Coccydynia is persistent, chronic pain of the coccyx (tailbone). The tailbone is the small, triangular bone at the bottom of the spine. It’s the last segment of the spinal column and is made up of 3-5 vertebrae. When the tailbone sustains an injury or damage, it causes inflammation that leads to pain and tenderness. Common causes of coccydynia include:
- Direct trauma from a fall
- Repetitive stress and soft tissue strain from prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, horseback riding, bicycle riding, etc.
- Abnormal stress and pressure from poor posture
- Obesity
- Childbirth
Keep reading to learn the symptoms to watch out for and treatment options available.
4 Telltale Signs of Chronic Tailbone Pain
If you have coccydynia, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Localized pain. Coccydynia causes localized achy, tender pain at the bottom of the spine that doesn’t radiate to surrounding areas. The pain can range in severity from mild to severe, and it might be a constant, dull ache or a pain that comes and goes with activity.
- Pain during sitting. Tailbone pain is worse when sitting, sitting on a hard surface, or leaning back against a wall because these movements place more pressure on the affected area.
- Pain during transitional movement. Coccyx pain worsens while moving from sitting to standing or standing to sitting. Movement of the pelvis during sit-to-stand can cause pain, pressure and tension around the tailbone.
- Pain during activities. Tailbone pain may worsen during certain activities that place more pressure on the affected area, like bike riding, horseback riding, sexual intercourse or bowel movements.
Is Coccydynia Treatable?
Acute coccydynia typically resolves within weeks or months. However, tailbone pain can become chronic (lasting longer than three months), if instability, soft tissue strain and inflammation aren’t treated. Some people live with the pain for months or even years. Treatment plans focus on reducing pain, loosening tense muscles, and relieving inflammation in the affected area. Common treatment methods include:
- Applying ice packs to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation
- Applying heat packs to soothe tense, tight muscles
- Modifying activities to take pressure off the tailbone (like sitting on a cushioned chair)
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation
- Receiving a nerve block injection
- Stretching the low back and pelvis muscles
- Trying alternative therapies like acupuncture, chiropractic care and massages to relieve pain
What If Traditional Treatments Aren’t Effective?
Coccydynia can cause chronic pain and inflammation that doesn’t respond to traditional treatments. At that point, your doctor might suggest a surgical procedure to remove part or all of your coccyx. But before you undergo an invasive surgery, we encourage you to consider one more treatment that may be an option for you: scrambler therapy.
Scrambler therapy is a safe and non-invasive treatment option that has proven effective at relieving several types of chronic pain. Your brain is neuroplastic, which means it can make new connections and rewire itself to adapt to new circumstances. Scrambler therapy uses electrostimulation to retrain your brain to accept new, non-pain messages from nerve fibers that were previously sending pain signals to the brain. Scrambler therapy requires several sessions — approximately 9 to 10 — over a two-week period. It’s very safe and has no documented side effects.
Contact Radiant Pain Relief Centres to Learn More About Scrambler Therapy
Radiant Pain Relief Centres administers scrambler therapy to treat chronic pain conditions like coccydynia.On average, our patients experience an 84% reduction in pain, and more than 90% of our patients conclude therapy with a pain score of zero or near zero.
We have a start-to-finish comprehensive care model and payment plans that make scrambler therapy accessible and affordable for everyone with chronic pain. We offer a free evaluation and free scrambler therapy session so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not this treatment is right for you before you invest.
Don’t resign yourself to a life of pain. Please call us today or submit a contact form for more information.