Coccyx

The coccyx is a vestigial set of three to five fused vertebrae that are known colloquially as the "tailbone."  These vertebrae represent the conclusion of the spinal column and are situated below the sacrum in the pelvis and between the buttocks. Coccydynia is a medical condition that refers to the inflammation of the coccyx and can cause tenderness or pain, particularly when seated.

The spinal column is composed of the cervical spine in the neck and upper back, the thoracic spine in the middle back, the lumbar spine in the lower back, the sacrum in the pelvis, and the coccyx in the tailbone. In a healthy individual, the spinal cord begins at the base of the brain and travels through the spinal canal before “horse tailing” in the lumbar spine and becoming the cauda equina.  The vertebrae act as a sheath for the spinal cord and also provide the back and neck with flexibility and help support the weight of the body.  The sacrum and coccyx are different in that they don’t protect the spinal cord, nor are the vertebrae flexible.  Instead, the three to five vertebrae in the coccyx fuse together early in life and don’t seem to serve a purpose.

Causes

Coccyx pain, known as coccydynia, can sometimes occur when the individual is in a seated position, and this is most commonly attributed to an injury.  In the rest of the spinal column, degenerative spine conditions can lead to back and neck pain.  Some of the most common spinal conditions include:

• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet disease
• Bone spurs
• Spinal stenosis
• Spondylolisthesis
• And other types of osteoarthritis

To learn more about the coccyx, consult your doctor. If you are suffering from chronic back or neck pain and conservative treatments have proven ineffective, contact Laser Spine Institute to learn about how one of our state-of-the-art endoscopic procedures may be able to help you rediscover your life without back and neck pain.