Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDescribing Tailbone PainWhen Is Tailbone Pain a Cancer Symptom?Treatments to Manage Tailbone Pain Before DiagnosisTreatments for Tailbone Pain and Related Cancers
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Describing Tailbone Pain
When Is Tailbone Pain a Cancer Symptom?
Treatments to Manage Tailbone Pain Before Diagnosis
Treatments for Tailbone Pain and Related Cancers
Tailbone pain, orcoccydynia, occurs below your hips at the end of your spine. It affects thecoccyx(tailbone).
Tailbone pain can result from causes that range from prolonged sitting to injuries and falls. While uncommon, it can also involve tailbone cancer. This cancer can include primary cancers such as a chordoma tumor, a cancerous tumor that grows along your spine.It can also include cancers, such as prostate cancer, that metastasize or spread to bone from their primary site.
Most causes of tailbone pain can be relieved with home treatment. However, pain that persists may require medical treatments such as injections or surgery. Pain related to cancer involves treatment to counter the effects of malignant cells.
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Tailbone painoccurs at the base of your spine, near the top of your buttocks. It typically causes tenderness and discomfort that often feels achy and dull. Occasional sharp pain may also occur.
Tailbone pain can last from a few days to a few months. It can interfere with your ability to perform daily activities. Tailbone pain can also disrupt normal, restful sleep. The discomfort can often feel worse under the following circumstances:
The Connection Between Tailbone Pain and Sacroiliac Joint PainThe twosacroiliac joints(one on either side of your lower spine) connect yoursacrum(the bone that connects your spine to your pelvis) to your hip bone. Your tailbone is attached to the bottom of your sacrum. Dysfunction or inflammation of the sacroiliac joints can radiate to your tailbone, causing pain.
The Connection Between Tailbone Pain and Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The twosacroiliac joints(one on either side of your lower spine) connect yoursacrum(the bone that connects your spine to your pelvis) to your hip bone. Your tailbone is attached to the bottom of your sacrum. Dysfunction or inflammation of the sacroiliac joints can radiate to your tailbone, causing pain.
Though rare, tailbone pain can be a sign of some types of cancer. These cancers typically develop near your tailbone. They can also involve cancer that has metastasized (spread) from another part of your body.
Tailbone pain can be linked to the following types of cancer:
Ovarian Cysts and Other Medical Causes of Tailbone PainThe source of tailbone pain isn’t always obvious. Tailbone pain can sometimes occur as a symptom of the following non-cancerous medical conditions:Ovarian cystsOsteoarthritis(degenerative joint disease)Joint hypermobility(unusually large range of movement) or hypomobility (limited range of movement) of the sacrococcygeal jointInfectionVariants of the coccygeal structure, such asscoliosis(an abnormal curve in your spine)Referred or radicular pain from another injury or conditionCompressed or irritated nerves in the tailbone
Ovarian Cysts and Other Medical Causes of Tailbone Pain
The source of tailbone pain isn’t always obvious. Tailbone pain can sometimes occur as a symptom of the following non-cancerous medical conditions:Ovarian cystsOsteoarthritis(degenerative joint disease)Joint hypermobility(unusually large range of movement) or hypomobility (limited range of movement) of the sacrococcygeal jointInfectionVariants of the coccygeal structure, such asscoliosis(an abnormal curve in your spine)Referred or radicular pain from another injury or conditionCompressed or irritated nerves in the tailbone
The source of tailbone pain isn’t always obvious. Tailbone pain can sometimes occur as a symptom of the following non-cancerous medical conditions:
Treatment to manage tailbone pain before diagnosis involves several conservative (non-medical) options. Research indicates that conservative treatment is successful in treating 90% oftailbone pain. In most cases, the following treatments can resolve the problem:
Possible Pain Triggers
Avoiding possible triggers for tailbone pain can help reduce the incidence and frequency of discomfort and allow the affected area to heal. These triggers include:
When debilitating tailbone pain persists despite conservative treatment, your healthcare provider may advise the following therapies:
When other treatments fail, surgical amputation of thecoccyxmay be advised. This procedure, called a coccygectomy, is reserved as a last resort for extreme cases.
When tailbone pain occurs as a result of bone metastasis of related cancers, the following therapies may be successful intreating the bone metastasisand the problems that it causes:
Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted agents, and hormonal therapy may also be possible treatment options.
What to Know About Bone Cancer
Summary
Tailbone pain can hamper your ability to perform daily routines. It can prevent you from normal sitting, standing, and movement. While it can affect your quality of life, it is often a short-term problem.
