Coccydynia

Coccydynia is most commonly characterized by pain when applying pressure to the tailbone and is exacerbated by sitting in hard chairs, additional blows to the tailbone or other instances that place pressure on the area.

Symptoms may include sharp, shooting pains radiating from the tailbone or a dull, throbbing ache originating in that same region. Other symptoms include severe, debilitating pain when moving from a seated to standing position. People with coccyx issues also frequently report pain during sex and painful bowel movements. Women are more likely to experience discomfort than men, although the underlying reasons for this association remain unclear.

Conditions such as obesity may also increase your chances of getting coccydynia. Because coccydynia strictly refers to pain and inflammation in the tailbone (coccyx) area, its symptoms are highly localized. An individual with coccydynia will generally have the following symptoms:

• Pain in the tailbone area that tends to worsen when sitting
• Tenderness in the tailbone (coccyx) region
• Difficulty standing up after being in a sleeping or sitting position
• A lot of discomfort during bowel movements
• Minor bruising near the tailbone area
• Sharp stinging pain in the tailbone area
• A little pain in the lower back area

Exams and Tests

The symptoms of localized pain in the tailbone area are usually all a doctor needs to diagnose coccydynia. Should there be any doubts, the doctor can order an MRI scan. An MRI scan will exclude any disorder in the bones and tissues near the area.

Treatment Options

Our doctors begin by recommending relatively conservative treatments for coccydynia for six weeks, as they are frequently effective in relieving pain. Treatment options include physical therapy, cortisone injections and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding hard surfaces or using a therapeutic sitting cushion. Coccygeal manipulation is recommended in some cases, which is when the coccyx is manually moved back into proper alignment to reduce stress on the bone.

In more extreme cases, surgery may be necessary to control the pain. A coccygectomy is a surgery that involves the removal of the entire coccyx to eliminate problems caused by pressure on the tailbone area.

The doctors at NJ Spine & Orthopedic are exceedingly successful at performing coccygectomy procedures, with a 99% success rate. The surgery is simple, effective and outpatient with a recovery time of just two weeks, but most patients feel improvement within days. Try our Candidacy Verification tool to find out if this treatment is right for you.