Laxatives: Tailbone Pain Risk?

Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a common problem, with women and people assigned female at birth being five times more likely to experience it than men and people assigned male at birth. The pain can be caused by various factors, including injury, pregnancy, childbirth, and prolonged sitting on hard surfaces. While it usually goes away on its own or with treatment, in some cases, stronger interventions like surgery may be required. So, can your tailbone hurt from laxatives? While laxatives themselves are not likely to cause tailbone pain, they may be recommended by medical professionals to treat constipation or difficulty with bowel movements, which can be a symptom of tailbone pain.

Tailbone pain during bowel movements

Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a common problem, especially for women and people assigned female at birth, who are five times more likely to experience it than men and people assigned male at birth. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, pregnancy, childbirth, and prolonged sitting on hard surfaces.

Causes of Tailbone Pain During Bowel Movements

• Injury: Falling backward or experiencing another type of impact injury can bruise, dislocate, or break the tailbone. This is a common cause of coccydynia.
• Pregnancy and Childbirth: During pregnancy, the body secretes hormones that soften the area between the tailbone and sacrum, which can sometimes stretch the muscles and ligaments around the tailbone too much, causing pain. Childbirth, especially a difficult delivery, can also strain and injure the ligaments and muscles around the coccyx.
• Prolonged Sitting: Sitting for long periods, especially on hard or uncomfortable surfaces, can put pressure on the tailbone and cause pain. Maintaining a posture that puts excess pressure on the tailbone can also result in pain during bowel movements.
• Weight: Being overweight or underweight can contribute to tailbone pain. Carrying extra weight places additional pressure on the tailbone when sitting, while having less fat in the buttocks can cause the tailbone to rub against the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, leading to inflammation and pain.
• Other Medical Conditions: Tailbone pain can also be related to other medical conditions such as hemorrhoids, degenerative joint or disc disease (e.g., arthritis), and cancer.

Treatment Options for Tailbone Pain During Bowel Movements

If you are experiencing tailbone pain during bowel movements, there are several treatment options available:

• Laxatives: The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom recommends trying laxatives to soften the stool and make passing it easier.
• Stool Softeners: Stool softeners can help reduce pain during bowel movements by making it easier to pass stool.
• Posture Improvement: Adjusting your sitting posture and using a specially designed coccyx cushion or an exercise ball can help reduce pressure on the tailbone and alleviate pain.
• Hot and Cold Therapy: Applying hot and cold packs to the tailbone area, taking a hot bath, and using over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage pain and reduce inflammation.
• Stretching: Specific stretches, such as the single-leg knee hug, figure 4 stretch, and kneeling hip flexor stretch, can help relieve tension in the tailbone and improve thoracic spine mobility.
• Medical Intervention: If home remedies and lifestyle changes do not provide relief, consult a doctor. They may recommend further treatment options such as physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or, in rare cases, surgery to remove part or all of the coccyx.

Tailbone pain during sex

There are many reasons why someone might experience tailbone pain during sex. One cause could be coccydynia, a condition that can be caused by pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, the body secretes hormones that soften the area between the tailbone and the sacrum, which can sometimes cause the muscles and ligaments around the tailbone to stretch too far, resulting in pain. Childbirth can also cause coccydynia, as the ligaments and muscles around the coccyx can get stretched and strained during delivery. In rare cases, the bones in the coccyx could break during childbirth.

Another cause of tailbone pain during sex could be related to pelvic floor issues. The coccyx is the attachment site for the pelvic floor muscles, and problems with the pelvic floor muscles can cause pain in the tailbone. Overactive or tense pelvic floor muscles can lead to ongoing pelvic, vulval, coccyx, and bladder pain. Pelvic floor rehabilitation can help address these issues and may include pelvic floor muscle exercises to relax and release overactive pelvic floor muscles.

Additionally, general orthopedic issues such as arthritis, joint replacement, a torn hip labrum, or tailbone pain can interfere with sexual activity. Tailbone pain can also be caused by prolonged sitting, especially on hard surfaces, which can place excess pressure on the tailbone. Maintaining good posture while sitting can help reduce tailbone pain.

If you are experiencing tailbone pain during sex, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment options may include home remedies such as improving your sitting posture, using hot and cold therapy, taking stool softeners, or doing stretching exercises. In more severe cases, treatment may involve corticosteroid and local anesthetic injections, or in very rare cases, surgery to remove part or all of the coccyx.

Tailbone pain and pregnancy

Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a common issue during pregnancy, alongside lower back pain. The tailbone, or coccyx, is a small triangular bone at the bottom of the spine, with its end above the buttocks. It functions as a stabiliser during sitting and is an attachment point for the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder, bowel, and uterus.

During pregnancy, the growing foetus pushes against the tailbone, and hormonal changes can contribute to tailbone pain. The body releases the hormone relaxin, which relaxes the ligaments and muscles in the pelvis to make them more flexible, facilitating childbirth. However, this can also cause the pelvic floor muscles to tighten and result in stronger contractions, causing pain in the tailbone.

