tail bone (coccyx) pain

[bacarver]

Anyone else experiencing this and doesn't know why? I was in a bike wreck almost 4 years ago when a dog knocked out my front wheel. I do not remember the seconds immediately after impact so I don't know if I was slammed on my tail bone. I don't think I was because I had no coccyx pain during the month I recovered.
This pain just appeared a little over a year ago and I'm clueless. I've had X-rays (nothing seen) and a manual exam (failed to come in contact with the coccyx plane and was only unpleasant).
I do have trouble sitting and I am now experiencing pain when I ride/use my trainer as well.
Celebrex didn't help. I really don't want to drag a donut pillow with me everywhere I go.
I know I'll eventually go to a specialist, but how can I locate the one who will help me instead of waste time with several who will act like they understand?
My health care provider wanted me to go to a pain specialist, but pain meds won't address the structural problem that I believe exists.
I'm not asking fellow TE-ers to diagnose, but just to share their experiences. Maybe something will be the thing that helps me get relief.

Thanks! Barb

[tctrek]

There is a type of cyst that can grow on the end of your tailbone. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/pilonidal_cyst/article_em.htm

I had one when I was a teenager after falling squarely on my tailbone on the basketball court. It is exceedingly painful. After months of pain, we went to the doctor and the cyst was diagnosed and "lanced" in the doctors office. After that I had it lanced a few times a year until I couldn't stand it anymore and had surgery to have it permanently removed. That was 30 years ago and it's still gone, although they do have a 10-20% chance of growing back.

[Thorn]

Just a stupid question....you didn't change your saddle about a year ago, did you? Coccyx pain is a symptom of a saddle that is too narrow.

I'm useless at how to find a good health care provider, but what about asking a PT that does pelvic floor work? I don't know if the coccyx falls into their area, but it might be a place to start.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It is just possible that some chair or bike seat you are using frequently is too soft or gel-filled. Though this may seem counter-intuitive, what soft seats do is prevent your sitbones from keeping your soft tissues up high enough off the sitting surface to prevent the padding from pressing on your surrounding soft tissues and nerves. Soft foam bike saddles often do cause pain and numbness (they sure did for me!) and depending on their dynamics they might contribute to tailbone area pain.

I'm no doctor, but it couldn't hurt to try a harder sitting surface for part of your day to see if this takes pressure off your sitbone area. Feel your weight on your two sitbones when you sit on a plain wooden chair leaning forward slightly, and see if that is less painful to your tailbone than sitting on a foamy/gel padded surface that pushes up against all parts of your bottom and girl-parts. Simple enough to test out.

I injured my tailbone on my bike badly two years ago, but it was a major direct hit on the hard saddle nose and there was no wondering what the pain source was from. It took about a year to heal well, and believe me I can so sympathize with your tailbone pain. :(

[Tuckervill]

I get kind of a bruised feeling if I sit in my hard wooden kitchen chair for a day. You know, sometimes you're cooking and doing other stuff in the kitchen, and sitting down a lot, maybe using the computer in between tending the stove. I spend quite a few days like that every month, and my tail bone does start to be achy. My tail bone hurts right now for that reason.

I think if you've been going through for a year, you are reinjuring it regularly through something you do. If it's not the bike saddle, I'd try to really observe your time habits and try to narrow down what it might be. (i.e., my low back gets stiff and painful if I spend too much time on the couch.)

I hope it's nothing more serious than that.

Karen

[bacarver]

I looked at the cyst website and that doesn't seem to be the problem. And I've been using the same bike seat for over a decade. The pain has been tolerable this past year and I've been able to live with it. Now it seems to be getting worse. So, doctor searching time for me . . .

Thanks again! Barb

[txred9876]

What about a chiropractor?

Even though I am new to riding I do have pain in that area quite often and now that I have been going regularly it only takes an adjustment or two and I am good as new.

Tina

[Cataboo]

I've bruised my tail bone a couple of times - once in gymnastics, one falling on the ice. Both times it hurt for months, every time I sat down or stood up, and it didn't go away until I resorted to carrying a donut pillow around to sit on.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I looked at the cyst website and that doesn't seem to be the problem. And I've been using the same bike seat for over a decade. The pain has been tolerable this past year and I've been able to live with it. Now it seems to be getting worse. So, doctor searching time for me . . .


Do you mean the same exact bike saddle, or the same type of saddle? Because sometimes bike saddles can be like mattresses or old recliners- their support can start slowly breaking down, and though they still feel 'comfy' they may not be supporting your seat well anymore. Just a thought.

[Pangie]

It is just possible that some chair or bike seat you are using frequently is too soft or gel-filled. Though this may seem counter-intuitive, what soft seats do is prevent your sitbones from keeping your soft tissues up high enough off the sitting surface to prevent the padding from pressing on your surrounding soft tissues and nerves. Soft foam bike saddles often do cause pain and numbness (they sure did for me!) and depending on their dynamics they might contribute to tailbone area pain.

I'm no doctor, but it couldn't hurt to try a harder sitting surface for part of your day to see if this takes pressure off your sitbone area. Feel your weight on your two sitbones when you sit on a plain wooden chair leaning forward slightly, and see if that is less painful to your tailbone than sitting on a foamy/gel padded surface that pushes up against all parts of your bottom and girl-parts. Simple enough to test out.

I injured my tailbone on my bike badly two years ago, but it was a major direct hit on the hard saddle nose and there was no wondering what the pain source was from. It took about a year to heal well, and believe me I can so sympathize with your tailbone pain. :(

I came here searching for why my tailbone hurts so much after biking, and I think this might be it. I've got a very cushy seat, and a pretty cushy bum, haha. I'm going to play around with adjusting the seat to see if it helps. Do you think it would decrease as my bum gets less cushy? Less soft tissue to push against nerves?

