Tailbone Pain
What is tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain, also called coccydynia, is pain in and around the small triangular bone at the very bottom of your spinal column, above the cleft of your buttocks. The tailbone (coccyx) is made up of three to five small bones that can be injured by trauma during a fall. Tailbone pain can also be caused without trauma by prolonged sitting on a hard surface. Less commonly, patients may have degenerative joint changes or experience postpartum tailbone pain.
How is tailbone pain diagnosed?
Tailbone pain is typically diagnosed by gathering medical history and completing a physical exam. These two standard diagnostic practices are usually sufficient in obtaining a diagnosis and evaluating treatment options, but in some cases, diagnostic tests such as CT, MRI or bone scans, X-rays or injections may be used.
What are the risk factors for tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain is common. Women are five times more likely than men to develop coccydynia. Adults and adolescents get it more often than children. Other factors include:
- Trauma, especially a backwards fall onto the back
- Childbirth
- Obesity
- Rapid weight loss
- Surgery to fuse the sacrococcygeal joint
I’ve been diagnosed with tailbone pain. Now What do I do?
You don’t have to hurt. When you need spine care in Orange County, trust Hoag. At Hoag, our fellowship-trained team of spine specialists is here to help get you back to doing the things that matter most. We’re committed to treating you like a person, not a chart. Hoag provides the latest technology and treatments, with minimally-invasive techniques designed to help you recover quicker with less pain. Meet the Hoag Spine Center Team.
What treatments are available for tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain typically goes away on its own without medical intervention within a few weeks or months. The first line of treatment is self-care, including anti-inflammatory drugs, ice packs, activity modification and physical therapy.
To help you get on the correct treatment path, meet with one of our spine specialists.
Minimally-invasive robotic spinal surgery at Hoag
When your spine is on the line, trust Hoag for spine surgery. Hoag was the first hospital on the West Coast to offer the Mazor X Stealth™ advanced robotic navigation platform for spinal surgery. Combining 3D pre-operative planning tools with robotic precision, the system provides surgeons with advanced visualization of your body’s unique internal structures, and you with the great chance to come back strong from back surgery. Learn more about advanced robotic surgery at Hoag.
Award-Winning Care for the Spine at Hoag
There’s a reason why U.S. News and World Report’s 2022-2023 list of top hospitals ranked Hoag as High Performing — their top distinction — in neurology, neurosurgery and spinal fusion. A higher standard of care. Accurate diagnosis for more successful treatment. A multidisciplinary team of spine-care specialists who are committed to seeing you heal. That’s spinal care at Hoag. Read an essay about a real Hoag patient’s spine-care journey.
Confused about your condition? Trust Hoag Nurse Navigators
Facing a health issue that could involve surgery can be confusing for anyone. That’s why the Hoag Spine Center offers our unique Nurse Navigator program. These trained nurses are there for you, both as a guide and a resource for medically-accurate information about your unique diagnosis. It’s one more way Hoag is here for you through your journey as a patient, every step of the way. Get started with our spine nurse navigator.
What is tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain, also called coccydynia, is pain in and around the small triangular bone at the very bottom of your spinal column, above the cleft of your buttocks. The tailbone (coccyx) is made up of three to five small bones that can be injured by trauma during a fall. Tailbone pain can also be caused without trauma by prolonged sitting on a hard surface. Less commonly, patients may have degenerative joint changes or experience postpartum tailbone pain.
How is tailbone pain diagnosed?
Tailbone pain is typically diagnosed by gathering medical history and completing a physical exam. These two standard diagnostic practices are usually sufficient in obtaining a diagnosis and evaluating treatment options, but in some cases, diagnostic tests such as CT, MRI or bone scans, X-rays or injections may be used.
What are the risk factors for tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain is common. Women are five times more likely than men to develop coccydynia. Adults and adolescents get it more often than children. Other factors include:
- Trauma, especially a backwards fall onto the back
- Childbirth
- Obesity
- Rapid weight loss
- Surgery to fuse the sacrococcygeal joint
I’ve been diagnosed with tailbone pain. Now What do I do?
You don’t have to hurt. When you need spine care in Orange County, trust Hoag. At Hoag, our fellowship-trained team of spine specialists is here to help get you back to doing the things that matter most. We’re committed to treating you like a person, not a chart. Hoag provides the latest technology and treatments, with minimally-invasive techniques designed to help you recover quicker with less pain. Meet the Hoag Spine Center Team.
What treatments are available for tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain typically goes away on its own without medical intervention within a few weeks or months. The first line of treatment is self-care, including anti-inflammatory drugs, ice packs, activity modification and physical therapy.
To help you get on the correct treatment path, meet with one of our spine specialists.
Minimally-invasive robotic spinal surgery at Hoag
When your spine is on the line, trust Hoag for spine surgery. Hoag was the first hospital on the West Coast to offer the Mazor X Stealth™ advanced robotic navigation platform for spinal surgery. Combining 3D pre-operative planning tools with robotic precision, the system provides surgeons with advanced visualization of your body’s unique internal structures, and you with the great chance to come back strong from back surgery. Learn more about advanced robotic surgery at Hoag.
Award-Winning Care for the Spine at Hoag
There’s a reason why U.S. News and World Report’s 2022-2023 list of top hospitals ranked Hoag as High Performing — their top distinction — in neurology, neurosurgery and spinal fusion. A higher standard of care. Accurate diagnosis for more successful treatment. A multidisciplinary team of spine-care specialists who are committed to seeing you heal. That’s spinal care at Hoag. Read an essay about a real Hoag patient’s spine-care journey.
Confused about your condition? Trust Hoag Nurse Navigators
Facing a health issue that could involve surgery can be confusing for anyone. That’s why the Hoag Spine Center offers our unique Nurse Navigator program. These trained nurses are there for you, both as a guide and a resource for medically-accurate information about your unique diagnosis. It’s one more way Hoag is here for you through your journey as a patient, every step of the way. Get started with our spine nurse navigator.