subject: Tailbone Pain And How To Treat It [print this page] The coccyx or tailbone is located at the bottom of the vertebral column. This bone is a triangular bony structure and is composed of three to five segments held in place by ligaments. This bone is exposed to a lot of possible injuries due to its location. It could be cause by an accident, an injury or a physical condition. Tailbone pain is getting more and more attention because of the possibility of it being a symptom of a more serious condition.
Tailbone pain is usually characterized as a certain amount of discomfort or pain being felt in the tailbone area. This could be caused by a direct blow to the tailbone, a fall onto it or it may have been fractured during childbirth. This condition is scientifically known as coccydynia. This condition is characterized as the tailbone having a bruise or a feeling of severe and localized pain within the area and tenderness of the bone.
This may make it hard for the person suffering this condition to do things such as exercising, sitting and sleeping. When a person is having a hard time doing these everyday activities, it is best to consult a doctor so as to know the severity of the condition that the person may be in. The doctor would then be able to determine whether or not the condition is serious or easily treatable through rest and other therapeutic methods that are doable at home.
Most doctors would recommend that the person apply ice to the affected area of the tailbone for 15-20 minutes, four times a day during the first few days of the injury. Other doctors would suggest taking an Advil or ibuprofen. An Advil is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic medicine used to relieve body pains. This is usually taken once or twice a day as using this medicine for more than its prescribed dosage could irritate the stomach. Other ways of relieving the tailbone pain are stool softeners, local anaesthetic injections and stronger pain medications.
Tailbone pain is a condition that doctors classify as the lowest form of back pain. This condition is easily treatable through the use of regular remedies such as the application of ice or rest. But just because it is characterized as such, doesnt mean that it cannot be a serious condition.
Some cases of tailbone pain lead to a difficulty in doing everyday activities such as sitting down or bending over. This would then require a trip to doctor as it may be a symptom of a more severe bone condition. In some rare cases, it may be required that the doctor perform surgery on the tailbone area. This type of approach is usually reserved for patients who may have cancer or one whose tailbone has failed to respond to prescriptions, common treatments, and medications. Statistically, women have a higher chance of suffering from tailbone pain than men. This is due to the fact that the female pelvis is broader, so the coccyx is more exposed.
