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24 years
Hello. I woke up today with a sudden severe tailbone pain. I can't walk or sit properly. I never had any pain or problems before. Kindly advise.
Jul 12, 2015
2nd opinion

Dr. Zakia Dimassi Pediatrics
Coccydynia is the medical term for tailbone pain or coccyx pain. This condition that can produce persistent pain at the very bottom of the spine, the coccyx, or tailbone. Coccydynia is described as a localized pain that gets feel worse when sitting or with any activity that puts pressure on the bottom area of the spine.

Coccydynia is much more common in women than men; the most common causes are usually trauma or childbirth. Symptoms may consist of one or all of the following:

>Pain that gets exacerbated by sitting down
>Local pain in the tailbone area that is worsened by touching or when any pressure is applied to it
>Pain that is worse when rising from a sitting to standing position
>Pain that is worse with constipation and feels better after passing a bowel movement.

When the diagnosis of coccydynia, which is made after detailed patient history has been collected and a physical examination has been performed, will identify one of the following underlying causes of pain:
Trauma: A fall on the tailbone can lead to inflammation of the ligaments or cause injury to the coccyx or the coccygeal attachment to the sacrum. This is probably the most common cause of coccydynia.
Pressure: Certain activities that apply pressure on the tailbone for prolonged periods of time, such as horseback riding and sitting on hard surface, may trigger the onset of coccyx pain. Tailbone pain associated with these activities is usually transient and self-limited, but if the inflammation and symptoms are not managed, the pain may become chronic.

Treatments for coccydynia usually rely on noninvasive and local interventions. The first line of treatment typically includes:
>Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen, act by reducing the inflammation around the coccyx that is usually underlies the pain.
>Ice or cold packs to be applied to the affected area several times a day for the first few days after the pain starts.
>Heat or a hot pack to be placed on the area after the first few days.
>Avoiding sitting for prolonged periods, or placing any pressure on the area, as much as possible.
>A custom pillow: these kinds of pillows aid in minimizing the pressure that affects the coccyx while sitting. Any type of pillow or sitting arrangement that keeps pressure off the coccyx is ideal.
>If the tailbone pain is caused or increased with bowel movements or constipation, then stool softeners and increased fiber and water intake is recommended.
>Physiotherapy
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