Coccyx pain, also called coccydynia, is pain at the bottom of the spine around the tailbone. It may make sitting difficult, especially on a hard surface. It can start after an injury, although sometimes there is no clear trigger.
How is it assessed?
Professor Bateman will ask where the pain is felt, when it began and what makes it worse. Examination and imaging may help when the diagnosis is uncertain or symptoms persist.
What can help?
Many people begin with changes to sitting position, a suitable cushion, activity adjustments, pain relief and physiotherapy where appropriate.
For selected patients whose symptoms remain troublesome, an injection around the sacrococcygeal joint combined with gentle manipulation under sedation may be considered. Surgery to remove the sacrococcygeal joint can be considered if other treatments fail to resolve symptoms.