Tailbone pain, likewise described as coccydynia, impacts some women after child birth. It is defined by pain and inflammation of the fundamental part of the spinal cord. The pain has the tendency to increase considerably when you sit or stand, when you have a defecation. Keep reading to find out the causes and treatments.
Causes
The procedure of giving birth can cause coccydynia when the tailbone is harmed due to the physical trauma on it and the surrounding muscles and tendons. The pressure brought on by pressing the baby out may cause the tailbone and the surrounding muscles to be overstretched, therefore rendering them inefficient to supply stability to the lower spinal column.
The tailbone is most likely to be hurt if your baby is big, or your pelvis is small or unusually formed. It is also more likely to be hurt during delivery if your coccyx was injured in a previous vaginal delivery.
Normal daily activities may be prevented and reasonably easy activities such as driving, bending, or sitting for extended periods may cause pain and discomfort. Feeling pain during sex, increased back pain and pain in the legs are a few of the symptoms that identify coccydynia.
See also: Back Pain after Giving Birth
How Is Tailbone Pain After Birth Treated?
Tailbone pain after birth is treated by a mix of basic, reliable practices such as holding an ice bag on the sensitive area, lying on your side and resting as much as possible.
Your doctor might likewise prescribe ibuprofen to minimize the swelling and the pain related to it. If the pain is excruciating, your doctor will recommend stronger painkillers, and if you are breastfeeding make certain that the medication is safe for your baby.
Some unique cushions have actually been designed to help decrease pressure on the tailbone when taking a seat. Some cushions have holes in the center and are formed like doughnuts, and others are wedge-shaped, designed to make you lean forward somewhat and relieve pressure on the coccyx.
If these pillows do not work for you or they make the discomfort worse, you might find that resting on a firm surface and shifting your weight back and forth, from one side to the other might assist. A warm bath will also help in unwinding your pelvic muscles.
As your coccyx is healing, you have to avoid being constipated at all costs, as this will significantly increase your pain and discomfort. Take lots of fluids and eat fiber-rich foods to assist in digestion. You might even take a stool softener if necessary.
In the first month after giving birth, avoid straining your back by lifting heavy stuff and taking part in physically demanding activities such as jumping and running. Make sure you sleep on your side probably with a pillow in between your knees to make yourself more comfortable.
See also: Tailbone Pain from Sitting
More Conservative Treatments
There are further treatments for tailbone pain after birth if painkillers and best practices don’t appear to work for you. These conservative treatments are noted below. Consult your doctor if they are compatible to breastfeeding.
1. Injection
You might be injected with lidocaine, a numbing medication and a steroid to minimize the swelling around the coccyx area. This treatment is effective and may be used to offer relief for one week and even a number of years. Depending upon how well your body receives the treatment, you can get up to 3 injections within a year.
2. Manual Manipulation
Manual adjustment to treat coccydynia is done to lower the pain brought on by immobility of the coccyx. The joint in between the coccyx and the sacrum is manually gotten used to achieve this.
3. Massage
The main function of rubbing the coccygeal area is to reduce tension in the pelvic floor muscles connected to the coccyx. Tense muscles tend to strain ligaments and the sacrococcygeal joint, which limits its mobility.
4. Extending
A skilled practitioner such as a physiotherapist or a chiropractic practitioner can gently extend the muscles in the coccyx to minimize muscle stress in the coccygeal area. He or she can likewise offer you numerous stretches to carry out to decrease the pain.
5. TENS Unit
This treatment is advised for patients who do not wish to ingest medications or have bookings about taking a lot of medications. The TENS (trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) system works by hindering pain signal transmission in between the coccyx and the brain. There are two type of TENS system, one with high frequency, used for a short duration and the other with low frequency, used for a longer duration.
The majority of cases of tailbone pain after birth will recover after one to two months. In case conservative treatment is not effective, consult your doctor who may recommend surgery to fix the situation.
