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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Can Cause Severe Pain At The Bottom Of The Tailbone?

HThis morning I woke with a severe pain at the bottom of my tailbone/ the top of my bum crack. It has gotten progressively worse throughout the course of the day. I cannot put any pressure on the area which makes it difficult to sit or move. It looks red and feels very swollen and inflamed. My anus and vagina are fine and are not in any pain.
Fri, 6 Jun 2014
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Orthopaedic Surgeon, Joint Replacement 's  Response
Hello,
Thanks for your query.
Pain occuring around the tail bone area (coccyx) is termed as coccydynia. Coccydynia is felt as a localized pain and will generally feel worse when sitting or with any activity that puts pressure on the bottom area of the spine.

There are numerous causes for coccydynia. An xray of the involved part (sacrum with coccyx) and an MRI scan will help in identifying the culprit.

The general treatment guidelines for this condition includes the following -

* Sit completely upright with proper posture — keeping your back firmly against the chair, knees level with your hips, feet flat on the floor and shoulders relaxed

* Sitz baths (which involves soaking hips and buttocks in warm water), which helps in providing pain relief

* Lean forward while sitting down

* Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion

* Apply heat or ice to the affected area

*Physical therapy involving strengthening of pelvic area muscles , stimulation with ultrasound therapy

* Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil)

* If no response is found with analgesic medications, then local corticosteroid injections are given to give a substantially long term pain relief, which may last from few weeks to months.

I do hope that you have found something helpful and I will be glad to answer any further query.
Take care
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What Can Cause Severe Pain At The Bottom Of The Tailbone?

Hello, Thanks for your query. Pain occuring around the tail bone area (coccyx) is termed as coccydynia. Coccydynia is felt as a localized pain and will generally feel worse when sitting or with any activity that puts pressure on the bottom area of the spine. There are numerous causes for coccydynia. An xray of the involved part (sacrum with coccyx) and an MRI scan will help in identifying the culprit. The general treatment guidelines for this condition includes the following - * Sit completely upright with proper posture — keeping your back firmly against the chair, knees level with your hips, feet flat on the floor and shoulders relaxed * Sitz baths (which involves soaking hips and buttocks in warm water), which helps in providing pain relief * Lean forward while sitting down * Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion * Apply heat or ice to the affected area *Physical therapy involving strengthening of pelvic area muscles , stimulation with ultrasound therapy * Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) * If no response is found with analgesic medications, then local corticosteroid injections are given to give a substantially long term pain relief, which may last from few weeks to months. I do hope that you have found something helpful and I will be glad to answer any further query. Take care