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Coccyx soreness after cycling

ginagina
in General Training Discussions

I have developed some coccyx pain after riding. Seems more in the right side. No falls or trauma. Any ideas of recommendations?

Comments

  • ht001ht001
    OMG!!! I am having the SAME thing!! WTH!?
  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle

    The thing with the tail bone is that all of the little hip rotators originate on the inside of it and then insert onto the femur near the joint. That being said....since you haven't mentioned any lingering effects with running.

    Sounds like a saddle width issue: 1) either too narrow at the nose allowing the knee to come in too close to the top tube and changing the angle you push down on the pedals (it adds a circular motion at the hip with each pedal stroke and can smoke the smaller muscles with prolonged riding or intensity). or 2) not wide enough in the back so that you're not evenly sitting on your sit bones and one side is less supported.

    Can you rotate your seat at all??

  • DocHoffartDocHoffart
    There are a few things to consider off the top of my head. Is the saddle comfortable? Is it more of a chafing issue or deeper? If deeper and it is coccyx it can be the sacrotuberous ligament or inferior aspect of the dorsal sacral ligment. Often the SI joints do not move symetrically and therefore the side that is compensating (moves more because the other side doesn't move enough) will get sore with riding/running. Also, we often ride with one leg more dominantly and I see that is often the side of tenderness where you speak of. Too high a saddle position can also do it as the leg reaches down more than it should causing shear of the SI joint and subsequent inflam/spasm of tissues.

    I would recommend seeing a good PT or Chiro for pelvis motion eval if the saddle height isn't an issue. ART (Active Release Technique) PT/DC would be a good place to start as their training I am familiar with.

    Leigh, Carrie?

    Vince
  • Michele CellaiMichele Cellai
    In all seriousness, so many questions come to mind that it would be difficult to answer without more info.
    Changes to saddle? changes to bike fit? Changes to how you ride? Indoor vs. outdoor?
    How long has this been happening?
    When does the pain occur? During the ride? Immediately after? Hours later? If later, what are you doing before it occurs or is noticed? Prolonged sitting or standing or walking?
    Describe the pain. Sharp stabbing, burning, achy, throbbing?
    Where exactly? Over coccyx? To the side in the glute? Or closer to the anus? Any incontinence (new)?
    Does the pain radiate anywhere?
    What have you tried already to treat it? What has the result been?
    Before the pain started, what were/ are you doing for regular body maintenance work?
    Sorry- that's just off the top of my head.
  • ginagina

    1) No saddle changes of any kind. Same saddle for ~ 2.5 years

    2) No issues with running

    3) Did have significant SI joint problems (contralateral side) in fall of '08

    4) Is not a chafing issue. This is a "deep" ache, R sided, between bone and glute tissue

    I will work on my SI joint self corrections/mobility and see if that helps

    Thanks to all

  • Leigh BoyleLeigh Boyle

    Something to keep in mind-

    Any variation in your pedal stroke can cause these kinds of symptoms and by that I mean from the foot up. Might be worthwhile to get someone to tape while you ride from a few angles (front, back and side; be sure you are warmed up well with some spin ups/30/30's to loosen everything up). That would be the most telling way to see what's going on and where things are stemming from versus sx managing. SIJ stuff can be long term so figuring out the root before it progresses to that is key, especially if you've had a history of it. image

  • daisymackdaisymack
    Don't know if this will help, but I'll share my ongoing story: I developed severe tailbone pain in October at the end of my season that was concurrent with an increased tightening of my left hip flexor. X-rays were negative. A cortisone shot in the tailbone cleared up the tailbone pain completely and significantly reduced the tightness in the hip (which has since returned - hip, not tailbone). The pain doesn't bother me while riding or running, save for maybe a slight twinge while I'm warming up, but after running the pain is there when I lift my leg up past 45 degrees.

    I saw an ortho and PT and consensus is that I probably sustained some sort of strain that "froze" the muscles and ligaments, which caused them to pull against the tailbone and cause inflammation. They noticed a forward rotation in on the left side of my pelvis. I'm in PT now to strengthen my left leg muscles, stretch the hip, and try to rotate the pelvis back to normal. So far...well, my legs are stronger! But I'm still tight. I'm getting a gait analysis next week.
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