Coccygodynia is a disease in which persistent or paroxysmal pains occur in the coccyx. Most often, this syndrome occurs in women, due to the anatomical structure of the pelvic bones, the special mobility of the coccyx, and also the reproductive function. Treatment of coccygodynia is most often required in people aged 40 to 60 years, but cases have been recorded in the younger generation. Let us consider in more detail the causes of the disease, symptoms and treatment, both with medical methods and folk remedies.
Causes of the disease
Coccygodynia can develop for a variety of reasons, there are those that are observed most often. First of all, this disease is associated with problems in the tailbone and nerve plexuses in the sacrum, as well as with injuries. Pain after injury (fall, blow to the coccyx) can be caused by dislocation, displacement, as well as damage to soft tissues (scarring, muscle myositis). So coccygodynia begins to develop. Symptoms and treatment in women are often associated with diseases of the muscles and nerves of the perineum, postpartum tears, and perineum prolapse. A characteristic feature of the disease is a large time gap between trauma and the occurrence of pain syndromes. For this reason, people can not connect the causes of the disease among themselves.
Coccygodynia, in addition to injuries, can occur when scars appear in the anus, this can be a result of operations, constipation or diarrhea. There is a connection with diseases of the internal organs that are located near the coccyx (pelvic bones, rectum).
Pain syndrome develops due to spasm in the muscles of the perineum, and it is also associated with a reduction in ligaments in the pelvis. By its origin, local hypertonicity is not something supernatural, it is formed naturally by the development of trigger points of skeleton muscles. If such hypertonicity is isolated, it is isolated as an independent disease.
Symptoms
Coccyalgia is constantly accompanied by periodic dull pain in the buttocks and tailbone. With physical exertion on the pelvic area, pain can intensify. It can disturb the patient for a rather long period, while there is a curvature of the coccyx, the nerve roots are compressed, and atrophy of muscles and tissues occurs. There are cases in medicine when an illness after receiving an injury has been disturbing patients for over 15 years.
The rectum, buttocks, lumbar, upper legs are areas of pain localization with coccyalgia. Symptoms and treatment of the disease are obvious, the neurosurgeon selects the tactics of the measures. Most often in patients observed:
- depression;
- sleep disturbance, insomnia;
- pain spreads to neighboring areas;
- increased sweating;
- pallor of the skin;
- anxiety;
- decreased performance;
- Anxiety
- gait change;
- discomfort and heaviness in the coccyx;
- pain on palpation of the coccyx;
- decreased physical activity.
Pain occurs when the neuronal structure of the lower region of the spine is affected. There is a possibility of complications of neurology of the lower extremities, which leads to complete paralysis, gives impetus to the development of other diseases. Coccygodynia can develop for a long time and manifest itself after some period after receiving an injury.
Diagnostics
To establish the diagnosis of coccyalgia, a laboratory-instrumental examination is required . To begin with, the clinician must:
- Listen to patient complaints, clarify how often symptoms appear.
- To study the medical history, history. This will suggest the cause of coccyalgia. Symptoms and treatment in women may be related to labor.
- Perform a physical examination of the patient. Depending on gender, age - consultation of a gynecologist, urologist.
Laboratory tests include:
- blood test (general and biochemistry);
- Analysis of urine;
- coprogram.
Instrumental studies will confirm the diagnosis:
- X-ray of the spine;
- CT and MRI;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs and abdominal cavity.
Which doctor should I contact?
A neurosurgeon is usually involved in the diagnosis of this disease, and he is referred for examination. If pain is detected in the coccyx (coccyalgia), this doctor also prescribes treatment.
If you suspect an ailment, an initial examination can be performed by gynecologists, proctologists, traumatologists (it all depends on qualifications). When a coccygodynia is diagnosed (the symptoms and treatment are known to these doctors), the patient is prescribed a course of therapy. If the disease accompanies osteochondrosis, the patient can be referred to a vertebrologist, this narrow specialist is involved in the infringement of nerves (diseases of the neuralgic group). The primary reason gives an occasion for examination by one or another doctor, besides the ones listed, it can be: a urologist, surgeon, obstetrician-gynecologist, pediatrician, andrologist, neurologist.
Coccyalgia: treatment at home
There are many tips that can cope with the manifestations of coccyalgia at home. The most effective is considered physiotherapy exercises. A whole therapeutic complex of special exercises has been developed. If coccyalgia symptoms are disturbing, home treatment involves the use of special seat pads. They allow you to relieve stress from the tailbone and hip joints. The disease in such a sparing mode does not worsen.
If you are worried about severe pain, you can use diclofenac group drugs. The substance is part of many ointments that relieve pain in the joints and spine.
It should be remembered that it will not be possible to completely get rid of coccyalgia at home, because we are talking about degenerative processes in the coccyx itself. Folk remedies for pain relief can only be used in combination with the therapy prescribed by the doctor.
Drug treatment
Drug treatment of coccyalgia includes the use of those drugs that can eliminate the manifestations of pain. For this, injections are prescribed that stop the development of inflammation in the soft tissues, as well as the transmission of a pain impulse through the nerve roots. The drugs used are:
- Movalis.
