Six Reasons for Coccyx Pain

In our daily lives, many people may experience coccyx pain for various reasons. What exactly is coccyx pain? How should one handle coccyx pain? How should coccyx pain be treated? Today, I will answer these questions one by one for everyone. If you are interested, please read on.

What causes coccyx pain

What causes coccyx pain? Many people do not know the answer to this question. Since we don't know, let me tell you now.

1 Anatomical factors

Coccyx pain is related to anatomical factors. The coccyx consists of 3 to 5 vertebrae connected by fibrocartilage joints between the coccygeal vertebrae, and the sacrococcygeal joint forms a gap connection. When injured or chronically strained, it can cause changes in the physiological curve of the coccyx leading to instability or deformation, resulting in pain.

2 Injury and chronic strain

The main factors causing pain are related to the coccyx and the surrounding soft tissues. Chronic strain in acute injuries can lead to varying degrees of swelling, edema, fibrosis, degeneration, or spasm of the surrounding soft tissues, resulting in pain.It can also cause displacement, fracture, or morphological changes of the coccyx, leading to forward bending and enlargement of the coccyx, causing pain. 3 Degenerative changesIf there are acute or chronic injuries, it may lead to partial dislocation of the sacrococcygeal joint. As a result, the joint gradually degenerates, becoming narrow, irregular, or ossified, limiting joint movement. This can cause coccyx pain when passively moved.

4 Infection

Pelvic infections, deep-seated infections via lymphatic drainage to pelvic muscles, can lead to muscle spasms or reflexive contractions, causing tailbone pain.

5 Tumors

Vertebral tumors are common, with chondromas or chondrosarcomas also possible. Ganglion cysts of the tailbone, paraspinal lipomas through deep fascia leading to edema or herniation can cause coccyx pain. Patients may feel lumps around the sacrococcygeal area.

6 Other factors

Damage to the lumbar-sacral region, such as spondylolisthesis pressing on the spinal cord and nerve roots, can cause coccyx pain. Large central-type herniated discs in the lumbar spine may also lead to similar symptoms.

There are other causes like functional neurosis, sciatic nerve root arachnoiditis, which can also result in coccyx pain.

Lumbar-sacral damage, such as spondylolisthesis, can compress the dura and nerve roots causing coccyx pain. Other conditions like functional neurosis, cauda equina neuritis, can also cause coccyx pain.