Tailbone pain is typically felt during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. While it cannot be entirely eliminated, there are several ways to alleviate the discomfort:

• Posture modification: Avoid slouching or overarching the back, as this can adversely affect the spine and cause lower back and tailbone pain. Try not to sit cross-legged or stretch with one leg while getting out of bed. Change positions frequently and take small walks.
• Custom pillows or cushions: Use custom-produced pillows or cushions designed for expecting or nursing mothers to take the pressure off painful points. A wedge-shaped pillow or one with a cutout for the tailbone is recommended over a donut pillow.
• Physical therapy: If the pain persists or worsens despite trying other remedies, consider seeking help from a physical therapist. Physical therapy can help reduce muscle tension, preserve muscle strength, and address any instability causing pain.
• Ice or heat: Apply a heating pad or ice patches to the tailbone, whichever works best for the pain.
• Lie on your side: Lying down helps take pressure off the tailbone compared to sitting.

For most women, the excruciating pain of tailbone pain during pregnancy subsides after giving birth. However, in some cases, untreated instability can cause trauma and dysfunction. If you are experiencing arthritis, osteoporosis, or tailbone pain, it is essential to address the issue promptly.

Tailbone pain and childbirth

Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a common problem, especially for women and people assigned female at birth, who are five times more likely to experience it than men and people assigned male at birth. The tailbone, or coccyx, is a small triangular bone at the base of the spine, made up of three to five fused vertebrae.

Pregnancy and childbirth are common causes of tailbone pain. During the third trimester of pregnancy, the body secretes hormones that soften the area between the tailbone and the sacrum (the part of the pelvis just above the tailbone). This gives the tailbone more flexibility during childbirth, but in some cases, this can stretch the muscles and ligaments around the tailbone too far, causing pain. The strain on these soft tissues can prevent them from supporting the tailbone at the correct angle.

During childbirth, the baby passes through the birth canal and comes into direct contact with the coccyx. If the mother's tailbone is aligned correctly, the baby can pass through safely. However, some women have tailbones that are stuck forward, which causes the baby to pass through with force. This pressure can dislocate the tailbone, leading to muscle spasms and pain in the pelvic floor.

A tailbone injury during childbirth is more likely to occur in long or difficult labours, especially when forceps or vacuum delivery are needed to remove the baby from the birth canal. A baby in the face-up position during birth can also increase the risk of a tailbone injury.

Symptoms of a tailbone injury during childbirth include:

• Anxiety or depression
• Difficulty during bowel movements
• Discomfort after sitting for a long time
• Piercing pain in the tailbone

If a tailbone injury during birth is suspected, a doctor will perform a visual exam of the area to check for any obvious fracture, deformity, mass, or infection. They will then conduct an internal and external rectal exam and may order X-rays to confirm the injury.

A bruised tailbone can usually heal by itself in a few weeks. Fractures can take up to eight weeks to heal, but tailbone pain after birth may last even longer if there is inflammation of the muscles or ligaments. Home remedies, such as applying hot or cold packs, decreasing time spent seated, and taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can help manage the pain. In severe cases, surgery may be required for chronic pain.

Tailbone pain and weight

Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a common problem, with women and people assigned female at birth being five times more likely to experience it than men and people assigned male at birth. This pain can be caused by several factors, one of which is weight.

Weight and Tailbone Pain

Being overweight or underweight can cause tailbone pain. Extra weight places additional pressure on the tailbone, causing it to lean backward and resulting in pain. On the other hand, having less fat means less cushioning, which can lead to the tailbone rubbing against muscles, ligaments, and tendons, causing inflammation and pain.

Other Causes of Tailbone Pain

Apart from weight, there are several other factors that can contribute to tailbone pain:

• Pregnancy and childbirth: During pregnancy, hormones are secreted that soften the area between the tailbone and sacrum, which can sometimes stretch the surrounding muscles and ligaments too far, causing pain. Childbirth, especially a difficult delivery, can also strain and injure the tailbone.
• Injury or accident: A fall onto the tailbone or another impact injury can bruise, dislocate, or break the tailbone.
• Repetitive strain injuries: Sports or activities like bicycling that require repetitive motion can strain the tissues around the tailbone.
• Prolonged sitting: Sitting for long periods, especially on hard or uncomfortable surfaces, can cause minor trauma to the tailbone and lead to pain.
• Joint hypermobility: Increased flexibility of the joint connecting the tailbone to the bottom of the spine can contribute to tailbone pain.

Relieving Tailbone Pain

If you are experiencing tailbone pain, there are several ways to find relief:

• Improve your sitting posture.
• Use a pressure relief cushion, such as a donut cushion, when sitting.
• Apply hot and cold therapy to the tailbone area.
• Take a hot bath.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
• Try stretching exercises, such as the single-leg knee hug or figure 4 stretch, to relieve tension in the tailbone.
• Seek medical advice if the pain persists or interferes with your daily activities.

Frequently asked questions