The tailbone is located at the very bottom of the spine and is referred to as coccyx in medical terms. Tailbone pain can be felt as a dull achy pain associated with tenderness.
Common causes include :
- Injury to the coccyx
- Sitting for long hours on a hard surface
- Childbirth
- Age related degeneration
- Spine problems
- Osteoarthritis
- Bone spurs
- Hemorrhoids
- Infections such as osteomyelitis
- Rarely, cancer
- Rarer still could be from an unknown cause
Tailbone pain is quite common and can range from mild to very severe, so much so that you are unable to sit upright or perform your daily activities. Pain can also radiate to hips and legs. For tailbone pain that doesn’t go away (chronic), consult your doctor immediately.
Your doctor will likely diagnose the condition based on your symptoms and physical examination for signs of bruising, swelling or infection. A rectal exam may be needed to rule out other more serious conditions. Sometimes, x-rays can identify tailbone injuries. An MRI may be needed in some cases where spine related problems, an infection or cancer is suspected.
Treatment:
- Your doctor may advice you to stop certain activities that make your coccydynia worse.
- Your doctor may prescribe an over-the-counter pain killer.
- A steroid injection into the joint or ligaments in the tailbone area may provide relief in some cases.
- In cases of infection, antibiotics or surgical draining of the pus are advised.
- Exercises to improve your posture and relaxation exercises for the pelvic floor will also help improve the condition.
- In refractory cases, an intervention called ganglion impar block and radiofrequency may be required.
- If tailbone pain persists after all other treatments, surgery may be recommended to remove the tailbone. This is usually the last resort after all the other treatments have failed.
Tailbone pain is a tricky condition to diagnose since several conditions mimic the symptoms of coccydynia. It is important to consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms pertaining to coccydynia.
