WHAT CAUSES TAILBONE PAIN?

The coccyx, also known as the tailbone, is the bony structure at the bottom of the spine. It can be particularly easy to injure if you experience trauma to the spine during a fall, sit too long on a hard or narrow surface, give birth vaginally, or experience degenerative joint changes.

Tailbone Pain

Sometimes the pain experienced by people with tailbone damage can feel dull and achy but typically becomes sharp during particular activities, such as sitting, rising from a seated to a standing position, or being on one’s feet for prolonged periods. It can also make the rest of your day-to-day life miserable. Tailbone pain can affect areas of the body, from the colon to the uterus. It can even make activities such as sex unbearably painful.

Treatment Options

Usually, this type of pain goes away on its own within a few weeks or even months. However, in the meantime, consider leaning forward while sitting and using a cushion designed to relieve pressure on your tailbone (such as a donut- or V-shaped cushion). Apply heat or ice to the affected area, and take over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

If your tailbone pain doesn’t improve, consider talking to one of our Ft. Meyers pain management physicians. Pain Medicine Group’s goal is to identify, treat, and alleviate the chronic pain of our patients. Our doctors are highly trained to both identify and treat the source of the pain rather than just mask the symptoms. Our facility has the most cutting-edge medical technology available. Let us use it to your advantage. Our physicians can look over your medical records and complete a full physical exam with our consultations, after which we can develop an individualized treatment plan tailored to meet your specific needs. We can discuss your pain-management options with you to try and help you live a pain-free life.

Contact us at (888) 832-3597 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment with us today.