Pain in the tailbone is a common problem, according to Dr. Brawley, and the condition is more prevalent in women than men. He said the pain can be caused from a fall backwards into a sitting position, repetitive minor trauma from sitting a long time or sitting on hard surfaces.
He said initial treatment is conservative; the physician will use non-steroidal pain medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen, recommend protection of the area with a donut or wedge pillow; and recommend alternating application of heat and cold packs.
Patients with pain after three months of conservative therapy may require X-rays of the pelvis and tailbone, and some patients will require injections of local anesthetic or local anesthetic and steroids.
Read the CNN blog post on tailbone pain.
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