How To Relieve Pain Of The Coccyx

If you have pain near your tailbone, also called your coccyx, it can be hard to sit and stand for long periods of time. There are many types of treatments to relieve the pain, whether it was caused from an injury or a chronic condition. Here are the treatments available for coccyx pain.

Short-Term Pain Relief

First of all, if you need to relieve pain of your coccyx right away, there are a few things you can do. If you are having tailbone pain while sitting down, try leaning forward slightly. This will take some of the pressure off your tailbone and may relieve the pain. You can also try applying ice or heat to the area of your coccyx that is causing you pain. Another way to get relief while sitting is by sitting on a c-shaped cushion, also called a "donut." This allows you to sit comfortably without any weight or pressure being put on the tailbone.

Pain Relief Medications

It can also be helpful to take pain relief medications. While this won't cure the cause of your coccyx pain, it can help give you some immediate relief. Most pain relief medications keep the pain away for several hours, letting you do what needs to be done until you can see a doctor. Over-the-counter pain relief medication, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen, should be enough. Make sure you don't only rely on these medications if the pain persists. You need to see a doctor if the pain is not going away or is getting worse.

Chiropractic Treatments

There are also some chiropractic treatments that can help reduce the pain of your coccyx. These will be very gentle movements that help to stretch the ligaments that are attached to your tailbone. For example, your chiropractor can teach you about stretches that help to work on these ligaments. They can also do manipulation treatment, which is a type of manual manipulation of your body tissues and spine, which can also help stretch out these ligaments. Ultrasound therapy is another way chiropractors help relieve pain of the tailbone. Talk to a clinic like Vanderloo Chiropractic to learn more chiropractic treatment.

Injection

If your tailbone pain isn't going away, your doctor might suggest getting an injection to relieve it. The injection usually consists of a steroid to reduce inflammation and a numbing agent to relieve the pain. This is a longer-lasting form of pain relief that helps until your coccyx begins to heal. You may need to get more than one injection, but your doctor will limit the amount of injections you can get.