Overview

The coccyx is your tailbone. You can have pain in your tailbone from a fall or other injury. Pregnancy and childbirth also can cause tailbone pain. Sometimes, the cause of pain is not known. A tailbone injury causes pain when you sit, especially when you slump or sit 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 even longer. You can take steps at home to ease the pain. In some cases, a doctor injects a corticosteroid medicine into the coccyx to reduce swelling and pain.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, take an over-the-counter medicine to reduce pain.
• Put ice or a cold pack on your tailbone for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• About 2 or 3 days after your injury, you can alternate ice and heat. To soothe the tailbone area, take a warm bath for 20 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day.
• Sit on soft, padded surfaces. A doughnut-shaped pillow can take pressure off the tailbone.
• Avoid constipation, because straining to have a bowel movement will increase your tailbone pain.
  • Include fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet each day. These foods are high in fibre.
  • Drink plenty of fluids. If you have kidney, heart, or liver disease and have to limit fluids, talk with your doctor before you increase the amount of fluids you drink.
  • Get some exercise every day. Build up slowly to at least 2½ hours of moderate to vigorous exercise a week.
  • Take a fibre supplement, such as Benefibre or Metamucil, every day if needed. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
  • Schedule time each day for a bowel movement. A daily routine may help. Take your time and do not strain when having a bowel movement.
• Follow your doctor's directions for stretching and other exercises that might help with pain.