Tailbone pain: understanding coccydynia

What is coccydynia?

The coccyx, or tailbone, is the small bone at the end of the spine, just above the cleft of the buttocks. Coccydynia is the name for pain in this area. According to nidirect, Northern Ireland's public health information service, it can follow an injury or strain to the coccyx or the muscles and ligaments around it.

Tailbone pain: what are the symptoms?

According to the NHS, the UK health service, the main symptom is pain and tenderness at the base of the spine. It is often dull and achy, with occasional sharp pains. It may be worse:

• while sitting;
• when sitting down or standing up;
• when bending forward;
• when having a poo.

Nidirect adds that it may be worse when standing for long periods and during sex. Sleep and everyday activities, such as driving, can suffer. Some people also have back pain, shooting leg pain (sciatica), or painful buttocks and hips.

Where does it come from?

According to the NHS and nidirect, common causes are:

• pregnancy and childbirth;
• a fall onto the coccyx or an accident;
• repeated or prolonged strain, for example after long hours sitting while driving or cycling;
• poor posture;
• being overweight or underweight;
• a coccyx that is too mobile or too rigid.

Less commonly, a bony growth or arthritis is involved. Very rarely, another cause may be involved, which your doctor can check: this is why the doctor examines the area and may request an X-ray or MRI. In many cases, no obvious cause is found.

What to do day to day?

The NHS suggests several simple steps:

• Sit correctly, with the lower back supported, and use a special coccyx cushion.
• Do not sit for a long time: get up regularly.
• Lie on your side to reduce pressure on the coccyx.
• Pelvic floor exercises, also useful for urinary leaks.
• Ice or heat: ice wrapped in a towel for 20 to 30 minutes, or a heat pack for longer.
• An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen may help: ask your pharmacist for advice.
• If going to the toilet hurts, a laxative that softens stools, on your pharmacist's advice.
• Nidirect also suggests loose clothing.

If these steps are not enough, the NHS mentions physiotherapy, then injections; surgery is considered only as a last resort. Nidirect mentions physiotherapy when symptoms last more than 8 weeks.

Warning signs: when to seek help without delay

Go to the emergency department if, as well as the pain, you notice a sign that nerves in the lower back may be affected:

• numbness around the genitals, bottom or upper thighs;
• a change in bladder or bowel control;
• weakness in a leg.

The same applies if the pain is extreme and not relieved by painkillers.

See your doctor if:

• the pain has not improved after a few weeks of home care;
• it affects your daily activities or is very severe;
• you have a fever with pain elsewhere, for example in your tummy or lower back;
• you notice some bleeding, for example from your bottom: your doctor can check where it comes from;
• the pain spreads away from the coccyx.

These situations are rare. According to nidirect, in most cases tailbone pain improves over a few weeks or months.

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Looking beyond the tailbone

The first consultation lasts 1.5 to 2 hours (CHF 182). Bring your medical file, your test results (X-ray, MRI, reports) and the list of your medications. We review your situation and build your plan together. Follow-up is then adapted to your progress. We work alongside your GP and the other professionals who follow you, including your physiotherapist or gynaecologist.

Which approaches can play a part at Centre Algos?

Depending on your situation, several approaches can be combined, alongside your medical follow-up:

• Naturopathy: sleep, stress, diet, digestion and daily rhythm, to work on the habits that can influence pain.
• Cupping: applied to the lower back, away from the coccyx, it can help release muscle tension.
• Functional biology and micronutrition: an assessment to identify possible nutritional imbalances, to be discussed with your doctor.

Everyone responds differently: the aim is to help you live your days better, without promising a result.

When to seek advice

Sources and further reading

• NHS, "Tailbone (coccyx) pain" (reviewed 20 November 2025): symptoms, self-care, when to see a GP, treatments, causes.
• nidirect, "Tailbone pain (coccydynia)": improvement over weeks or months, associated symptoms, when to see a GP, rare causes, tests.
• ameli.fr (French public health information), "Sciatique : comment être soulagé(e) et quand consulter ?" (20 March 2026, in French): emergency signs involving the nerves of the lower back (perineum, bladder, bowels, leg strength).