Coccyx pain (Tailbone pain)

 

 

Tailbone pain is centered at the very bottom of your spine, right above your buttocks, where this multi-segmented bone sits. The tailbone is small, but it does have a few important jobs. It helps to stabilize you when you sit, and many tendons, muscles, and ligaments run through the area.

 

Causes include:

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• sitting on a hard bench or other uncomfortable surface for a long period of time

• falls and other traumas can bruise, dislocate, or break your tailbone

• joint damage from repetitive motions or general wear and tear from aging

• if you’re overweight. But if you lose the weight quickly, you’ll lose the padding that protects your tailbone and you may be more likely to injure it

• vaginal childbirth

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Tailbone pain can feel dull and achy but typically becomes sharp during certain activities, such as sitting, rising from a seated to a standing position or prolonged standing. Defecation and sex also might become painful. For women, tailbone pain can make menstruation uncomfortable as well.