Tailbone discomfort/pain from squats?

[Chango99]

Deciding to ask the man himself since you might have people who have experienced something similar during your seminars.

I noticed this on monday, it might have been earlier. I had light tailbone pain, I'm not sure from what since I don't recall falling or bruising it in anyway. I was told that my lumbar flexion problem at the bottom of the squat is what might be causing it, but it's tailbone pain, not lower back.

I did my squats @ 305 that day but was pushing through tailbone pain the whole time. As I pushed myself on higher weights, the pain became worse. It wasn't just during the squat, it would be any motion that involved me bending somewhat at the butt or pushing my butt out, but the squat is what made it hurt more. They were just few seconds of pain i pushed through, and this occured during leaning back to lie on the bench for bench press, and bending down on the deadlift.

After the workout the pain followed me through the day, I iced it when I could. It hurted when I went through the motion of sitting down or standing up, or similar motions, just for a second.

Tuesday discomfort was there but since I didn't squat, no pain.

Wednesday went in to squat again and stopped during my warm up @ 185 since I noticed the discomfort started becoming pain in the same way. I just did OHP and chins that day since they don't require bending at the waist.

Thurs, again, no pain but I notice it there. Could barely call it a discomfort.

In general, what I'm asking here is where could have this problem have risen from?

And tomorrow, Friday, should I skip squats if the same thing happens where the pain becomes stronger throughout my warm up sets? Not sure if deadlift will also aggravate it too...

[Mark Rippetoe]

You iced your tailbone. Okay. I have no personal experience with this injury, but the anatomy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccyx) should suggest something. I don't see how lumbar flexion could have caused it. This is not a common injury, and lumbar flexion is a very common error. And it is always possible that you have mis-identified the location of the injury.

[damiona]

I had a similar problem a while back which I attributed to squats, deadlifts and benching because adding those exercises was the only change I could ID. No idea if that was the case though. The pain was in the tailbone area right where the crack of my ass starts. Hurt so bad I eventually went to sports med doctor. They didn't have any answers except rest. I stopped squatting, deadlifting and benching, became soft and weak but the pain went away (thankfully) after a few months. It's only recurred twice since due to me falling on my butt but not due to weight training.

[Mark Rippetoe]

An unacceptable trade-off for most of us on this board. Believe it or not, I have heard of a coccyx adjustment, chiropractor style. Very interesting procedure, look it up.

[Chango99]

Well I just got back from my session today.

I didn't go through with my set weight. I did one set at 310x5, but second set I stopped after the 1st rep.

It definitely again made the discomfort become a little bit of pain.

I did my bench then deadlift and didn't feel it much.

Then, bothered because of form and the coccyx, I was doing some squats at 225 and then 275. I felt it definitely, but it wasn't as prominent as before. In general, pain is much less noticeable/gone, but I can still feel the area's discomfort.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Well, discomfort is to be avoided. Get the adjustment.

[Chango99]

I'll look into it... hopefully it's gone by monday... Certainly don't want unnecessary fingers going up my rectum to fix my coccyx.

Thanks Rip.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

Well, discomfort is to be avoided. Get the adjustment.

Agreed. But if the pain persists or worsens, you'll have to seek medical care. There are some uncommon-but-nefarious causes of atraumatic coccygeal pain (coccydynia).

[DenghisCon]

The early symptoms of a pilonidal cyst?

[Mark Rippetoe]

Probably not, different set of tissues, but Sully can comment.