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Sacrococcygeal Joint Pain

Sacrococcygeal joint pain occurs where the sacrum vertebrae in the spine connect to the coccyx, or tail bone. A number of things can trigger this pain, including stiffness in the joint itself, arthritis, falls, blunt trauma and fusion of bones as you age. If you are experiencing lower back pain that radiates down the legs, you may have sacrococcygeal joint pain.

  1. Identification

    • Sacrococcygeal joint pain is hard to diagnose. Symptoms are similar to those of a herniated disk or sciatica as the pain can radiate down the hips and legs. This joint often hurts when you sit down or put pressure on your coccyx. You may need to have an MRI performed for a proper diagnosis.

    Home Remedies

    • Initially, rest is important to relieve pain and prevent further aggravation to the sacrococcygeal joint. Ice and anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce inflammation and pain.

    Medical Intervention

    • There are a number of treatments that a doctor can recommend for controlling sacrococcygeal joint pain. Manipulation of the coccyx through the rectum can click the tail bone back into a proper position inside the joint. Also, steroid injections in adjacent muscles can be effective.

      Prolotherapy, a method of stimulating the body to heal itself, can also help cure pain by spurring inflammation within the joint. Dr. Ross A. Hauser, a rehabilitation doctor with 16 years experience in prolotherapy says, "the localized inflammation triggers a wound healing cascade, resulting in the deposition of new collagen." This collagen shrinks and then tightens the ligament to cure the joint pain.

    Exercise

    • Before or after any medical treatments, exercise can help alleviate sacrococcygeal joint pain. The joint is supported by ligaments on the front, rear and side. Basic pelvic motions such as pressing the back on the floor or pulling one or both legs toward the chest can alleviate pain. Stretching exercises stimulate blood to the ligaments. Light resistance exercises can strengthen surrounding muscles to support the sacrococcygeal joint as it heals.

    Time Frame

    • There is no set time frame for overcoming sacrococcygeal joint pain. Ligaments in this joint can take weeks or even months to fully recover. In some cases, medical procedures or surgery are necessary. People who are more proactive in their treatments have a better chance of healing more quickly.

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