- Pain in/around the area of the coccyx, also called the tailbone
- Childbirth
- Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
- Poor posture
- Ageing
- Being overweight/underweight
- Infection/cancer (Both very rare)
- Pain when pressure is applied to the tailbone
- Immediate and severe pain when moving from sitting to standing position
- Pain during bowel movements
- Pain during sex
- Deep ache in the region of the tailbone
- Medical history: To find out if you’ve had any particular past/recent injury, prolonged labor or an injury while giving birth
- Physical exam: To check for obvious fracture, deformity, mass or an abscess (infection)
- Lateral X-ray/CT scan: To check for fracture
- MRI/Bone scan: If deemed necessary to check for inflammation/spine tumour
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Ibuprofen/Naproxen
- Therapeutic sitting cushion: To take the pressure off the tailbone when sitting
- Pelvic physiotherapy: To include exercise to stretch the ligaments and strengthen the supporting muscles
- Coccygeal manipulation: To move the coccyx back into its proper position and relieve pain
- Multidisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program
- Heat application
- Massage therapy
- Coccygectomy: Surgery to remove the coccyx (Severe cases only)
