The coccyx (Latin coccyx) is the lowest part of the human spinal column. This is a rudimentary piece consisting of 4 or 5 vertebrae fused together. It has a wedge-shaped shape with a decrease downward and resembles a small tail. Despite the vestigiality, the tailbone plays an important role in the human body. Muscles and ligaments are attached to its front sections. They provide the functioning of many organs of both the genital and urinary systems, and the large intestine.
The coccyx helps in the distribution of the load on the pelvic organs, serves as a support when sitting, it is affected by leaning forward and bending the body back. Therefore, with pain in the coccyx, a person experiences severe discomfort.
In the article, we will consider why the pain in the tailbone gives to the legs, what are the causes of the appearance and how to act in order to get rid of such a problem, which doctor should be consulted, what types of examinations will help to understand the cause of the pain. We will also give useful tips on how to alleviate the condition of the patient.
Causes
Pain in the tailbone gives to the legs for a variety of reasons. This can be a disease of the process of the spine, the so-called coccygodynia, and neighboring organs, the soreness of which is transmitted to the coccyx. This is pseudococcygodynia, which occurs during gynecological, urological or proctological diseases. Diseases of these organs are often accompanied by a condition in which the pain radiates to the coccyx.
We list some of them:
- diseases of the rectum, such as paraproctitis (inflammation and suppuration of the intestinal tissue), hernia (with muscle weakness), a cyst or polyps, proctalgia (accompanied by muscle spasms);
- prostatitis in men and inflammation of the ovaries in women;
- inflammation of the joints of the pelvis.
Possible pathologies
A sharp pain in the tailbone, extending to the leg, can occur when the sciatic nerve is pinched. The pain extends to the buttocks, thighs, and even the lower leg.
An intervertebral hernia or cyst containing the contents in a capsule may appear on the spine in the lumbar region, sacrum, or tailbone.
Sometimes pain occurs with pathological changes in the cartilage of the spine - osteochondrosis. The disease is accompanied by dystrophic changes in the joints of the spine.
Sometimes the pain in the tailbone gives to the legs due to hemorrhoids, when there is thrombosis or tortuosity of the veins located near it.
Obesity leads to the fact that overweight puts incredible pressure on the spine, and the tailbone suffers the most, as fat people are inactive, they spend more time in a sitting position. Soft tissues of the fat layer lead the pelvis when sitting in the wrong position, which puts strong pressure on the coccyx, and sometimes leads to dislocation.
Tailbone injury
Getting injured in the lower spine is quite simple. Most often, children, women, the elderly and athletes suffer. This is a closed injury, mainly caused by a fall with a direct blow to the coccyx or gluteus, in women the damage may result from labor.
Small children often fall, and since the skeleton is still not strong enough, hematomas, dislocations, or coccyx fractures are obtained . At the same time, the pain in the tailbone gives to the legs, swelling of the tissues occurs.
Athletes are also prone to tailbone injuries. These are people involved in skiing or hockey, cyclists who have a hard seat, basketball players and wrestlers, who fall on a hard surface with force, football players.
Damage to the coccygeal zone occurs during falls in the winter, when people slip on a frozen road. When falling between tissues and bone, sharp compression occurs, as a result of which pathological changes in tissues occur. Elderly people who have a reduced bone density are especially affected.
When injured, hemorrhage between tissues appears, associated with rupture of blood vessels, muscle tissue and fatty tissue are destroyed, which leads to probable suppuration. Sometimes the pain in the coccyx gives to the legs not immediately, but after a few months. Therefore, it is recommended, just in case, when falling on the coccyx, consult a traumatologist, take an X-ray to exclude a fracture or dislocation of the coccyx.
Pain during pregnancy
Pregnancy is often accompanied by aching pain in the tailbone, extending to the leg. This is not worth fearing, as the process is natural in nature. The woman’s growing weight and gradually increasing abdomen leads to a shift in the center of gravity, and hormonal changes prepare the bones of the small pelvis for the birth process.
To exclude more severe pathologies, for pains in the coccyx and leg, be sure to visit a doctor for a consultation. If the pain syndrome is associated only with the position of the woman, then the following recommendations will help ease the condition.
