSC provides holistic, non-invasive back pain treatment for slipped discs, backaches, and tailbone pain. Contact CSC for combined care through advanced chiropractic & Clinical physiotherapy today. 

Chiropractic treatments have been proven to be very useful for coccydynia. Targeted chiropractic adjustment coupled with advanced physiotherapy is the best combination to reduce pain and increase life quality. Our clinical teams may even recommend home exercises and care, such as icing the affected areas.

The icing of the affected area is crucial when one has pain, as pain is one of the cardinal symptoms of inflammation. Thus, icing the bottom parts of the tailbone (coccygeal area) for 10 to 15 minutes five times a day can reduce swelling. However, we encourage all patients to avoid icing the areas unless they have been instructed by a healthcare professional.

There are conditions in that icing may be contraindicated. Also, there is a right and wrong method of icing. These must be well understood before icing an injured joint. Therefore, we encourage all pain sufferers and those with coccyx pain to attend a consultation with one of our clinical teams before employing any home remedies.

Our Difference: Our Technology And Our Collaborative Integrated Clinical Teams Are Better At Treating Coccyx Pain (Coccydynia & Tailbone Pain)

In addition to icing and chiropractic treatments, our clinical teams may prescribe specific exercises. Exercises are essential in strengthening the pelvic floor after the inflammation subsides to prevent a recurrence. Additionally, our clinical teams of physiotherapists may provide specialized treatments through medical devices or manual ones that target injured tissues and joints.

Rest assured, when you visit a Chiropractic Specialty Center®, you will be in great hands. Home care instruction is also an essential part of our care.

We may ask you to purchase special pillows to alleviate pressures and stresses on the tailbone. Special pads with customized shapes, such as O-shape, V-shape, and U-shape, can mitigate the coccyx pressure and, thus, alleviate the pain. If coccydynia is worsened by poor bowel movement or constipation, one must increase dietary fiber and water intake to ease defecation.

We hope this article was helpful; please share it with friends and relatives who experience tailbone pain relief. Coccydynia (tailbone or coccyx pain) is a treatable condition, and we can help. Chiropractic Specialty Cetner® offers the best treatment for coccyx pain, coccydynia & tailbone pain; call one of our centers now! 

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