The tailbone, or coccyx, is a bony formation at the bottom of the spine. Tailbone pain (coccyx pain, Coccydynia, or Coccygodynia) is a painful experience that affects the tailbone region of the spine. Thankfully, most of the time it goes away on its own.
Although it can take a few weeks or months for the pain to go away if your tailbone hurts, there are some things you can do for the time being to lessen the pain, which will be discussed further down, along with the symptoms and causes of this spinal problem.
Causes/Etiology
Many reasons exist for the cause of coccydynia, which include tailbone injury due to trauma. Sometimes tailbone pain may occur due to sitting on a hard surface or an uncomfortable chair, and the chances increase if this pose is held for a prolonged time.
Obesity, aging, and poor posture are also significant reasons that result in tailbone pain, and even chronic tailbone pain, as these factors can place increased pressure on the pelvis. Having hypermobility in your tailbone can also lead to coccydynia, as this factor places too much stress on the pelvic floor muscles, which in turn affect your coccyx.
Symptoms
Some symptoms you may feel include:
- Dull pain around or in the tailbone area.
- Lower back pain in some cases.
- After standing or sitting for a long time, the pain becomes more intense.
- Intense pain is also felt during urination, bowel movements, or sex.
Diagnosis & Treatments
If you experience any kind of pain that lasts for a long period of time, is intense or has symptoms that go beyond mere muscle tension, pain and discomfort, seek professional medical advice.
Although for tail bone pain you do not necessarily need to undergo medical treatment, waiting for the pain to subside as well as self-medication is not a substitute for professional medical help, as sometimes you may be suffering from a more serious condition, without even knowing it. In rare cases, your pain may be a symptom of other spinal disorders, and may require surgical treatment, such as a coccygectomy (the removal of the tailbone).
That being said, and provided that your case is not serious, here are a few things you can do to mitigate this condition.
At-home Treatment
There are a few things to remember every day to treat your tailbone pain without medicine (including NSAIDs).
When sitting, keep your back straight against the chair, your knees level with your buttocks and your shoulders relaxed while your feet touch the floor. It is best to sit in a position that is comfortable for your posture.
An overly cushioned or extra hard setting is not ideal for your spine and may worsen tailbone pain. A supportive chair with regular cushioning would be a good selection. Also avoid prolonged sitting periods.
Excessive weight often causes spinal problems. Therefore, it is advised that you try losing weight by eating healthy, nutritious food.
By losing weight, the pressure will be relieved of the spine, which would ultimately get rid of the pain and not cause spinal problems in the future.
In some cases, you can take anti-inflammatory medication, or pain relievers, for temporary pain management.
The best course of action, however, is to have physical therapy. If you don’t want to work with a physical therapist, there are special devices that can help you with spinal decompression and pain relief, that you can easily use from the comfort of your own home.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Exercises
Tailbone pain exercises can provide significant positive results when it comes to pain relief in this region of the spine.
Walking
Osteopaths recommend brisk walking at least one hour every day for chronic coccydynia. Walking relaxes the tension that is built up around the coccyx.
Swimming
Start swimming every day to relieve tailbone pain. Swimming helps strengthen the spine and thus relieves tension and discomfort.
Squats
Numerous people have found relief for tailbone pain through regular squatting without weights.
