![]() ![]() Our goal is to reduce muscle tension while preserving muscle strength and correcting the instability that causes the pain. If your pain is severe or other interventions are not quite doing the trick, a physical therapist may be able to help. ![]() Drinking lots of water, staying active, and eating high-fiber foods can help keep things moving and prevent pain. Unfortunately, pregnancy hormones can increase the risk of constipation, and iron supplements can slow the digestive system. The tailbone and rectum are in close proximity. Related reading: Know the risks of taking ibuprofen, NSAIDs during pregnancy Try to avoid getting constipated This includes topical numbing patches, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or a muscle relaxant such as Flexeril.Īs always, check with your Ob/Gyn before using any over-the-counter or prescribed medications. While we always try to limit medication during pregnancy, there are a few options that may help relieve tailbone pain. Take a pain reliever – with your doctor’s permission Put it between your legs to position your hips and knees in a more comfortable neutral position. ![]() You also might want to consider grabbing an extra pillow when you sleep. Instead, we recommend a wedge-shaped cushion with a cutout for the tailbone region. While you might immediately think of a donut pillow, we find that it can sometimes create pressure in other areas. You can take some of the pressure off your achy tailbone by using a special seat cushion. These types of asymmetric movements can exacerbate tailbone pain.īeing in the same position for a long period of time can also make pain worse, especially when sitting, so make a point to get up and move around frequently. ![]() Don’t cross your legs, step out of bed with one leg, or put your pants on while standing up and putting one leg in at a time. Engage your core with your back just slightly curved and your neck straight.īalance and symmetry are especially important during pregnancy, when so many ligaments are loose. Make sure you are sitting upright with your feet flat on the ground. You may have a tendency to slump forward or overarch your back while pregnant, but that can eventually take a toll on your spine. Tailbone pain is more common in the late second trimester and third trimester, and while you can’t entirely avoid it, there are things you can do to get relief. Related reading: 5 weird pregnancy symptoms you might not know about How to take pressure off your tailbone I’ve invited my colleague, Rupali Kumar, M.D., from UT Southwestern’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) team, to discuss ways to ease tailbone pain during pregnancy. While we may not be able to cure tailbone pain, there are steps you can take to ease derriere discomfort. Your growing baby may also begin to put pressure on the tailbone, making sitting and standing painful.Īdditionally, issues such as constipation or not getting enough exercise can also contribute to tailbone pain. The pelvic floor muscles are connected to the tailbone, leading to pain.Īs your abdomen expands, your center of balance is altered and your posture shifts, adding pressure in the low-back and tailbone, which typically aren't weight-bearing. This can cause tighter contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, which help stabilize the body. The hormone makes your pelvic ligaments looser and more flexible to make room for the baby to grow and enable you to give birth. During pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called relaxin. Tailbone pain is often caused by the pelvic ligaments loosening and shifting. For nearly 10% of them, the pain can be debilitating. While approximately 70% of women experience low-back pain at some point in their lives, 50% - 80% report back pain in pregnancy. It helps stabilize you when sitting and serves as an attachment point for the pelvic floor muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and uterus. The tailbone, or coccyx, sits at the bottom of your spine, above your tush and behind your uterus. For approximately one-third of pregnant patients, the aching annoyance becomes a significant pain in the rear – or more precisely, the tailbone. Many women experience lower back pain during pregnancy. ![]()
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