chronic tailbone pain

Hi, I have been experiencing debilitating tailbone pain for the last 14 months. It may have been aggravated by a fall I took on the ice three years ago, but I have had back problems for years. It was intolerable for a couple of months, and since then has varied in severity but it is still bad enough that I have been out of work for over a year. I cannot sit, I cannot stand for long periods of time, I constantly have to keep moving, squat or lie down. I have seen many different medical practitioners, and tried many different types of exercise regimes. I do yoga about three hours a day. Without it I would be completely disabled. I sit in a hot tub for relief, I do core exercises, two different types of physical therapy and see a chiropractor. I tried a steroid injection in the fall, but it just made the pain worse. I have been diagnosed with swelling in the bone marrow of the distal joint of the tail bone. I started Cymbalta in early December. Still on 20 mg and see a tiny bit of improvements in spine not tailbone but hate the side effects. Anyone else out there with tailbone issues or experience ? Looking for help. Thanks

Hello tailbone and welcome to Hw.

Your tailbone is actually around S-1 on the spine if this is the area your referring to. It's easily broke or more often fractured.Falls are usually the culprit.

What occurs then is what they refer to as a pars defect and you can do a search to get more info. Hard to dx and virtually impossible without an mri.

Can cause horrific pain and discomfort.

I'm not sure I would see a chiro until you know exactly what's causing the trouble.

Good luck and again welcome
Vickie

Welcome tailbone.

I have chronic tailbone too, possibly started in accident. Steroid injection helps some but takes at least a week, usually more like 2-3 weeks to note improvement. The first week it hurts a whole lot worse.

I have a cushion with the tailbone area cut out, found it in auto section at Wal-Mart. I keep it in my car and take it with me when I know I'll have to sit in straight chair. I didn't think it was going to do much, but after 3-4 weeks it started feeling better. At home on couch I use a heating pad all the time.

I think there is surgery but am not going that route. It sounds more painful than it's worth.