What Causes Tailbone Pain in Women?
Disease description:
I am a female, and recently I have been experiencing persistent pain in my coccyx (tailbone). The pain is more noticeable when sitting, and sometimes even slight movement can cause severe discomfort. Particularly, when standing up after sitting for a prolonged period, the pain becomes especially intense. I would like to know what might be causing this.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Coccydynia, or tailbone pain, is mainly caused by the following factors:
1. Trauma: Women may land on their buttocks during a fall, leading to coccyx fracture, dislocation, or injury to surrounding soft tissues, which can cause pain. This type of pain is usually severe and may be accompanied by local bruising, swelling, and limited mobility.
2. Prolonged pressure: Continuous pressure on the tailbone during activities such as sitting for long periods on hard seats or cycling may lead to chronic inflammation and pain.
3. Chronic strain: Maintaining poor sitting posture for extended periods, such as sitting on hard benches, cycling, or driving for long durations, may cause chronic strain on the coccyx and surrounding soft tissues, resulting in pain.
4. Childbirth: During delivery, women may experience pressure from the baby passing through the birth canal, which can injure the coccyx and cause pain.
5. Inflammatory diseases: Conditions such as sacroiliitis and ankylosing spondylitis can affect the coccyx and adjacent structures, causing pain.
6. Osteoporosis: Due to decreased estrogen levels, elderly women may experience reduced bone density, leading to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect not only the spine but also the coccyx, causing pain.