Contact your healthcare provider for tailbone pain that does not resolve with conservative home treatments. Don’t delay if tailbone pain occurs with feelings of numbness in your limbs, a lump in your tailbone, or loss of bladder or bowel control. If cancer is involved, getting a prompt diagnosis can help you achieve the best outcomes.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Chordoma.American Cancer Society.Treatment for prostate cancer spread to bones.Lirette LS, Chaiban G, Tolba R, Eissa H.Coccydynia: an overview of the anatomy, etiology, and treatment of coccyx pain.Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):84-7.NHS.Tailbone (coccyx) pain.Beacon Health Systems.Sacroiliitis.Ovarian Cancer Action.Pain and ovarian cancer: how it feels and when to see a doctor.City of Hope.Cervical cancer symptoms.Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care.Colon cancer and back or abdominal pain: symptoms to not ignore.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is back pain a symptom of prostate cancer?Macedo F, Ladeira K, Pinho F, et al.Bone metastases: an overview.Oncol Rev. 2017;11(1):321. doi:10.4081/oncol.2017.321Intermountain Health.Coccydynia.Mayo Clinic News Network.Mayo Clinic Q and A: tailbone pain often goes away without medical treatment.Hospital for Special Surgery.Tailbone pain: why you might have it and how to treat it.Gonnade N, Mehta N, Khera PS, Kumar D, Rajagopal R, Sharma PK.Ganglion impar block in patients with chronic coccydynia.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2017;27(3):324-328. doi:10.4103/ijri.IJRI_294_16
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Chordoma.American Cancer Society.Treatment for prostate cancer spread to bones.Lirette LS, Chaiban G, Tolba R, Eissa H.Coccydynia: an overview of the anatomy, etiology, and treatment of coccyx pain.Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):84-7.NHS.Tailbone (coccyx) pain.Beacon Health Systems.Sacroiliitis.Ovarian Cancer Action.Pain and ovarian cancer: how it feels and when to see a doctor.City of Hope.Cervical cancer symptoms.Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care.Colon cancer and back or abdominal pain: symptoms to not ignore.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is back pain a symptom of prostate cancer?Macedo F, Ladeira K, Pinho F, et al.Bone metastases: an overview.Oncol Rev. 2017;11(1):321. doi:10.4081/oncol.2017.321Intermountain Health.Coccydynia.Mayo Clinic News Network.Mayo Clinic Q and A: tailbone pain often goes away without medical treatment.Hospital for Special Surgery.Tailbone pain: why you might have it and how to treat it.Gonnade N, Mehta N, Khera PS, Kumar D, Rajagopal R, Sharma PK.Ganglion impar block in patients with chronic coccydynia.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2017;27(3):324-328. doi:10.4103/ijri.IJRI_294_16
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Chordoma.American Cancer Society.Treatment for prostate cancer spread to bones.Lirette LS, Chaiban G, Tolba R, Eissa H.Coccydynia: an overview of the anatomy, etiology, and treatment of coccyx pain.Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):84-7.NHS.Tailbone (coccyx) pain.Beacon Health Systems.Sacroiliitis.Ovarian Cancer Action.Pain and ovarian cancer: how it feels and when to see a doctor.City of Hope.Cervical cancer symptoms.Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care.Colon cancer and back or abdominal pain: symptoms to not ignore.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is back pain a symptom of prostate cancer?Macedo F, Ladeira K, Pinho F, et al.Bone metastases: an overview.Oncol Rev. 2017;11(1):321. doi:10.4081/oncol.2017.321Intermountain Health.Coccydynia.Mayo Clinic News Network.Mayo Clinic Q and A: tailbone pain often goes away without medical treatment.Hospital for Special Surgery.Tailbone pain: why you might have it and how to treat it.Gonnade N, Mehta N, Khera PS, Kumar D, Rajagopal R, Sharma PK.Ganglion impar block in patients with chronic coccydynia.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2017;27(3):324-328. doi:10.4103/ijri.IJRI_294_16
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Chordoma.
American Cancer Society.Treatment for prostate cancer spread to bones.
Lirette LS, Chaiban G, Tolba R, Eissa H.Coccydynia: an overview of the anatomy, etiology, and treatment of coccyx pain.Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):84-7.
NHS.Tailbone (coccyx) pain.
Beacon Health Systems.Sacroiliitis.
Ovarian Cancer Action.Pain and ovarian cancer: how it feels and when to see a doctor.
City of Hope.Cervical cancer symptoms.
Nevada Surgery and Cancer Care.Colon cancer and back or abdominal pain: symptoms to not ignore.
American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of lung cancer.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.Is back pain a symptom of prostate cancer?
Macedo F, Ladeira K, Pinho F, et al.Bone metastases: an overview.Oncol Rev. 2017;11(1):321. doi:10.4081/oncol.2017.321
Intermountain Health.Coccydynia.
Mayo Clinic News Network.Mayo Clinic Q and A: tailbone pain often goes away without medical treatment.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Tailbone pain: why you might have it and how to treat it.
Gonnade N, Mehta N, Khera PS, Kumar D, Rajagopal R, Sharma PK.Ganglion impar block in patients with chronic coccydynia.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2017;27(3):324-328. doi:10.4103/ijri.IJRI_294_16
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