Pain in Tailbone after Delivery

[lattekim23]

So, I've just had a normal delivery although the labour was quite long—it's my second child—and I'm really struggling with this awful pain in my tailbone, in my coccyx. I didn't have any pain during the pregnancy; it all started after giving birth. The pain is quite bad, especially when I'm sitting. I haven't spoken to anyone about it yet. I'm still breastfeeding, so I'm a bit hesitant to take any medication. Has anyone else experienced this, or could the labour itself have caused an issue with the coccyx?

Yes I had this. I had to have a special pillow to sit on for a couple of years while it healed. It's completely fine now. But you might find it uncomfortable for a while. Look on Amazon for a pillow to help you and keep moving.
And congrats on your baby!

I had this. In hindsight I think I bruised it because it only completely stopped hurting after about 6 years 🤦🏼‍♀️

I had an epidural so gave birth on my back and was pushing for a long time which is presumably what caused it.

I'm not sure how you treat/help heal a coccyx, it might be worth seeing if your GP thinks a physio referral would be beneficial?

I had this after my first child was born. I assumed it was due to the forceps. I think my coccyx was damaged/ bruised. I remember it being particularly painful in the car. To be honest I didn’t mention it to the GP or anything, as I assumed there’s not much they can do! But I may be wrong. It went away after 2-3 months.

@ObliviousCoalmine Same here; I have been pushing for quite a long time as well, and I am wondering if the pushing itself might have caused some minor damage to the coccyx, leading to this pain

@snazzychair It's reassuring that it would recover. I hope so. Thanks for the advice; I will look for some special pillows.

It's possibly bruised. I had loads of bruising after my first which was fine after about 10days.

But you might also have dislocated something I'd speak with MW or GP if the pain doesn't go away.

A kids rubber ring (cheaper than a specialist pillow) on your chair might take the pressure of it.

Omg I was only talking about this at work yesterday. I damaged mine skiing about 20 years ago - the winter before GCSEs - sitting doing those exams was agony.
then had back to back and long pushing sunny side up baby 4 years ago, followed by incredibly quick but also back to back second birth nearly 2 years ago.
agony.
not all day every day. But I probably notice it at least once a day, and it’s exacerbated by hard seating, sitting for a while at work.
i can’t sit normally without being in pain, have to sit on my foot if that makes sense which I know is really bad for you.
i get a vibrating/tingling sensation from my coccyx or bottom, especially around my period. I just assumed I had to get on with it. Is there anything that can be done? Don’t fancy an injection into my spine tbh!

@Catsonskis Same here; the pain is absolutely excruciating, especially when trying to sit down on anything hard. It’s truly unbearable at times. Oddly enough, I don't get any tingling, just worse pain during my period, and it really messes with my day-to-day. I want to avoid any invasive treatments like injections. I’ve very bad needle phobia! Definitely don’t fancy this turning into something chronic.

Gosh are you me? I also have a needle phobia!
I’ve just ordered one of those tail bone cushions from Amazon for work, but feel like should probably explore some treatment with GP - someone suggested physio but it’s the bone I think not a joint! Hope it’s not like this forever!

I suffered a bruised coccyx from birth of dd1. Get yourself a donut cushion. Available on amazon for less than £30. You need to be referred for postpartum physio. Also if you need stronger pain relief from GP get some. Do not suffer!

@CCLCECSC thank you for giving advice on donut cushion. I just check on Amazon and will order but I’m reluctant to take stronger painkiller because I am BF

A specialist physio can manipulate it, if needed (very intimate treatment).

It took years for mine to resolve, but it was gradually better. A hard chair would cause it to flair up again.

I’m depressed that so many of us don’t mention it to medics. I know why, but I guess it’s under estimated as a result.

Have a conversation with your GP as to your options re pain relief and bf; they'll be options available.

A wheat pack which you can microwave would also be an option.

When/if you're able, something like Pilates (mat or reformer) but with an instructor who knows what they're doing and knows what your issue is, would be beneficial I imagine. I do reformer and it's done wonders for my back in general.

Yes this is true, although I think I was probably right that they wouldn’t do anything and I was BF as well. The mention of hard chairs has brought me back! A friend of mine who gave birth in Belgium and every new mother there is referred for physio therapy after birth.

I have this. It came on in my second pregnancy. DD2 is now over 2 and the pain is awful. So far I've had one steroid injection under sedation - it helped for a few months but the pain has come back. I have the same procedure booked in again for next month, failing which my surgeon has suggested removal of the coccyx. A special cushion does nothing. Painkillers do nothing. Physio hasn't helped. I'm totally fed up.

I have this but I didn’t know it was a “thing”. Sort of happy, sort of not, to see others have also experienced it. I too had a long delivery, on my back. The pain actually didn’t really start until a few months after delivery, and now (7.5 years later!) is just fleeting but my tailbone “clicks” if I sit on something hard or if I sit too slouched. Uch.

@listlovers I didn’t know it’s a 'thing' either 😅. It’s just like you don’t know you have a knee until it starts hurting

I bruised my tailbone by sitting too long on a hard wooden window seat.

The discomfort when rising from a sitting position was terrible. Also when moving to sit down.

Ice packs helped, as did a donut cushion.
Took about 12 months to completely go away.

I hope you get better soon OP but as others have suggested, go to your GP for advice or physio referral if you think it’s going on too long.

I just googled coccyx manipulation and there's no way that's happening without being taken out for a decent dinner and wine first. Nope.

I had that after ds5. Had a failed induction so lots of pain, stirrups and very little progress for 4.5 hours, then c-section. I couldn't sit down comfortably for months.

I had this. Found out several years later while having a spine X-ray that I'd broken my coccyx. Pain was terrible for 6 months and then eased off and now years later is fine. Definitely take some pain killers - you have options despite breastfeeding - look at the breast feeding network website for guidance.

I had this after a very fast back to back birth. I think it was likely pushed out of position somewhat in my case (subluxated) It took a year for things to get back to normal. Sitting on the sofa was literally a pain in the arse.

I also agree that coccyx manipulation is waaaaay too intimate.

It is way too intimate, but as someone whose other joints click and feel so much relief, I really want someone to click my tailbone.

But I’m too chicken- obviously the actual process but also the fear of aggravating it rather than alleviating it!

I had this after both births due to having to be immobilised on my back for spinal/epidural (and the first labour was extremely long and it also took a long time to wear off/ I wasn’t in a good way to move).. and then afterwards they made me sit/ lie on that part of bottom instead ifyswim to protect stitiches/ swelling.. it did last a long time after my 2nd I’m afraid, I was using the circular cushion on top of another cushion to sit, and I also found it ached in a horrid nagging way going upstairs, but it has eventually gone away ! GP said likely deeply bruised.