2023-08-01 14:39:06
It seems obvious that the coccyx can hurt following a fall on it. But what is behind it, if there is pain for no apparent reason?
The most important things at a glance
Sometimes the cause of coccyx pain is easy to explain – such as following an accident in which there was a fall or other force on the coccyx. Then the coccyx may be bruised, dislocated or even broken. Tailbone pain can also occur following childbirth.
Sometimes, however, pain in the coccyx occurs without an accident such as a fall. What is the reason for the pain then? In the following chapters we will give you some possible causes of coccyx pain, which seem to exist without any apparent reason.
Where is the tailbone?
The tailbone is the lowest point of the spine and is located at the top of the buttocks. It consists of three to five vertebrae fused together. Compared to other sections of the spine, it is less mobile. Many ligaments and muscles attach to the coccyx, for example the pelvic floor muscles. The technical term for coccyx pain is coccygodynia.
Tailbone pain from sitting
Tailbone pain, which appears to occur without a reason, can sometimes be explained by spending a lot of time every day sitting. Such as when working at a desk, in the car or on the sofa.
Sitting creates pressure on the coccyx – this is especially true if the seat pad is hardly padded. The sitting posture also plays a role: if you sit slumped and leaned back, your coccyx is exposed to increased pressure.
The pressure when sitting causes mechanical stress, which in the long run can cause tiny injuries in the tissue and thus pain – so-called microtraumas. Even frequent prolonged sitting on soft seating such as a sofa or car seat can contribute to tailbone pain. You can find out more regarding coccyx pain from sitting here.
Tailbone pain from being overweight
If coccyx pain occurs without a fall or other obvious cause, the reason in some cases is high body weight. If you are very overweight (adiposity), the pressure on your coccyx may increase to such an extent when you sit that it can cause pain there. Experts speak of obesity from a body mass index (BMI) of 30. You can find out your BMI here.
Tailbone pain from severe weight loss
People who lose a lot of weight in a short time also sometimes develop coccyx pain without there being a reason such as a fall. This can be the case if the coccyx suddenly has significantly less padding due to the heavy weight loss. When sitting, more pressure acts on it than usual and the mechanical stress increases.
Tailbone pain due to unstable tailbone
In some cases, symptoms may be caused by instability of the coccyx. The reason for the pain is that the coccyx is hypermobile and has much more range of motion than normal when sitting or under other loads.
This can happen, for example, if those affected have suffered a fall on their buttocks in the past (sometimes even longer ago), but can no longer remember it or associate it with it.
There may have been little pain at the event itself. However, the accident may have affected the coccygeal ligaments in such a way that the bony structure subsequently became hypermobile. Perhaps the coccyx has changed its position slightly, so that from a medical point of view there is a (sub)luxation.
Tailbone pain during pregnancy
During the course of pregnancy, some women experience tailbone pain that occurs for no apparent reason. These can usually be explained by the fact that the female body goes through various changes during pregnancy, which can promote pain in the coccyx. Read here why this is the case during pregnancy.
Alleged coccyx pain for other reasons
Tailbone pain without a fall or similar reason sometimes has causes that are not directly related to the tailbone. Then the pain may radiate into the coccyx or the surrounding region, although the coccyx itself is healthy. Possible triggers for this are, for example:
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