Pain In Tailbone After Getting Up From Chair. Any Advice?

Posted on Tue, 27 Aug 2013

Question: When standing up from a chair I experience pain in my tail-bone area which lasts for about 10 seconds and then disappears. Sometimes it can be quite severe. This has been the case for the last 1 - 2 months. Any advice?

Answered by Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad (29 minutes later)

Hi, thanks for writing to XXXXXXX

Based upon the description of the symptoms, I feel it could be COCCYDYNIA.

Generally this condition occurs secondary to injury (which could have gone unnoticed) but may occur spontaneously.

There are a few other causes of tail bone pain which can mimic coccydynia -
* Sciatica
* Infection
* Pilonidal cysts
* fracture of coccygeal bone

A detailed examination and appropriate investigations are needed to pin point the diagnosis.

The general treatment guidelines for this condition are as follows-

* Sit completely upright with proper posture — keeping your back firmly against the chair, knees level with your hips, feet flat on the floor and shoulders relaxed

* Lean forward while sitting down

* Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion

* Apply heat or ice to the affected area

* Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil)

If the pain is not resolving with the above measures, then a local steroid injection will offer dramatic pain relief in certain cases.

Hope I have addressed your issues. Happy to help for any more clarifications.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad (4 minutes later)

Thank you for your initial diagnosis. I did not have any injury recently but I suppose that probably it developed over time due to long hours in incorrect seating positions (at work I spend most of the day in front of a computer). I will try your suggestions.

Answered by Dr. K. Naga Ravi Prasad (5 minutes later)

Hi, Nice to hear from you.

Please follow the mentioned guidelines and I hope you will definitely find improvement in your symptoms.

Good luck

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar