How to Treat a Tailbone Injury

An injury to the tailbone, or coccyx, can happen from a fall, direct blow, repeated strain and friction, or childbirth. After visiting your doctor to diagnose a tailbone injury, you can treat it with a variety of home remedies. You can also alleviate the pain associated with a tailbone injury with medication.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Getting Medical Attention

  1. Image titled Choose the Right Divorce Lawyer Step 7
    1
    Make an appointment with your doctor. While tailbone injuries rarely require a visit to the emergency room, it is important that you visit a medical professional to get your tailbone injury accurately diagnosed.
  2. Image titled Treat Upper Back Pain Step 7
    2
    Get your spine examined. When you visit your doctor, make sure that they perform an examination of your entire vertebral column, also known as your spine. Your doctor may perform a neurologic exam or a rectal exam as part of the spinal examination. This will help the doctor determine if there is a dislocation or fracture of your tailbone.[1]
  3. Image titled Treat Upper Back Pain Step 9
    3
    Get x-rays taken. Your doctor might want to take x-rays to figure out if you are suffering from a fracture or dislocation of the tailbone.[2] X-rays are sometimes taken in both the seated and standing positions to help the doctor diagnose your injury.[3]

Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Treating a Tailbone Injury with Home Remedies

  1. Image titled Treat Upper Back Pain Step 1
    1
    Don’t sit for lengthy periods of time. Sitting down for an extended period of time can cause extreme pain if you are suffering from a tailbone injury. If possible, avoid situations where you will be required to sit for a long time. If you must sit for work or other activities, be sure to take breaks.
  2. Image titled Hold Your Bladder As a Woman Step 2
    2
    Avoid sitting on hard surfaces. Taking a seat on a hard surface can complicate a tailbone injury and cause additional pain. When possible sit on cushioned surfaces like couches and padded chairs. Avoid sitting on furniture that does not have padding in the seating area.[4]
    • If you must sit on a hard surface, alternate sitting between the left and right sides of the buttocks.
    • Lean forward when sitting on a hard surface which will shift weight away from your tailbone.
  3. Image titled Deal With Hemorrhoids Step 11
    3
    Sit on a doughnut pillow or cushion. You can purchase a doughnut cushion that has a hole in the middle that prevents your tailbone from making contact with the surface upon which you are sitting. You can use the cushion at work, while driving, and at home to alleviate some of the pain associated with a tailbone injury.[5]
  4. Image titled Deal With Hemorrhoids Step 1
    4
    Apply ice four times daily. If the cause of your tailbone pain is a traumatic injury, such as getting hurt during a contact sport, apply ice to the tailbone area for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. Repeat this four times per day during the first several days after the injury occurs.
  5. Image titled Maintain an Erection Step 1
    5
    Avoid constipation. A tailbone injury is often accompanied with pain during bowel movements. Eating foods high in fiber like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can soften stools and make bowel movements more comfortable.
    • Try natural over-the-counter stool softeners, such as powders made from psyllium.
    • Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.

Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Treating a Tailbone Injury with Medication

  1. Image titled Repair Nerve Damage Step 2
    1
    Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen or aspirin. NSAIDs can reduce the pain and inflammation associated with a tailbone injury.[6] Avoid NSAIDs if you have had gastrointestinal bleeding in the past, are taking a blood thinner, or have a history of kidney disease.[7]
  2. Image titled Remove a Cyst on Your Face Step 10
    2
    Use an over-the-counter stool softener. The pain from a tailbone injury can be complicated by constipation and difficult bowel movements. Your doctor can recommend a stool softener to alleviate these gastrointestinal symptoms and make bowel movements more comfortable.[8]
  3. Image titled Repair Nerve Damage Step 6
    3
    Get a steroid injection.[9] Sometimes your doctor will suggest a steroid injection in the tailbone region to provide temporary relief from the pain and inflammation resulting from a tailbone injury. Your doctor will decide if this is a good treatment option for you. Steroid injections are usually administered at your medical provider’s office.
  4. Image titled Make Boobs Bigger Step 9
    4
    Only take prescribed pain medication in serious cases. While your doctor can prescribe narcotic pain medication to alleviate tailbone pain, it is important that you only take these medications if you are experiencing severe pain that is not alleviated with an over the counter NSAID. Narcotic pain medications are highly addictive and should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.[10]

You Might Also Like

Crack Your Back
How to
Crack Your Back
Crack Someone Else's Back
How to
Crack Someone Else's Back
Crack Your Upper Back
How to
Crack Your Upper Back
How to
Crack Your Lower Back
Get Rid of Knots in Your Back
How to
Get Rid of Knots in Your Back
Fix Lumbar Lordosis
How to
Fix Lumbar Lordosis
Straighten Your Back
How to
Straighten Your Back
Rehydrate Spinal Discs
How to
Rehydrate Spinal Discs
Straighten Your Spine
How to
Straighten Your Spine
Treat a Back Spasm
How to
Treat a Back Spasm
Untrap a Nerve in Your Lower Back
How to
Untrap a Nerve in Your Lower Back
Raise a Laptop on a Desk
How to
Raise a Laptop on a Desk
Relax Back Muscles
How to
Relax Back Muscles
Read a Lumbar MRIHow to Read and Recognize Normal and Abnormal Lumbar MRI Results

References

  1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/05/fact-fiction-can-really-break-tailbone/
  2. ↑ Kevin Stone, MD. Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
  3. ↑ https://radiopaedia.org/articles/coccydynia
  4. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tailbone-pain/expert-answers/faq-20058211
  5. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/tailbone-pain/expert-answers/faq-20058211
  6. ↑ Kevin Stone, MD. Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
  7. ↑ http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/tailbone-coccyx-injury#2
  8. ↑ http://www.mountsinai.org/patient-care/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/coccyx-fracture
  9. ↑ Kevin Stone, MD. Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon. Expert Interview. 19 November 2020.
  1. ↑ http://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/0615/p982-s1.html

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 13,715 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 9
Updated: December 6, 2021
Views: 13,715
Categories: Back and Spine Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.