Many of you may be thinking about what “coccyx” means. Typically, the coccyx is mentioned as the “tailbone.”
The coccyx, or tailbone, is way more significant than you might imagine. And not taking care of it can result in major painful problems, which can persist for your whole life.
Let’s discuss this underappreciated structure.
What Is Coccyx?
It is a small grouping of three to five bones in the vicinity of your tailbone that began as distinct bones but eventually fuses together by the time you’re 30.
The coccyx is a triangular arrangement of bone that makes up the very bottom portion of the spine below the sacrum, bears weight and is a crucial part of the body, performs significant functions such as walking, sitting, etc.
Location of Coccyx
In your spine, your coccyx is directly beneath your sacrum, A Bone structure at the base of your spine. Several tendons, muscles and ligaments hook up with it.
Both the coccyx and, therefore, the ischial tuberosities (two bones that make up the bottom of your pelvis) bear your weight when you sit down and know how important it is to keep it in alignment and protect it from any injury.
What Causes Tailbone Pain (Coccydynia)?
Before understanding the causes, you should know that Coccyx pain, aka coccydynia or coccygodynia, is a common problem.
Also, it has been estimated that 1% of any population report back pain, part of which is coccyx pain. Moreover, this pain occurs five times more frequently in women than in men.
Causes Resulting in Coccydynia (TAILBONE PAIN)
Falling
Falling is one of the frequent reasons or causes that result in tailbone pain. And rarely is there any person who hasn’t fallen backward onto their behind! Maybe you fell off a ladder.
Or maybe you got your foot on the ice. All this will take a toll on the coccyx, which as a consequence, can bruise, break (fracture) or dislocate (knock out of place) your tailbone (coccyx).
Pregnancy/Childbirth
During the trimester of pregnancy, a woman’s body secretes hormones that soften the area between the sacrum and the coccyx.
This permits the coccyx to move as necessary during childbirth. This is often a natural process, but unfortunately, such movement may stretch the muscles and ligaments around the coccyx too far, causing additional pain.
Such a strain on those soft tissues keeps them from supporting your coccyx at the right angle.
Having an Excessive or Inadequate Weight
Extra weight applies additional pressure to the coccyx. This will cause the coccyx to lean backward.
Your tailbone will get hurt if it’s out of position, whereas if you don’t have enough fat in your buttocks to stop your coccyx from rubbing against the muscles, ligaments and tendons, which will also cause coccydynia.
Sitting
Nowadays, we all are following a sedentary lifestyle resulting in long hours of sitting, which is going to increase coccyx pain, especially if you’re sitting on a tough or narrow surface.
And to avoid it, stretch and take a brief walk. Even better, find a softer, more comfortable seat or must use a cushioned seat.
Common treatments for obesity and chubbiness include losing weight through healthy eating, being added physically active, and making other changes to your usual habits.
Weight- care programs may help some people lose weight or keep from reacquiring lost weight.
