What Is Coccydynia? Signs, Causes & Treatment Options
Tailbone Pain Isn’t Just in Your Head — It’s Coccydynia.
If you’ve been struggling with deep, aching pain at the very bottom of your spine — especially when sitting, standing from a chair, or during certain movements — you might be dealing with Coccydynia.
Tailbone pain can be:
- Sharp
- Aching
- Stabbing
- Constant or intermittent
And it’s far more common than most people realise — particularly after injury, surgery, prolonged sitting, or physical trauma.
What Is Coccydynia?
Coccydynia refers to pain and inflammation of the coccyx — the small triangular bone at the base of your spine.
It can occur when:
- The coccyx is bruised, dislocated, or fractured
- Soft tissues and ligaments around the coccyx become inflamed
- Nerves in the area become sensitised
Common Symptoms
✅ Pain at the very base of the spine
✅ Worsening discomfort when sitting, cycling, or transitioning from sit-to-stand
✅ Tenderness over the coccyx when touched
✅ Pain during bowel movements or intimacy (in severe cases)
✅ Radiating pain into buttocks, hips, or thighs (sometimes)
Common Causes
🔹 Trauma:
- Falls directly onto the tailbone (e.g., slipping on ice, sports injuries)
- Childbirth trauma
- Direct blows during contact sports
🔹 Repetitive Strain:
- Prolonged sitting on hard or narrow surfaces (e.g., cyclists, desk workers)
🔹 Postural Imbalance:
- Pelvic tilt abnormalities
- Core and glute weakness
- Prolonged poor sitting posture
🔹 Degenerative Changes:
- Age-related wear of the coccygeal joints
Who Gets Coccydynia?
Anyone can develop it — but it’s especially common in:
- Cyclists
- Office workers
- Postpartum women
- Gym-goers after impact injuries
- People recovering from pelvic or spinal surgery
💬 Real Patient Story: Alex, 41
“I thought I just bruised it. But 6 months later, I still couldn’t sit through a meeting without shifting constantly.”
“Shockwave therapy and core retraining finally broke the cycle. It wasn’t instant, but it worked.”
How Coccydynia Is Diagnosed
✅ Clinical history (injury? childbirth? sitting patterns?)
✅ Physical examination (palpation, seated pain reproduction)
✅ Exclusion of fractures or tumors via imaging (rare but important)
Most diagnoses are clinical — meaning no scan is needed unless there’s a red flag.
Treatment Options for Coccydynia
The good news?
Most cases can be resolved without surgery.
At Male Health Clinic, we offer:
✅ Shockwave Therapy
Stimulates healing, reduces chronic inflammation, improves blood supply.
✅ Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
Releases abnormal tension and restores normal pelvic mechanics.
✅ Postural Retraining and Sitting Advice
Corrects mechanical strain at the coccyx.
✅ Targeted Strength and Mobility Work
Stabilises hips, pelvis, and core to reduce coccygeal load.
✅ Pain Education and Emotional Support
Understanding the cycle of sensitisation and fear avoidance is crucial.
⚖️ When Is Surgery Considered?
Rarely.
Only in chronic cases (12+ months) where conservative treatments have failed — and after MRI confirmation of severe coccyx dislocation or degeneration.
Even then, recovery after coccygectomy (tailbone removal) is long and not guaranteed.
✅ When to Seek Help
You should book an assessment if:
- Pain has lasted more than 4–6 weeks
- Sitting, standing, or movement are consistently painful
- Self-management (cushions, posture changes) isn’t enough
- Symptoms affect work, sport, sleep, or emotional health
Pain at the base of your spine isn’t something you have to “just live with.” You deserve answers — and a real recovery plan.