- "Lidocaine."
- "Novocaine".
Additionally, for the appointment of:
- Diprospan.
- "Hydrocortisone."
Independently, without a doctor's prescription, medications should not be used to treat coccyalgia. This can only aggravate the course of the disease, cause complications.
In the treatment, drugs such as Lyric and Tebantin are also sometimes used; they can be purchased only by prescription. They quickly have an analgesic effect, stop exacerbation and inflammation of the soft tissues.
How to relieve pain?
When considering a disease such as coccygodynia (symptoms and treatment), patient reviews should also be considered. What do those who suffer from the disease say? How can I remove the pain syndrome, which sometimes becomes simply unbearable? Many respond positively to stopping nerve endings with novocaine blockade. The procedure is as follows: in the area of inflammation, where the neural endings are located, a ready-made solution is introduced into the articular bag itself. The effect is very fast, good, but it brings only temporary relief. The method can be used at any stage of the disease, at different stages of treatment during exacerbation.
Folk remedies
If coccyalgia is established, treatment with folk remedies will help relieve pain. It is worth noting that these methods have an effect in the initial stages of the disease, when pain occurs periodically. In most cases, the above prescriptions should be combined with medical methods.
The analgesic effect is possessed by:
- Lotions based on fir oil, lavender, grated raw potatoes.
- Iodine grid.
- Anesthetic suppositories (based on lidocaine or novocaine).
- In people's councils, there is often a recipe using geraniums: you can take baths by adding a decoction of the plant there. Compresses with geraniums to the affected area also help relieve the aggravation.
- There are many positive reviews about the use of sea buckthorn candles. But it is worth saying that this method facilitates coccyalgia in those cases when it is caused by rectal fractures, hemorrhoids, transferred paraproctitis, perineal ailments.
- Elimination of symptoms using potato sprouts: take a glass of potato shoots, 500 ml of medical alcohol. Sprouts should not be more than two centimeters. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Fold in a jar and pour alcohol. Within ten days, the tincture should be in a dark place. Apply for rubbing in a sore spot. Drinking is strictly prohibited! It contains poison. All methods must be agreed with your doctor.
Tips
In the treatment of coccyalgia, to remove inflammation, use a rosehip decoction. A liter of boiling water is poured into 100 g of fruit. Boiling is not required. Insist half an hour. Strain the broth and store in the dark at room temperature. Take 100 ml three times a day.
To restore diseased tissues in the coccyx, dressings with aloe are applied. The plant has reparative properties. A leaf of aloe is cut from the bottom of the trunk, where it is more fleshy, spines are cut. Divide the sheet in the middle into two parts. Lay out on gauze or bandage. The wet side should touch the skin. Lock the compress.
Immunity plays a huge role in restoring the body. To strengthen it, it is recommended to use citrus fruits daily with a rich content of vitamins C, A, E.
To prevent the development of osteoporosis, you need to include in your diet more fish that are rich in phosphorus, as well as consume dairy products containing calcium.
Physical Education
In the treatment of coccyalgia, physical exercises are prescribed, but here it is important to observe some principles:
- With an exacerbation of the disease, it is forbidden to perform exercises that are aimed at the active mobility of the coccyx.
- You can train paravertebral muscles only in static mode.
- In the treatment of the disease, you need to maximize the use of exercises that eliminate motor stereotypes.
- When performing physical movements, there should be no pain.
The exercises that directly affect the functioning of the hip joints are used directly.
Birch tree . Starting position - lying on the rug. A soft, comfortable cushion can be placed under the lower back. Legs need to be pulled up, while supporting the back with your hands. Socks should aim at the ceiling. If the exercise is difficult at first, you can rely on the wall.
Exercise with the ball . Squeezing a gym ball. The starting position is on the stomach, legs apart. Put a ball between your hips. You need to compress it for 15 seconds, then relax. This exercise trains well atrophied muscles of the back and tailbone.
The boat. Starting position - lying on your stomach. Raise legs, arms, while not bending them, hold for 15 seconds, relax. To the extent possible, increase the time. Exercise strengthens the muscles of the back and abs.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy in the treatment of coccyalgia (coccyx pain) involves the use of ultrasound and electromagnetic waves. Their effect eliminates tissue defects without surgery. The effect is noticeable in the early stages of the disease. A visit to the physiotherapy room is not considered mandatory, this is an addition to general therapy. These methods make it possible to prevent the development of exacerbations of the disease.
Prevention
Treatment of coccyalgia is not an easy task. So that the disease does not go into more severe forms, it is necessary to follow the doctor's recommendations and carry out preventive measures:
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- to play sports - to strengthen the muscle corset of the lower back, buttocks, back;
- eat right, consume vitamins, minerals;
- conduct pelvic examinations annually.
It is very important to get rid of chronic diseases that indirectly or directly lead to coccyalgia: paraproctitis, hemorrhoids, osteochondrosis, pinching of nerve fibers, flat feet, hallux valgus.