Coccyx pain is unbearable

[PainPainGoAwayToday]

I’ve always had problems with my back, curved spine seems to have caused most of them. Pain mainly centres around the middle of my back and until a few years ago I thought it was perfectly normal to be in pain and need painkillers almost every day.

And then a couple of months ago I went out for a meal and when I went to stand up the base of my back hurt, like it really hurt. I was with people and not wanting to cause a fuss I forced myself to stand up, but on the way home I was trapped in the back of the car between 2 car seats. I was fine sat still but when I got home I could barely
move to get out of the car! I forced myself to eventually or course and for a few weeks I had bad pain there on and off. I thought I’d hurt it so just went as careful as I could with it. I looked it up and apparently it’s quite common, can be caused by injury, which I haven’t had (although I did fall on that part of my back over 20 years ago and the pain was excruciating, but it hasn’t affected me until now!). I ended up trying some Deep Heat and after a few days it eased so I stopped using it.

Last week we went for a birthday meal at the same restaurant, I didn’t think much of it but stupidly sat on the same bench seat and ever since it’s worse than ever. It’s almost unbearable. It’s worst when standing from sitting so the evenings are worst as I don’t sit down much in the day. Car journeys are also really painful and yesterday I was almost in tears as everything felt like it locked up, there was no way I could stand and getting out of the car took forever. I’m only 38 😭

I have a fear of doctors and have put off going for as long as possible but I can’t really function now when the pain is bad. I also know they’ll just focus on my weight, I am overweight but I always have been and never had this problem before. I’m also trying to lose weight but I can’t face a doctor telling me to just accept this is my life because of it. I’m using regular painkillers and Deep Heat and I’ve just ordered a special cushion to sit on. I was considering a sports massage or similar but it would have to be a one off due to finances so is it worth it? Everywhere online says it’ll pass, just not how long it’ll take and I’m really, seriously struggling. Does anyone have any other tips to reduce the pain, or any stories about having it and eventually being fine??

You need to see a dr. Sound like a slipped disc. It’s agony. Big hugs

If it is your coccyx it can take a while to resolve. An old injury can make an unstable coccyx flare up exactly as you've described by putting pressure on an already fragile area.

Firstly you need to see a Dr for an examination and have xrays to rule out other issues. If it is coccydynia then you need to use horseshoe style cushions when sat to avoid any contact in coccyx area or use a rolled up towel to kind of 'perch' on so coccyx area not under any pressure, lie on your side, take anti inflammatory meds, use ice or heat to reduce local tissue swelling.

After a few months if it doesn't improve ask for referral to a pain clinic where local injections and/or manipulation under anaesthetic may be performed to reposition an out of line coccyx. Hopefully it won't come to that but if it does it is really effective. Good luck, it is a miserable and very painful condition but does go eventually .