Chiropractor in Kansas City Helps Woman with Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain/Coccydynia)

Have you ever had a fall, landed on your butt, or sat in a really hard chair and afterward experienced pain in your tailbone (aka coccyx)? 

The pain can range from slightly uncomfortable to excruciating, all of which can affect your ability to sit, ride in a car, and exercise.

Why does my tailbone hurt?

Your tailbone or coccyx has most likely been twisted or jammed and is now misaligned.  The misalignment can cause muscles to spasm or the tailbone area to hurt when sitting or doing certain activities.  Women can also experience coccyx pain during pregnancy, and after childbirth.

I've been using an electric heating pad, why is it getting worse?

Heating pads (the plug in kind) make an area of pain feel better for a little while, but usually after 30 minutes to an hour the pain gets even worse.  Why?  Because the dry heat draws more blood and swelling into an area that is already painful and swollen.  I always recommend that my patients get rid of their electric plug in heating pads. The only "heating pad" I recommend is one filled with rice, cherry pits, flaxseed or other seeds that you can heat up in the microwave.  If there is inflammation or swelling in the area, I recommend ice ONLY.  Ice reduces swelling and inflammation and therefore will reduce pain.

What can I do to get the pain to go away?  I can hardly sit at work.

1. Go see a Chiropractor that has experience in treating patients with tailbone pain, also known as coccyx pain, or coccydynia. It usually takes a series of treatments to properly realign the coccyx.

Just today, I had a patient come back for her second visit to my office, and she said her tailbone and hip pain was 80% better after just ONE ADJUSTMENT!  She can also run for the first time in 3 months, since the fall she had in December that caused her tailbone pain.   She had been in a lot of pain for months, and she was so happy that it had improved so drastically!

2. Ice the affected area as much as needed for 20 minutes of every hour.  Remember to wrap your ice pack with a towel to prevent accidental frostbite!

3. You can put a cushion of some sort on your chair or seat, but that won't correct the problem.  Only correcting the source of the problem will get you lasting results and improvement in your health.

Please call me if you have any questions, and remember, better health is only a phone call away!

Dr. Kristine Baker

816-256-3603