Right below the sacrum lies the final segment of the vertebrae, commonly known as either a tailbone or coccyx, which, in turn, is connected to a multitude of muscles and tendons, making it a pivotal part during an individual seating position.
This means it compensates for the weight of the body while balancing out the whole spinal cord, making it a pretty underrated region and taking less credit than it would rather deserve.
As trivial as it may sound, understanding the importance of a Coccyx or tailbone is extremely important because even a minor injury could feel like a nightmare to deal with. Otherwise, you will have to undergo numerous esoteric exercises and even surgeries to remove it altogether.
Otherwise, for all intents and purposes, regardless of the fact you are sitting on a traditional sofa or your flagship recliner, you can possibly harm it, which will make you wonder, “Why Does My Tailbone Hurt When I Sit On A Recliner?, Isn’t keeping your body comfortable the whole point of a recliner?”
Before going to the main topic, I also have a detailed guide on 7 Tested Best Recliners For Tailbone Pain; make sure you check this list.
To find the answer to that question, let’s dig deeper down below.
Why Does My Tailbone Hurt When I Sit On Recliner? Potential Reasons
Although, highly unlikely, an apparent oversight would result in throbbing or stinging pain which feels like a thousand pins shoved in your back altogether, here are the possible culprits behind it.
1. Improper Cushioning
Not every recliner is made alike; just because the recliner you used at your grandma’s house felt comfortable and plushy doesn’t mean the one you bought had similar features.
In fact, it also depends on the tensile strength and the level of upholstery that is incorporated into a recliner. Furthermore, corner cutting due to lower price tags significantly reduces the fabric quality, which is why some recliners may look nice but have stiffer upholstery.
The lack of cushioning exacerbates the effects on your coccyx or your tailbone since the seat becomes deflated to the point that it ruptures the tendons within months of use, which might interfere with the weight distribution aspect of the body.
2. Bruise Or Potential Trauma
We all have our inner child sprout out from time to time, especially during Adrenaline rushes that we receive while picking a pace during sports or simply flexing around in the gym.
While enjoying a momentary thriller such as scoring a goal on your rival team might be the best experience you may have, nevertheless, due to physical aging, our joints no longer hold up their integrity as they used to in the past.
In fact, a sudden pivot could cause trauma, blunt injury, or bruise in the form of micro-injuries that may abruptly hinder or even cause discomfort in our lives.
To make things worse, rather than being flared up right away, the pain and discomfort in your tailbone region are only highlighted whenever you are in a sitting position, which might make you ponder on the fact that your recliner might be the biggest culprit.
3. Spinal Support Issues
Slouching is the direct culprit behind joint and tissue degradation, which will plague your body with an immense level of discomfort, especially in the tailbone region of the spinal cord.
Poor body posture will cause irreversible effects to the point of no return, and only core strengthening exercises can possibly cure the problem.
4. Being Overweight
Although that delicious donut or chicken sandwich you may have had last night while watching your favorite TV show on Netflix felt terrific on your tastebuds, the dread you would experience after counting the calories might make you repulse even the thought of having it.
Not that there’s anything wrong with munching on a snack every now and then, but gaining weight exponentially will certainly take a toll sooner than you would expect.
To make things worse, a recliner, even the best possible home decor for comfort, would fail to provide comfort, especially in your tailbone region.
5. Sedentary lifestyle
As anti-climatic as it may sound, a sedentary lifestyle virtually acts as a slow poison that rots away your muscles, tendons, and joints.
Our body works on the logic of “Use it or Lose it,” and being idle usually results in losses not just in opportunities in life but also in your health.
Luckily, to reverse the effects, the solution is relatively simple: just hit the gym or go for a quick jog and make a brief active routine to keep your blood pumping that will eventually lead to a healthy tailbone.
6. Tumors Or Coccygeal Anomalies
Tumors or coccygeal anomalies are the bane of the spine that could arise due to a whole host of genetic or mutational issues.
If you feel like your tailbone is inflamed after sitting on a recliner, even with a healthy lifestyle, it might be time to consult with your doctor to rectify the problem as soon as possible.
Luckily for you, most of the coccyx-related tumors can be surgically removed with minimal issues.
It is worth noting that some surgeries might be more complex, such as those involving tumors that have a tendency to grow in other regions, which is why more extensive surgery may be required, and there may be a higher risk of complications.
On the other hand, some coccygeal anomalies may not be amenable to surgical correction, which includes a coccyx that is fused to the lower region of the spine or the base, and surgery may not be possible.
In that case, your doctor might prescribe other methodologies to cope with the pain and inflammation. There are other conditions, such as coccydynia, which is otherwise known as the pain of the coccyx, that can also cause throbbing pain in this area.
If you notice radiating pain in that region even after following all the tips above, it is important to see a doctor to determine the cause and get appropriate treatment.
Bottom Line
The world of medicine has evolved to the point that there are ways you could get rid of a tailbone altogether through surgery; nevertheless, it’s best to follow the idiom ” prevention is better than cure.”
As for “Why does my tailbone hurt when I sit on a recliner?” Well, in my opinion, you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to get to the bottom of this fiasco because most of the culprits and the solution for them mentioned above will provide relief in due time.
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I am a furniture expert with a passion for recliners. With years of experience in the industry, I offer invaluable insights and creative ideas for selecting the perfect recliner to suit any space and your needs.