Pain in the Tailbone

Some people complain that pain in the tailbone is a real problem for them. The tailbone is also called the coccyx. It is the remains of the vestigial tail that existed in earlier species, prior to Homo Sapiens. Coccyx pain can be chronic and debilitating. Pain in the coccyx is also called coccydynia or coccygodynia.

Common Symptoms of Pain in the Tailbone

* Pain when sitting or lying on the back.

* Sciatica type symptoms. Radiating pain, tingling or numbness in the legs.

* Pain during bowel movements

* Pain during sexual intercourse.

Causes of Coccydynia

The coccyx is more prominent in some people than in others. In woman, the coccyx sticks out more, due to the difference in the female pelvis. The female design allows for passage of a baby during childbirth.

The most common cause of coccyx pain is due to a fall on the lower back. The tailbone is sensitive to both bruising and fracture. A fracture in the coccyx can be extremely painful. Many people have reported this pain from slipping while getting in or out of a bath tub. This has happened to me, a long time ago, and I remember having pain in my tailbone for about a year! Childbirth can also cause coccyx pain. The coccyx becomes more prone to movement as a woman gets closer to her delivery date. This is designed to allow an easier birth for her baby. Sometimes the coccyx gets in the way of the birth and can be fractured.

Any trauma, such as a kick or an impact, can damage the coccyx.

Coccyx pain can also come from a variety of bone diseases or tumors.

Treatment of Pain in the Tailbone

Most treatments for this condition are identical to lower back pain. Conservative symptomatic treatment will be attempted first, with the hope that time will fix the pain problem.

* Chiropractic

* Medicine

* Physical Therapy

* Epidural Injections

There are also special products designed for coccyx pain. These consist mostly of special cushions, donuts, or other products that relieve the pressure of sitting. These products can make living with a coccyx pain condition much easier, till a cure is found.

Surgery for Pain in the Tailbone

If conservative treatment fails, then surgery is a final option. Surgery for tailbone pain usually consists of removal of the entire coccyx. The tailbone has no real use, and the body will not miss it once it is removed.

The operation is serious however, and runs the usual risks associated with all spinal surgeries. At least this procedure has a good success rate for resolving pain in about 80% of coccyx pain sufferers.

Recommendation for Pain in the Tailbone

If you have injured your coccyx recently, relax. It will take a long time to heal completely. Recuperation of up to a year is not uncommon for coccyx fractures. Try to use holistic treatments for the pain, rather than pharmaceutical relief. If the pain becomes chronic, I would start to investigate knowledge therapy, since the actual cause of the pain might be more than physical. If all else fails, surgery should be considered as a final option only. Surgery is no joke and can cause more problems than it solves.

Pain in the Tailbone to Back Pain Home page 7/8/06 Revised 5/12/08