Even though the tailbone is the very bottom portion of your spine, you will surely get disturbed if something is wrong with your tailbone. Even the simplest, day-to-day activities can be made excruciating by tailbone pain.
The tailbone or coccyx is a tiny triangular bone. It is located right above your buttocks at the bottom of your spinal column. Any injury or fracture in the tailbone can result in inflammation and pain.
However, there are several home remedies that can help address the sore tailbone.
Here’s everything you need to know about tailbone pain and its remedies.
Table of Contents
What is Tailbone Pain?
Coccydynia is a medical term for pain in the area of the tailbone. ‘Coccyx’ comes from the Greek word ‘Cuckoo’ as it resembles a bird’s beak with the tip pointed down. And the word ‘Dynia’ means ‘Pain’. Therefore, ‘Coccydynia’ literally means ‘pain of the coccyx’.
You may have difficulty sitting or walking if you have tailbone pain. Furthermore, you will have difficulty using the bathroom, and ladies will experience pain during their periods.
What causes a sore tailbone? Usually trauma is the reason. Trauma may happen because of the following reasons:
- Falling on a hard surface
- Pregnancy
- Childbirth
- Extended sitting
- Spinal surgery
- Repetitive activities like cycling, rowing
- Medical conditions such as arthritis, osteomyelitis
How Common is Tailbone Pain?
Tailbone soreness is very common.
Coccydynia affects five times more women than it does men. Adults and teenagers are more likely to get it than children. According to one of the top certified Spinal Surgeons in Lahore, Dr. Afzal Hussain, obese people are three times more vulnerable than those who are at a healthy weight.
How to Treat Tailbone Pain?
How to treat tailbone pain? Are there any remedies for sore tailbone? The good news is: YES, there are certain home remedies.
The majority of tailbone pain subsides on its own after a few weeks or months. Meanwhile, here are some home treatments for tailbone pain to help relieve your symptoms.
1- Hot or Cold Packs for Tailbone Pain
Hot or cold therapy is one of the most common remedies for sore tailbone. Research says that heat or ice applied to the tailbone area helps to reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process.
What do you have to do? Apply a hot water bottle or an ice pack to the affected area for roughly 15 minutes. You can use the pack up to four times each day. Heating pads and hot baths might also help you attain the same results.
2- Use Coccydynia Pillow
Use of coccydynia pillow is another addition to relieve tailbone pain. It is a specialty cushion that has a slot cut out for your tailbone. The doughnut or U-shaped pillow relieves pressure on your tailbone as it heals, allowing you to sit while reducing pain and preventing additional damage.
3- Massage for Tailbone Pain
Massaging the affected area can help you get rid of sore tailbone symptoms.
Massage the afflicted area for 30 minutes with massage oil. Apply mild pressure for a better massage. Repeat the process twice a day to get rid of tailbone pain as soon as possible.
4- Use Castor Oil
How to use castor oil for tailbone pain? For that:
- In a small saucepan, warm the castor oil.
- Apply this warm oil to the lower back and wrap the bandage around it.
- Repeat this procedure every night until the lower back discomfort and tailbone go.
Castor oil’s anti-inflammatory qualities will help you heal quickly. Because it is an antibacterial agent, it is also an effective treatment for pain induced by infection.
Get to know about the benefits of some popular essential oils.
5- Increase Vitamin Intake
B6, B12, and Vitamin D deficiency can also cause tailbone pain.
Vitamin D is necessary for a healthy skeleton, and a lack of it can cause painful bone disorders. According to multiple convincing studies, It acts in combination with calcium to support and maintain the skeleton’s health.
Vitamin B is beneficial to bone health. If you have enough of these vitamins, you’ll have a lower risk of having tailbone pain.
So, if you already have pain in your tailbone, get plenty of sun. Also, eat foods like chicken, green peas, cheese, whole grains, soy, eggs, legumes, and so on.
6- Take Epsom Salt Bath
Epsom salt baths are one of the home remedies for tailbone pain. They are extremely calming for the body. They relieve discomfort by reducing stress on the back muscles. Also, it is beneficial to the body’s detoxification process.
How to treat tailbone pain with an epsom salt bath?
- Fill a bath with warm water. Add two cups of epsom salts.
- Stir carefully to ensure that the salt is equally distributed.
- Soak your body for 10-15 minutes in this water.
Read about some fascinating health benefits of black salt.
7- Exercises for Tailbone Pain
You can also relieve a sore tailbone by performing specific stretches or exercises. Next, I’ll be covering a few stretches for pain relief.
Single Leg Knee Hug
To perform knee hug:
- Lie down with your back facing the ground.
- Bend one leg toward your chest.
- If you can tolerate it, extend the feet straight out.
- Pull the bent knee softly down into the chest while holding on to it.
- Hold for 30 seconds, then switch sides and repeat.
Child’s Pose
How to do a child’s pose to relieve tailbone pain? For that:
- Sit back on your heels and kneel with your knees apart.
- Put both your hands on the ground.
- Now, slowly move your arms and body forward while maintaining your head down.
- Shift forward slowly until the arms are fully extended.
- Bring your forehead to the floor if feasible.
- Rest for 20–30 seconds in this position.
Thread the Needle
How to treat tailbone pain with thread the needle stretches? Here’s the method:
- Lie down on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground.
- Place your left ankle across your right knee and gently rest it there.
- For 30 seconds, loop your hands over your right thigh and bring it toward your chest.
- Repeat with the opposite leg.
When to Consult A Doctor?
If you are in intense pain or aren’t getting any relief through at-home treatment, you should see a doctor. A doctor can examine the area and, if necessary, order more tests to identify and treat the cause and rule out any other problems.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see a doctor right away.
- A sudden increase in swelling or soreness
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Persistent constipation
- Numbness or tingling in legs
You can also consult an orthopedics surgeon in Lahore. You can book an appointment via Healthwire.pk or make a call at (042) 32500989.
Takeaway!
Tailbone discomfort is unpleasant. But it is only transient. Do some home remedies. Use ice packs, soak in hot baths, and spend more time on your feet. Don’t wait until your sore tailbone becomes severe to seek medical help!
