Low Back & Pelvis
Coccydynia
Also called: Tailbone pain
Pain at the tailbone from a fall onto the seat, childbirth, prolonged cycling/sitting, or hypermobility of the small coccygeal joints. Underestimated and undertreated — most cases respond well to pressure management plus targeted manual care of the coccyx and pelvic floor.
Common signs
- Well-localized pain at the tailbone
- Worse with sitting (especially leaning back) and standing up from sitting
- Tender to direct touch
- Sometimes pain with bowel movements or intercourse
Seek help now if
- Unexplained weight loss, night pain, or fever
- A mass or progressive numbness in the area
- Pain after significant trauma (fracture assessment)
Any of these: call 911 or get to an emergency room first. Everything else can wait.
What to do first
- A wedge or U-shaped cushion changes daily life immediately — sit on the thighs, not the tailbone
- Alternate sitting and standing; lean slightly forward when you must sit
- Get examined; the coccyx's position and mobility guide treatment
If it's become chronic
- Chronic cases respond to manual therapy of the coccyx and pelvic floor muscles — often the missing piece
- Address prolonged-sitting ergonomics and any hard-saddle cycling setup
- Refractory cases have injection options; conservative care resolves most
Natural healing options we use
- External (and where appropriate, internal) manual therapy for the coccyx region
- Chiropractic care for the sacrum and pelvis
- Pelvic floor down-training and breathwork
- PEMF for local tissue support
About imaging
X-rays (sometimes seated vs standing views) when trauma or instability is suspected; otherwise often clinical.
Daily self-care
- Cutout cushion everywhere you sit
- Hip-hinge to stand rather than pushing off the tailbone
- Soften stool if bowel movements aggravate it (hydration, fiber)
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Please read: this page is education, not a diagnosis. A proper examination is how a condition gets confirmed and a plan gets built. See our medical disclaimer.