The main symptom of coccydynia is pain and discomfort at the base of your spine, where the coccyx is located. The severity of the pain varies from person to person, and it can get worse as time passes.
The pain in and around your coccyx can sometimes make it very difficult to carry out everyday activities, such as driving, bending over or sitting down. The pain may be particularly intense when you move from a sitting to a standing position.
You may find the pain of coccydynia gets worse when you are in a sitting position, particularly if you are leaning backwards. Some people find they can only tolerate sitting in the same position for a few minutes before having to change their position.
It may seem odd, but sitting on a soft surface may be more painful than sitting on something hard. This is because sitting on a soft surface places most of your weight on your coccyx rather than on the hard bones below your pelvis.
Other symptoms
As well as pain in your coccyx, other symptoms of coccydynia may include:
- backache
- shooting pains down your legs
- pain before or when you pass stools
- pain during sex
- painful buttocks and hips
- in women: increased pain during your period
If you have coccydynia, the pain in your coccyx can also make it difficult to sleep comfortably at night. You may need to keep changing positions while lying in bed.
When to seek medical advice
It is recommended you see your GP if you have persistent lower back pain that lasts more than a few days. While coccydynia is not usually a serious condition it is important your GP examines you in case there is a more serious and less common cause of your symptoms, such as a fracture.
In addition you may require prescription painkillers if you have particularly severe pain.
