Tailbone (coccyx) pain

The main symptom of tailbone (coccyx) pain is pain and tenderness at the base of your spine, near the top of your bottom.

It may feel dull and achy most of the time, with occasional sharp pains.

The pain may be worse:

• while you're sitting down
• when you sit down or stand up
• when you bend forward
• when you're having a poo

You may also find it difficult to sleep and carry out daily activities.

Tailbone (coccyx) pain may improve after a few weeks, but it can sometimes last longer. There are some things you can do to help ease the pain.

• sit correctly – maintain good posture with your lower back supported

• use a specially designed coccyx cushion when sitting

• lie on your side to reduce the pressure on your coccyx

• try pelvic floor exercises – also good for leaks (urinary incontinence)

• use an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on the affected area for 20 to 30 minutes – you can also use a heat pack for longer

• use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to help reduce the pain

• use a laxative to soften your poo if the pain is worse when pooing – ask a pharmacist for a laxative that softens poo

• do not sit for a long time

• tailbone (coccyx) pain has not improved after a few weeks of trying treatments at home
• the pain is affecting your daily activities
• you have a high temperature, tailbone pain and pain in another area, such as in your tummy or lower back

Refer yourself for back or joint help

In many areas you may be able to get help, such as physiotherapy, from NHS community musculoskeletal (MSK) services without needing a referral from a GP.

Get NHS help for back or joint problems

Further treatments are available if simple things like pelvic floor exercises and ibuprofen have not helped your tailbone (coccyx) pain.

The 2 treatments that may be recommended first are:

• physiotherapy – the muscles around the coccyx can be manipulated to help ease the pain
• corticosteroid and local anaesthetic injections – into the joint that attaches the coccyx to the bottom of your spine

If physiotherapy and injections do not help reduce the pain, surgery to remove part or all of your coccyx may be recommended.

Common causes of tailbone (coccyx) pain include:

• pregnancy and childbirth
• an injury or accident, such as a fall onto your coccyx
• repeated or prolonged strain on the coccyx – for example, after sitting for a long time while driving or cycling
• poor posture
• being overweight or underweight
• joint hypermobility (increased flexibility) or decreased flexibility of the joint that attaches the coccyx to the bottom of the spine

Sometimes the cause of tailbone pain is unknown.

The main symptom of tailbone pain is pain at the base of your spine, near the top of your bottom. The pain is often worse when you're sitting down.

Things you can do to help relieve tailbone pain include sitting with good posture, using a coccyx cushion when sitting, and lying on your side.

Physiotherapy, corticosteroid and anaesthetic injections and, in severe cases, surgery, may be recommended for tailbone pain.

Causes of tailbone pain include pregnancy and childbirth, an injury or accident such as a fall, and straining the coccyx by sitting for a long time.