Have been getting episodes of lower back stiffness and painful Coccyx lately. I'm OK if I sit upright but it's painful when sitting back in the chair. Getting out of the chair also causes pain. I cannot remember ever injuring myself in this area. Does anyone know if Coccyx pain can be Arthritis related? Does anyone have the same problem?
Arthritis damages joints. Your coccyx has joints so in theory that could be what's causing your pain. My back always hurts there too. MRI showed lots of osteophytes, little pieces of bone that grow in response to inflammation.I did a bunch of reading on coccyx pain a while back and don't remember much of it. I was having terrible cocyx pain that last several months. It would hurt the most when I went from a sitting to standing position. Also stiffness. You can injure your coccyx during child birth and not realize it until years later when it creeps up on you. It can also be a symptom of depression but then anyone would be depressed with chronic pain. Those are the things that stood out in my memory from my pain experience. Thanks everyone!
I also get lower back and hip stiffness first thing in the morning lasting about an hour. Sorry mine is definately not related to childbirth or pregnancy. I don't have any children.
At the moment I don't seem to have any joint damage which is why my dx is questionable. Seven years ago Rheumy dx Palindromic Rheumatism, last year my GP said I have Sero-neg RA but now Rheumy says my dx is Inflammatory Arthritis (I don't think he knows which type
The only type of Arthritis I have read about affecting this region is Ankylosing Spondylitis but I get inflammation & pain or stiffness in many other joints hands/wrists/feet/ankles/knees/neck (not all at the same time) along with all the symptoms of RA.
All bloods & x-rays have been normal.
You might want to get it checked out. I had a sudden bad attack in my low back/tailbone with sciatica and the MD's PA ordered x-rays and a prescribed a steroid pack for the pain. My chiropractor sent me for an MRI and I had four collapsed discs with a tear which needed microdiscsurgery. Then a few years later I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Pain is a warning sign. Take care CathyThanks for that, Cathy . Will get it checked out. Have not had my back x-rayed.
My Rheumy is already organising a bone density scan around my 50th birthday, next year because of early menopause and previous steroid treatments for Asthma.
Thanks again
Elaine x
elaine50002008-06-27 04:47:44I had pain in that area off and on for several weeks. Then I had a cyst show up and one on the inside that was as big as a golf ball. It's called pilondial cycst. (sp?) I had to have surgery and they left the would open to heal from the inside out. It was awful. Took 12 weeks to heal. I hope you don't have it. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Can you feel it? Does it have a bump or lump or anything?
I would see a dr if it continues.
take care
elaine, I was going to mention that pain in that region can also be from your sacroiliac (SI) joints, where your spine connects to your pelvis. That is a frequent initial sign of Ankylosing Spondylitis, although just because you have pain in those joints, doesn't mean you have AS. Because they are joints I would think it is possible that RA affects them, although they don't seem to be frequent targets. Another thing I recently learned about SI joints (since mine have been painful for years) is that they have small nerve endings located by them that can become irritated. Sometimes joint injections can help this, although it didn't work for me.
I agree that you should have it checked out, perhaps by an orthopedist, and get an MRI done. Make sure they eliminate all the possibilities, and if it still hurts, see a pain specialist.
Thankyou both!
If it carry's on giving me trouble I'll get it checked.
Because I don't know which AI I have I've no idea whether it will become distructive or not.
I have never had my back x-rayed and the last one of my neck was about 16 years ago when I had a whiplash injury. Have had a stiff neck for years but have always blamed it on the injury.
Elaine x
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