Tailbone Pain

Pain in the tailbone or coccyx is also referred to as coccygodynia or coccydynia. People suffering from this chronic medical condition usually experience sharp pain, tingling sensation and dull feeling somewhere within the right, left, upper and lower parts of the tailbone. Possible causes include coccygeal fractures, pilonidal cyst and muscle spasm. Patients can easily avoid the severe and stabbing pain associated with these medical conditions by learning its causes, symptoms as well as treatments.

Tailbone Pain Symptoms

When the tailbone pain is caused by neuropathic pain, the common signs are numbness, tingling sensation and burning pain. Common symptoms include sharp pain while engaging in different kinds of activities like sexual intercourse and bowel movements. Based on research, the pain associated with this kind of medical condition is like sitting on a sharp knife. In addition, shooting pain can also be felt all the way down to the legs.

Patients can also feel discomfort and pain even when sitting on soft surfaces. Meanwhile, the edges of the coccyx or tailbone are marked by high levels of sensitivity. They will also find it very difficult to sit or stand. Because of the insurmountable amount of pain that it brings, some patients find it very difficult to sleep, plus they easily get depressed and feel exhausted most of the time.

Causes of Tailbone Pain

Many possible factors contribute to pain in the tailbone area. Common causes include dislocation, muscle spasm and coccygeal fractures. Additionally, other medical conditions can lead to shooting pain such as neuropathic pain, cancer and pudendal neuropathy. Aside from these, there are many other possible reasons like meningeal cyst, spur on coccyx as well as idiopathic coccydynia.

Tailbone Pain Diagnosis

There are many ways to check the causes of pain in the tailbone area. Possible tests and diagnostic procedures include colonoscopy, magnetic resonance imaging scans and CAT scans. Aside from these, there are also other special methods available such as dynamic x-ray and the injection of local anesthetic. These procedures play important roles especially in identifying the real causes of pain in the tailbone area.

Tailbone Pain Relief

With the help of various medications, patients can easily relieve themselves from pain and discomfort that are usually associated with this kind of medical condition. The list of possible pain medications includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like diclofenac, naproxen and ibuprofen.

Besides all these efficient drugs, it is also good to try tricyclic antidepressants such as clomipramine, dothiepin hydrochloride and trazodone. Other treatments to help relieve patients from tailbone pain are painkilling patches, spinal stimulators and acupuncture. In order to solve this problem permanently, a patient can have the coccyx removed surgically.