Overview

The coccyx is the tailbone. Your child can have tailbone pain from a fall or other injury. Sometimes the cause of pain is not known. A tailbone injury causes pain when your child sits or slumps, especially on a hard seat. Straining to have a bowel movement also can be very painful.

Tailbone injuries can take several months to heal, but in some cases the pain goes on even longer. You can take steps at home to ease your child's pain. Your doctor will likely suggest an anti-inflammatory medicine (like ibuprofen) to treat the pain. In rare cases, a doctor injects a corticosteroid medicine into the coccyx to reduce swelling and pain.

How can you care for your child at home?

• Give pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra).
• Put ice or a cold pack on your child's tailbone for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this 3 to 4 times a day for the first 3 days (when your child is awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
• About 2 or 3 days after your child's injury, you can alternate ice and heat. To soothe the tailbone area, give your child a warm bath.
• Have your child sit on soft, padded surfaces. A doughnut-shaped pillow can take pressure off the tailbone. If your child uses a wheelchair, you can use the tilt function to take pressure off of the tailbone.
• Help your child avoid constipation, because straining to have a bowel movement will increase tailbone pain.
  • Include fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your child's diet each day. These foods are high in fibre.
  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. If your child has to limit fluids because of a health problem, talk with your doctor before you increase how much your child drinks.
  • Help your child get some exercise every day. Build up slowly to at least 1 hour of exercise every day.
  • Ask your doctor about giving your child a fibre supplement, such as Benefibre or Metamucil. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Schedule time each day for a bowel movement. A daily routine may help. Ask your child to take time and not strain when having a bowel movement.
• Help your child follow the doctor's directions for stretching and other exercises that might help with pain.