Coccydynia

Coccydynia, coccyx pain, and tailbone pain are all names for a very painful condition that causes persistent pain at the bottom of your spine or coccyx. Coccydynia can occur following a fall, childbirth, repetitive strain or surgery. In some rare cases, the pain may be caused by a tumor or infection. Whatever the proximate cause, the result is that the injured or unstable coccyx becomes chronically inflamed. The condition is more common in women than men because the female pelvis is broader and rotated in a way that puts more pressure on the coccyx when sitting; therefore, women are at a greater risk of injury.

Symptoms

The most common symptom of coccydynia is pain at the bottom of your spine that is aggravated when sitting down. You may also experience sensitivity to pressure applied to that area, extreme pain when rising from sitting to standing, pain during sexual intercourse, pain during bowel movements, or increased pain during menstruation or when constipated.

How We Can Help

At The Kaplan Center, our physicians have years of experience treating patients with chronic pain conditions such as coccydynia, and we completely reject the notion that “you just have to live with it.”

At your first visit, your Kaplan physician will take time exploring the onset of your condition, the specific nature of your symptoms and the overall status of your health. You’ll also be asked about the medications and therapies you’ve tried in the past, and what has and hasn’t worked for you. To gather additional information about your condition, specialized diagnostic laboratory testing may be necessary.

After reviewing all of the factors contributing to your condition, your physician will spend time talking with you about your diagnosis and working with you to create a customized and multi-dimensional treatment plan that addresses not only your immediate pain but also any possible underlying or co-existing conditions that may be causing or aggravating your symptoms.

We offer a multitude of effective treatment options, including:

• Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• CranioSacral Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Prolotherapy
• Nutritional Counseling
• Stress-Management Meditation Training
• Prescription Medications
• Chinese & American Herbal Remedies
• Nutritional Supplements

Additional Resources:

Article: Coccydynia Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine