How to Deal with Tailbone Pain: Causes and Treatment Strategies

Coccydynia – more commonly known as tailbone pain – is a medical condition that can cause mild discomfort or severe issues.

Tailbone pain can stem from many different sources, including injuries, arthritis, and nerve problems. Understanding the condition and finding the underlying cause is crucial to choosing the right treatment options and alleviating pain.

In this article, we will learn about the characteristics of tailbone pain, possible causes, and available treatment options.

Understanding the tailbone and its function

The tailbone, or coccyx, is a group of three to five vertebrae fused to form a single bone. You can find the coccyx below the sacrum bone, at the bottom of the spine.

It’s a common belief that the coccyx serves no purpose in the human body. While it’s true that it no longer fulfills its original function, it still provides an attachment point for multiple muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the pelvic area. It also serves as a point of balance when sitting.

Characteristics of tailbone pain

Coccyx pain may vary in severity and the feeling of pain. It might manifest as a dull, stabbing, piercing, or burning sensation.

The pain might worsen when sitting for extended periods, standing up after sitting, and during bowel movements, menstruation, or sex.

In addition to pain, one might experience numbness, tingling, muscle weakness in the legs, or bowel and bladder problems. These symptoms might signal a nerve issue and should always be checked by healthcare professionals.

Some conditions might cause tailbone pain, among other symptoms. Arthritis, sciatica, and spinal stenosis are a few examples.

Causes of tailbone pain

Tailbone pain is a common condition that many adults experience at some point. Women are at a greater risk than men, and obesity is another risk factor for coccydynia. Most of the time, the causes behind coccyx pain are only temporary issues, but in some rare cases, it might result from some chronic condition.

Tailbone injury

A common cause behind tailbone pain is injury. Following a fall or accident, the tailbone might break or fracture.

Doctors will perform X-ray scans to determine the severity of the damage and the course of treatment. If there aren’t any fractures or broken bones, a bruised tailbone can heal with rest alone.

Physical stress on the tailbone

Repeated stress to the tailbone may lead to mild or even severe pains. This might result from poor posture, sitting in an uncomfortable position or on a hard surface, added pressure to the bone due to being overweight, or sports like cycling or rowing. Being underweight might also cause issues, as the lack of fat to cushion the tailbones might put more stress on the coccyx when sitting, or the bone might rub against muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the pelvic area.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a natural cause of pelvic and tailbone pain. During the later stages, joints loosen in the area, allowing bones to move around and give space, causing muscles and ligaments to stretch, leading to pain. This is a natural process, and the pain usually goes away after pregnancy.

Infections

Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections might affect any area in the body, including the bones and the tissues around them. They might cause inflammation, swelling, and pain. In addition to inflammation and pain, fever is a common symptom in these cases. It’s vital to contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you suspect an infection.

Tumors and other growths

In rare cases, abscesses, tumors, cysts, or other growths like bone spurs might pressure the tissues or nerves around them. This might lead to pain symptoms. Prostate cancer, chordoma, vertebral tumors, colorectal cancer, and pilonidal cysts might all cause pain in the tailbone.

Diagnosing tailbone pain

When diagnosing coccydynia, doctors will ask about your medical history and recent physical traumas like falls, accidents, or childbirth. They will also check for fractures, bone deformities, infections, and growths.

X-rays, CTs, MRIs, and bone scans can provide a reliable picture of the underlying issues and help doctors determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment options for tailbone pain

A sore tailbone might heal with proper rest and home treatment. In some cases, though, underlying issues have to be addressed.

Correcting outside factors

The cause of tailbone pain is often repeated stress to the area. In these cases, one might need to make some lifestyle adjustments. Correcting a poor posture, spending less time sitting, adjusting your sitting position or surface, and maintaining a healthy weight might all contribute to the healing of tailbone pain and avoiding future issues.

Using an ergonomic chair, avoiding restrictive clothing, and using a donut pillow to sit on might also be good ways to help with recovery. In some cases, gentle stretches and light tailbone pain exercises can also be beneficial. Strengthening the muscles around the pelvic area will help stabilize the joints and provide additional support.

Pain relief for tailbone pain

Since tailbone pain often goes away with rest, treatment might be limited to pain management during the healing process. Especially in the case of long-standing or chronic coccydynia, pain relief is a vital part of treatment.

Physical therapy, stretches, or massage can be an effective method to ease tailbone pain.

Painkillers like paracetamol, NSAIDs, or steroid injections can offer pain relief and treat inflammatory symptoms.

Drug-free pain management options like innovative pain patches, herbal remedies, and thermal therapy might be worth considering if you want to avoid the side effects of traditional drugs.

When it comes to tailbone pain, avoiding further stress and trauma, maintaining a healthy posture, and using ergonomic chairs might be your best long-term pain relief options.

Tailbone surgery

In rare cases, doctors might recommend surgery. Total or partial coccygectomy means removing the entire tailbone or parts of it. Tumors or other growths might also get removed using surgical methods.