Nothing is worse than waking up at three in the morning with a dull but constant pain in your tailbone. Coccyx discomfort can be as incapacitating as ever during the day by making routine activities painful, but it can also flare up at night, generating piercing aches and pains and leaving you often feeling even more worn out throughout the day.
Why Do Coccyx/Tailbone Pains Occur?
There are numerous potential reasons of coccyx pain. A number of elements can occasionally be at fault. You’ll see in the paragraphs following that anyone can experience these regrettable aches and pains. Here are the most frequent reasons for coccyx pain.
- Slip-and-Fall Mishaps
There are innumerable ways to fall on our behinds, and we’ve all done it at some point. Examples include slipping on a wet bathroom floor, colliding with a bike, and leaning too far back in a chair. As a result, the group of bones at the base of the spine frequently sustain bruises or, in more severe circumstances, breaks or fractures. - RSI, or repetitive strain injury
Sports or hobbies like rowing or cycling that force you to lean back and forth repeatedly might stretch the tissue around your tailbone and injure your coccyx. - Gaining Weight
Weight gain and obesity are frequently related to coccyx problems. As you gain weight, your tailbone is put under increased pressure, which can cause it to shift and hurt. - Pregnancy
The female body secretes hormones throughout the third trimester that naturally soften the bones between the coccyx and the sacrum, facilitating a more comfortable delivery. Usually, this happens naturally. But occasionally, it can lead to overstretching of the ligaments and bones, which can cause pain. - Anorexia
For the coccyx, being underweight is problematic as well. The coccyx is more vulnerable to rubbing up against ligaments and tendons when there is less body fat in the area of the lower spine and buttocks. This may induce tissue inflammation and pain in the tailbone.
Coccyx/Tailbone Pain Symptoms
Coccyx pain is easily identified because it frequently occurs in the vicinity of the tailbone. When engaging in tasks that require prolonged sitting or frequent tugging or pushing, it may flare up.
The following are some of the most typical signs to look out for:
discomfort following prolonged sitting or standing
discomfort coming from the tailbone
discomfort during sitting or standing
Having bowel motions hurt
Having a painful sexual experience
Best Positions to Sleep to Reduce Tailbone Pain
With coccyx pain, going to sleep at night might be challenging. How you sleep greatly determines how to sleep with coccyx discomfort. It’s possible that some sleeping positions make the pain worse while others aid to lessen it. Here are some suggestions for encouraging healthy bedtime routines.
- Put a pillow between your legs and try sleeping on your side.
This is a typical approach that can help relieve strain on your tailbone and lower back. Your hips may be better aligned with the pillow’s assistance, which will relieve some of the nighttime pressure on your hipbones. - Use the appropriate pillow, please
A pillow that is too soft or not bulky enough can prevent your neck from being properly aligned with the rest of your back and spine, putting additional strain on your tailbone. Never undervalue a pillow that is the proper thickness and suppleness. - Try to sleep on your back if you can
In order to lessen the strain on your coccyx, it is best to sleep on your back. Even better, try lying on your back while supporting your knees with a wedge-shaped pillow. This may help your tailbone to relax even more and enable your coccyx to sink into the mattress. - Try not to sleep on your stomach.
No amount of wedge pillows will make it desirable to sleep on your stomach. Because a large portion of your body weight is pulled toward the center when you rest on your stomach, your lower back and coccyx are subjected to excessive pressure. Additionally, when you turn your head to one side to breathe while sleeping on your stomach, the top of your spine is twisted. If your neck is in good shape, it won’t be much of a problem, but if it isn’t, you should avoid it.
Additional Remedies for Tailbone Pain
Anyone with coccyx pain will benefit greatly from finding the ideal sleeping posture. However, it’s not the only course of action you can take. There are several additional treatments to treat tailbone discomfort, including:
applying heat to a heat pack to reduce edema and calm the muscles
savoring a cup of soothing tea before bed
using a coccyx cushion all day to alleviate pain
Can the way you sleep IMPAIR your tailbone pain?
Most of the time, tailbone pain is not the result of our sleeping position. However, sleeping unhealthily or doing so can make an issue that already exists worse. The best way to lessen the effects of tailbone pain is to maintain a regular sleeping schedule and make sure you have the appropriate bedding.
How can I tell whether the pain in my tailbone is severe?
Always exercise caution when treating mild, transient tailbone discomfort. If you start to experience pain and are unsure of how to sleep with coccyx pain, seeing a physiotherapist is a good suggestion. After an accident, severe pain should be taken seriously and addressed right away. Pain that lasts for more than a few weeks should also be treated seriously.
When your tailbone hurts, what should you avoid doing?
Avoid engaging in any repeated or taxing physical activity, as well as sitting down on hard surfaces for an extended amount of time. Additionally, make an effort to minimize constipation, and steer clear of sleeping on your stomach to reduce the stress on your tailbone.
Is Walking Beneficial After A Tailbone Injury?
Yes. Try to be active and spend less time sitting down. Walking throughout the day can promote a healthier lifestyle in general and ease stress on your lower back, legs, and feet.