[ZenSojourner]

I've been using the same bike seat for over a decade.

A ten year old bike seat is probably overdue for replacement. They break down over time and you don't get the support you got when it was new.

you might want to consider replacing the seat. . .

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I came here searching for why my tailbone hurts so much after biking, and I think this might be it. I've got a very cushy seat, and a pretty cushy bum, haha. I'm going to play around with adjusting the seat to see if it helps. Do you think it would decrease as my bum gets less cushy? Less soft tissue to push against nerves?

Riding with pain is no fun.
If you can try a different saddle that is less cushy and padded, you might have a solution. Beats waiting around to lose weight while you suffer in pain!

[Pangie]

Riding with pain is no fun.
If you can try a different saddle that is less cushy and padded, you might have a solution. Beats waiting around to lose weight while you suffer in pain!

I went in for a tune-up today and explained the pain in the butt I've been experiencing (literal pain, that is, haha) and the lady helping me agreed that my seat is way too cushy. We looked at a few options and eventually settled on this one:

http://globalbikes.info/itemdetails.cfm?LibId=38357

WOW! What a difference! I can tell that I'm actually on my sit bones, which is a new one for me, haha.

Thanks for recommending I try a different one!

[tctrek]

Wonder how the OP is making out? Sure you can have tailbone discomfort from the wrong saddle or saddle position, but I don't think I've heard of it going on and on into daily life, just sitting down, etc. That seemed extreme, unless maybe she rides daily.

[bacarver]

I had an MRI on April 8th and the report mentions disc degeneration, disc bulging and protrusion, and degenerative joint disease to the lumbar/sacral areas. No problems were found with my coccyx. So, I think the tailbone pain is radiating pain. My health care provider offered heat therapy and steroids. I don't see how heat will help and I do not want steroids because I'll gain all kinds of weight. The next option at some point is possibly seeing a spine/back specialist in Evansville IN.

I ride twice a week in most cases and I'm typically on the bike for less than two hours each time. My last few rides were pain-free in regard to my bike seat.

Couches are still my biggest problem. I sit and reposition myself carefully. No sudden moves!

How did this problem get started? Is it something I did or is this my aging process? I value exercise so highly and I want to ride and hike till I'm old. Is this going to result in a change of plans?

I'm only 48.

I do have the information provided by the MRI, but I'm still confused about the whole thing.

I sure miss the days when I was pain free . . .

Barb

[OakLeaf]

If it's improving with the measures you're taking, I wouldn't worry. If it's not, then if it were me I'd see a chiropractor who has or works with a good massage therapist. You've now twice mentioned the possibility of a structural problem with referred pain. Chiropractic and massage are the specialties that treat those conditions.


(I also wouldn't worry about the "TMI" on your MRI. Perhaps some Yoga or physical therapy to help re-align your spine and let the discs heal.)

[Leesann]

Hi Barb, I know its a year since you last posted, just wondering how you are doing with riding and your tailbone pain.

I've just started riding, and its aggravating my tailbone pain. Prior to riding, I've had tailbone pain for about 4 years. I've seen orthopedists, chiropractors, massage therapists and physical therapists. Had bone scans, x-rays, and nothing shows as abnormal. I didn't have an injury, I started a new job, with a new chair, and so began my pain. Fast forward 4 years. I still have pain, although more moderate now. Helps that I have a job where I'm on my feet all day. But riding my new bike has brought back intense pain.

I found coccyx.org. I highly recommend anyone with tailbone pain to go to this site. I've found that most doctors know NOTHING about treating this kind of pain. The Ortho told me I have a slight bulging disk. The Chiro told me my sacrum is out of tork. Yes, well, but no one has provided a solution that provides pain relief. The Coccyx website has a list of doctors who specialize in treating this kind of pain. Some do manual adjustments, or steriod injections, and for extreme cases, surgeons will remove the coccyx. I've moved and am now trying a new doctor I found from the site. Two years ago, I used one other doctor from the site who was very helpful. He did manual adjustments, which gave me significant relief. I will have to see how the new Doctor goes, have only seen him once, and my pain is slightly reduced, but don't think I could ride a bike right now.

I'm also in the market for a new saddle. Anyone with tail bone pain have a recommendation for a new saddle? I want one that has little or no contact with my tailbone area.

Lisa

[Bike Goddess]

Look into Egoscue Method. This form of PT is designed to help people with all kinds of pain. I"m currently doing a program of E-exercises which has helped me (posture related stuff) a lot. They have videos explaining how to do the exercises on the web. We are lucky enough in the SF Bay Area to find people who will tailor a program to your specific needs.

One of my bike buddies who is familiar with this kind of therapy (he has used it with patients in the past) says its quite good.

Our first introduction to this type of bodywork was through a book we found called "Pain Free". Lots of exercises in the book with pictures, etc. and explanations of what the exercise is meant to do in terms of areas of your body.

[bacarver]

Hi Leesann -

Thank you for thinking of me. I chased doctors and tests last summer and got no where. I bought a special v-cushion and it didn't help. I carried it everywhere for a month.
I decided to just live with the problem. Interestingly, the pain and the disruption to my life has decreased. For this, I am thankful. I still have occasional coccyx pain, but not like it was last summer. I have read that this pain sometimes disappears in the same way it appeared. I have no explanations for either.
I'm using the same saddle, and I'm glad I didn't take my time and money to locate the perfect saddle (if there is one). The angle of my coccyx when I'm on my bike is degrees off from the site of pain. Therefore, my bike seat has little to do with my tailbone pain. Sitting at a 90 degree angle (on soft chairs and couches and my bed) was causing me significant pain last summer.
For now I am doing well.
I hope the same for everyone else burdened by this perplexing problem.
Barb