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Tailbone Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Bones Joints Muscles

Tailbone Disorders

Tailbone disorders involve injuries, pain, or growths at the base of the spine, often resulting from falls or trauma.

The tailbone is the small bone at the bottom of your backbone, or spine. Tailbone disorders include tailbone injuries, pain, infections, cysts and tumors. You rarely break your tailbone. Instead, most injuries cause bruises or pulled ligaments. A backward fall onto a hard surface, such as slipping on ice, is the most common cause of such injuries. Symptoms of various tailbone disorders include pain in the tailbone area, pain upon sitting, pain or numbness in the arms or legs due to pressure on nerves in the tailbone area, and a mass or growth you can see or feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

To relieve tailbone pain at home, try using a donut-shaped cushion or a wedge cushion when sitting to take pressure off the coccyx. Apply ice packs to the area for 15-20 minutes several times a day, especially after an injury, then switch to heat packs for chronic pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and inflammation. Avoid prolonged sitting and try to lean forward while seated to shift weight off your tailbone.
You should seek medical attention if your tailbone pain is severe, worsens over time, or doesn't improve with home care after a few weeks. Also, consult a doctor if you experience numbness or weakness in your legs, have a fever, notice signs of infection (such as redness, swelling, or pus around the tailbone area), or feel a new lump or mass.
Recovery from a tailbone injury can vary, typically taking several weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of the bruise or ligament strain. During recovery, it's important to avoid activities that put direct pressure on your tailbone. This includes prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, cycling, horseback riding, and high-impact exercises that involve jumping or jarring movements. Gentle stretching and walking are usually fine as tolerated.
While most tailbone pain results from an injury, it can occasionally be
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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