Pregnancy Tips
Since it is impossible to alleviate pain with medications during pregnancy, because this can affect the health of the child, the doctor can only recommend external products, such as ointments.
Light therapeutic exercises will help strengthen the muscles of the lower back. A woman can do massage of the lower back with light rubbing movements.
Do not stay for a long time on your feet, do not wear high-heeled shoes. If you feel pain in the coccyx while sitting, use a special rubber circle or a small pillow. This will relieve tension in the lower spine.
It will help to reduce the pressure of the child on the bone of the coccyx bandage. For severe pain, it is recommended to lie on the left side. Relieve tension from the muscles of the back by taking a warm bath. Be sure to consult your doctor about this method, as there may be contraindications. Water should not be hot in any case!
By the end of pregnancy, the tailbone bends, giving way to the baby during childbirth. In some cases, this leads to sprains in the lower part of the spine, which causes constant pain. Coccyalgia after childbirth is a fairly common occurrence.
Sedentary work
Often, pain in the coccyx leads to prolonged sitting. People working in offices and at the computer are most prone to this situation. It is clear that you don’t want to quit your favorite job, besides if you pay good money for it. But health is more important, so the solution can be found by consulting a doctor.
First of all, spend all your free time outside work for active activities, be sure to sign up for a gym or fitness. Exercising will strengthen your back muscles and relieve stress on your spine. At work, take frequent breaks, at least for a few minutes. Change your position, do some exercises for the back, walk along the corridor, rub the coccyx area, buy yourself a rubber circle or a special orthopedic pillow on the seat of the workplace.
Symptomatology
Pain in the tailbone are of a different nature. They can be pulling and aching, stitching and burning, sharp or permanent. Sometimes there is pain to the left of the coccyx, extending to the leg, sometimes above, below or to the side of the coccygeal zone.
Pain can occur both in a calm state, and when bending, getting up, walking or turning the body to the sides, with long sitting. The pain is aggravated by a change in body position.
In addition to pain in the coccyx itself, a person experiences discomfort during bowel movements or constipation, during menstruation and sexual intercourse. Pain spreads to other organs, such as the perineum, buttocks, or rectum. Often the pain in the tailbone gives to the right leg - thigh and lower leg. Occasionally, a slight numbness appears in the lower spine.
Diagnostics
If frequent or sharp pains occur in the tailbone, do not delay visiting a doctor. As you already understood, the causes of pain can be pathological in nature, so it is better to undergo an examination to exclude diseases in other areas.
The doctor will palpate, analyze the patient’s complaints, question him about heredity, whether there were injuries in the recent past. It will be necessary to pass laboratory tests: a blood and urine test, blood biochemistry, a coprogram. It is also necessary to do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. This will reveal problems with the genitourinary system. Colonoscopy will help to understand whether there are tumors or inflammatory processes in the intestines that put pressure on the coccyx. Radiography will provide information about possible dislocations, displacements or fractures of the coccyx after an impact or when the patient is overweight. Computed tomography can detect changes in the coccyx of a post-traumatic nature, such as the presence of a cyst or neoplasm.
Disease treatment
The treatment of pain in the tailbone depends on the identified causes. If a concomitant disease is detected, then first of all the treatment will be directed to the diseased organ. If pain occurs in pregnant women, but requires special gymnastics, massage, wearing a bandage. Medicines for such pain are not prescribed. A woman will have to experience inconvenience for a while.
If the pain is caused by a sedentary lifestyle, then a frequent change of posture, breaks in work are recommended. Acupuncture, mud therapy, physiotherapy will help.
With severe pain, the doctor can prescribe painkillers or ointments, in the worst case, novocaine blockade, microclysters or pain relievers in the rectum. It is advisable to completely immobilize the patient in this acute period. In the future, it is recommended to wear orthopedic products for some time.
From physiotherapy, the doctor can prescribe treatment with a laser or ultrasound, UHF or ozokerite, diadynamic currents or darsonvalization. In the most extreme case, when nothing helps, the surgeon can decide on the operative removal of the tailbone.
Be vigilant about your state of health, consult a doctor on time, do not start a disease to a chronic condition. Be healthy!