A common issue we see at Chiro & Co. is Tailbone (Coccyx) Pain.

As the tailbone forms part of the spine, Chiropractors are trained in assessing issues with the tailbone & giving appropriate treatment & exercises to help with pain.

why is the tailbone (coccyx) important?

The tailbone is the very end of your spine, a small triangular shaped bone, made up of 3-5 fused together bones.

It is a connection point for a large number of important things like muscles, ligaments and tendons in the lower back, pelvic floor and gluteal areas.

Also, it serves an important purpose when you are sitting down, it helps support you along with your buttocks/sitting bones (ischial tuberosities).

what causes tailbone (coccyx) Pain?

There are 3 main categories of Tailbone (Coccyx) pain.

1. Internal (inside) reasons/trauma: Childbirth, having ligament laxity (females are more prone to this), having a certain shaped tailbone

2. External (outside) reasons/trauma: Falling onto your tailbone, sitting for too long on hard surfaces, Obesity

3. Referral pain from the Lower Back or Discs in the spine

what is the chiropractic treatment for tailbone (Coccyx pain)?

There a range of different treatment options for Tailbone pain.

It has been shown that a “conservative” approach (without surgery) is helpful in about 90% of Tailbone pain cases.

Treatment can include one or more of these options below.

1. Ergonomic Changes such as Seat modification, Donut cushion or other sitting supports

2. Manual Therapy/Chiropractic treatment: Massage, Dry Needling and Mobilization/Manipulation of surrounding joints.

3. Exercise therapy: Strengthening surrounding muscles to support the Tailbone area.

4. Pain relief (Anti-inflammatories) or Cortisone injections

If this approach is unsuccessful, then surgery is usually the last line of defence. This involved removing the Tailbone in a procedure called Coccygectomy.

Need help with your tailbone (coccyx) pain?

Our Chiropractor Nicole Ritchie has an extensive knowledge of dealing with patients with Tailbone pain.

She uses a combination approach for Tailbone pain patients.

Firstly this involves properly assessing the site and seeing what area the pain is coming from.

After the assessment, treatment usually includes hands on care such as massage, muscle release, mobilization (movement) of the joints and in some cases manipulation (joint release).

After care also can include exercises to strengthen the area around the tailbone and lower back area. This makes sure the pain doesn’t come back immediately and gives more of a long term solution.

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