5 Best Home Remedies To Treat Tailbone Pain

You sit down, and your lower back hurts. You stand up, and it still hurts! You lie down, and yet, there is no relief from the pain. You might be experiencing what is called tailbone pain. It is an absolutely tormenting situation, right?
If tailbone pain has been bugging you for a while now, look no further. This post deals with the causes and ways you can prevent tailbone pain. Read on!

What Is Tailbone Pain?

Pain in the tailbone area is called coccydynia in medical terms. The area in between your buttocks that lies above the anus is the site of the tailbone or coccyx. When this bone is inflamed, you experience pain and tenderness. When you sit, this pain gets aggravated (1).

Causes Of Tailbone Pain

Injuries are the most painful conditions that affect the lower back and tailbone. There are many ways you can contract this dreaded condition. Let’s list a few below:

• Falls are a common cause of tailbone injuries. Falling while sitting and hitting your back on the hard ground is probably the most common cause of tailbone injury.

• Sometimes, a direct impact on the tailbone, like the ones that occur during contact sports, can injure the tailbone.

• Even pregnancy can cause injury or lead to the fracture of the tailbone. Tailbone pain during pregnancy is common during various trimesters.

• Sports like bowling, cycling, and rowing can cause tailbone injuries due to the repetitive motion used in them.

• At times, tailbone injuries can occur due to no particular reason. You may experience tailbone pain without injury as well.

• A lesser known reason for tailbone injury is a bone spur. An extra growth in the bone can put pressure on it and cause pain (2).

• Infections at the base of the spine or soft tissue can cause accumulation of pus, which is very painful and can lead to tailbone pain (3).

• A more serious condition that causes lower back and tailbone pain may be cancer. However, this cause is uncommon.

Tailbone Injury Symptoms

Now that you know what causes tailbone pain, let’s look at some symptoms of tailbone pain. Knowing these symptoms will equip you with enough knowledge, so you know when you need to visit the doctor.
Some of the symptoms include:

• The tailbone area is quite tender, and the pain is quite severe

• Sometimes, a bruise may be visible in the tailbone area

• The pain progressively gets worse when you sit down for long or apply direct stress to the tailbone area

• Passing stools and straining are quite painful

• You may experience sharp pain during sexual intercourse (4)

How To Prevent Tailbone Injuries

Some sure shot ways to prevent tailbone pain include:

• Wearing appropriate protective gear while taking part in physical sports.

• Being careful about the environment. As falling on your tailbone is the most common cause of injury, you should be extra cautious about water spills and slipping on slick ice.

Now that we know what causes tailbone pain, how do we alleviate it using simple everyday products? Read on to know how.

Home Remedies For Tailbone Pain

There are many ways to alleviate and even cure tailbone pain. The best tailbone pain remedies include:

1. Heat Or Ice Pack
2. Massage
3. Vitamins
4. Castor Oil
5. Epsom Salt Bath

Get Relief From Tailbone Pain With These Remedies

1. Heat Or Ice Pack For Tailbone Pain

 

You Will Need

Hot water bottle or an ice pack

What You Have To Do

Place either a hot water bottle or an ice pack on the affected area for about 20 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can use it as often as four times in a day.

Why This Works

This is one of the most commonly used remedies for tailbone pain relief.
Many studies have shown that applying heat or cold to the affected area can help reduce tailbone pain. It reduces inflammation and promotes healing as well (5). You can also use a heating pad or take a hot bath to achieve similar results.

2. Massage For Tailbone Pain

 

You Will Need

Massage oil

What You Have To Do

Massage the affected area for 10-15 minutes by applying gentle pressure using any massage oil or carrier oil.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this twice a day for relief from tailbone pain.

Why This Works

The levator ani muscle is located near the pelvic floor, right beside the tailbone. According to a study, massaging this muscle can alleviate tailbone pain and other symptoms (6). You can get rid of chronic tailbone pain easily by using this remedy for a few days.

3. Vitamins For Tailbone Pain

 

Tailbone pain is often associated with a deficiency in vitamins D, B6, and B12. Vitamin D is essential for maintaining a healthy skeleton, and its deficiency can lead to painful bone conditions. It works in combination with calcium to support the skeleton and sustain its health (7). B vitamins play a protective role in bone health (8). Consuming adequate amount of these vitamins will reduce your chances of developing tailbone pain. If you already suffer from the pain, get enough sun exposure and consume seafood, cheese, eggs, whole cereals, soya, green leafy vegetables, green peas, chicken, legumes, etc.
However, if you suspect a deficiency, consult your physician and get your vitamin levels tested.

4. Castor Oil For Tailbone Pain

 

You Will Need

• A few drops of castor oil
• Bandage

What You Have To Do

1. Heat the castor oil slightly and apply this warm oil on the lower back and tailbone area.
2. Cover with a bandage.

This is best done before going to bed.

How Often You Should Do This

Repeat this every night until the lower back pain and tailbone pain vanish.

Why This Works

This is one of the best remedies for tailbone pain treatment. The anti-inflammatory properties of castor oil will enable quick recovery. It is also a good remedy to treat pain caused due to infection as it is an antimicrobial agent (9).

5. Epsom Salt Bath For Tailbone Pain

 

You Will Need

• 2 cups Epsom salt
• A bathtub
• Warm water

What You Have To Do

1. Draw a bath and add Epsom salt to the warm water.
2. Stir well so that the salt is mixed evenly.
3. Soak your body in this water for 10-15 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once or twice during the day.

Why This Works

Warm water baths containing Epsom salt are very relaxing for the body. They reduce the stress on the back muscles and alleviate the pain. Epsom salt is also a good detoxifying agent for the body (10).

Note: You should focus on decreasing stress to ultimately obtain relief from muscle tension and nerve sensitivity by tapping into your parasympathetic system. The easiest way to do this is through slow, easy breath work. Focusing on breathing slowly in through the nose, filling up the low ribcage and belly, and then slowly breathing out through the mouth like blowing through a straw. This helps to relax the muscles, ease tension, and decrease amount of cortisol surging through the body to decrease nerve sensitivity. You can do this throughout each of the alleviating techniques mentioned above (ice/heat, massage, bath).
Tailbone pain can disrupt your daily routine. Using these remedies will help to ease the comfort and alleviate the pain. Has a tailbone injury ever troubled you? How did you get rid of it? Share your experiences with us by commenting below.

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