Tail bone Pain – Causes, Symptoms, And Homeopathic Treatment

Reena was always in a hurry as she had to finish off the maximum chores in the morning. At one such moment of a hurry, she slipped on the wet floor but managed to save her bottom from landing badly onto the floor down. She did manage to avoid a fracture, but, a couple of days later, started getting pain in her tailbone. Every time she tried to get up from her seat, she used to get bad pain in her tailbone. After she visited a doctor, her condition was diagnosed as coccygodynia or simply pain in the tailbone.

Tail bone or coccyx, though very small, is an important structure of our spine. It is located at the end of the spine and is made up of 5 tiny bones fused to form one bone. The tail bone, along with the lower part of two hip bones, helps to stabilize the person while in a sitting posture. It also serves as a site for attachment to various tendons, ligaments, and muscles of the pelvic floor. These pelvic floor muscles provide support to structures in the pelvis, such as the anus and the vagina.

What Causes the Tail Bone Pain?

Here are some common causes of the tail bone pain

1. When a person slips and falls over the tail bone, it could lead to injury or fracture of the bone.
2. Sitting on a hard surface, such as hard ground, hard bench for a long time, for instance, females who sit on the ground for all their daily activities, put more weight on the tail bone while sitting, thereby resulting in the pain
3. Leaning back when being seated puts the body-weight on the tail bone.
4. The pain could also be a result of trauma during vaginal childbirth.
5. It could be age-related resulting due to wear and tear and arthritis.
6. In some cases, it could be idiopathic. There is no cause for it.
7. It could increase during menses.
8. People with hypermobility of coccyx are more likely to get the tail bone pain.
9. Being overweight could put more pressure on the tail bone while being seated.
10. Drastic weight loss could cause a loss of protective cushion around the tail bone, thereby exposing it to trauma.
11. Any sport which puts unnecessary pressure on the muscles and ligaments around the tail bone could also cause the tail bone pain.

Women are more likely to get the pain than men because during the pregnancy the shape of the pelvis changes to accommodate the baby. The muscles and ligaments around the tail bone may get strained resulting in the pain.

Symptoms of the Tail Bone Pain

1. The patient may complain of soreness or aching pain in the area around the tail bone. The pain is localized and does not radiate unlike the nerve pain
2. There could be muscle spasm around the bone leading to a sensation of tightness.
3. Tenderness on pressure and touch
4. The pain may increase during sitting and while changing the position from sitting to standing.
5. Females could experience an increase in pain during their menses and sexual intercourse.
6. For some, the pain could increase when straining for stool.

Diagnosis of the Tail Bone Pain

Based on the history given by the patient, local examination, X-ray, or an MRI, the doctor will diagnose the tail bone pain and treat it.

How to Manage the Tail Bone Pain

1. Apply hot or cold fomentation to relieve the pain.
2. Always sit on a soft surface and avoid sitting on a hard surface or hard ground.
3. While sitting bend forwards and sit to put less pressure on the tail bone while sitting.
4. Sit straight with low back support and pelvic support to ease pressure on the tail bone.
5. Do not lean back while sitting.
6. Use a wedge-shaped pillow or a round pillow with a cut on the back while sitting. This will provide the necessary support to the tail bone and prevent the pressure.

Exercises for the Tail Bone Pain

There are a few stretching exercises that could be done to relieve the pressure on the back and relax the muscles around the tail bone. This will also help to ease the pain. Below are the most commonly suggested exercises.

• Cobra Pose
• Cat cow stretch
• Pelvic tilt

Homeopathy for Tail Bone Pain

Homeopathy has good remedies to ease the pain of your tail bone. These medicines have to be taken along with the other precautions, such as avoiding sitting on the hard surfaces, using a wedge cushion while sitting, etc. In the presence of the maintaining cause, the medicines would not work.

The commonly indicated homeopathic medicines are mentioned below.

1. Arnica: This homeopathic remedy is indicated for tail bone pain which is caused because of fall or repeated blunt injuries due to sitting on the hard surface. When the individual experiences pain as if bruised or beaten and pains that turn worse by least touch, motion, and cold, this remedy may help. The patient may feel better by having rest. The patient may turn sensitive to the pain, and, hence, he has a great fear of people approaching him and touching him. Also, when the patient feels bed too hard and no position gives him relief, Arnica is indicated.

1. Hypericum: Hypericum for tailbone pain works at its best for coccyx pain treatment in homeopathy. When the pain is very severe, injury to the tail bone occurs because of fall, the pain radiates up the spine and down to the legs. jerking and twitching of the muscles, occurs, and the pain gets worse by least touch, cold, and damp climates, Hypericum is indicated.

1. Lachesis: Lachesis help offer solution in coccyx pain treatment in homeopathy. The patient must sit perfectly still. The remedy acts well in females, particularly around the menopausal age. When the patient is aggravated after sleep, the remedy may help. The patient is very talkative and suspicious.

1. Rhus tox: Rhus tox is recommended to the patient who experiences pain and stiffness in the lower back and his pain turns worse by sitting and he feels better by motion or lying on something hard. When the patient’s pain is aggravated by lying on the right side or back, cold, wet weather, this homeopathic remedy may help. The patient may feel better by warm applications and stretching out the limbs.

1. Bryonia: When the patient experiences stiffness and stitching pain and his pain turns worse from motion and experiences relief after having rest, Bryonia is indicated. The remedy also helps the very irritable patient who suffers constipation and has a desire for large quantities of water at large intervals.

Now that you know how homeopathy is effective in treating tail bone pain, opt for homeopathy without a second thought if you happen to suffer from the tail bone pain any time.

• Written by Dr. Yafta S., Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah