Will my tailbone pain go away on its own?

Usually yes. Most coccydynia is self-limiting and improves over a few weeks to months with a supportive cushion, posture changes and simple pain relief. See a doctor if it is not settling after a few weeks or if you have any red-flag symptoms.

What is the best way to sit with coccydynia?

Sit upright with your lower back supported, use a wedge or donut coccyx cushion, and avoid long stretches of sitting — stand and move regularly. Leaning slightly forward and lying on your side can also take pressure off the tailbone.

Do I need an X-ray or scan?

Often not. Typical tailbone pain is diagnosed by examination alone. Imaging is reserved for cases with significant trauma, or red flags such as fever, weight loss or a lump, where the doctor needs to look for another cause.

I hurt my tailbone in a fall — is it broken?

Most tailbone injuries are bruises rather than fractures, and both are managed similarly with cushioning, pain relief and time. Get it checked if the pain is severe, you cannot sit or bear weight, or there is swelling, fever, or numbness or bladder-bowel changes.

Can childbirth cause lasting tailbone pain?

Pressure on the coccyx during delivery is a recognised cause of coccydynia, and it can persist for a while afterwards. It usually responds to the same conservative measures — cushioning, physiotherapy including pelvic-floor work, and pain relief — so see your doctor or a physiotherapist if it is ongoing.

Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain) in Singapore: Causes & Relief

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 24 Aug 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Coccydynia is pain in and around the coccyx — the small triangular tailbone at the very bottom of the spine. The pain is typically mechanical: localised to the tailbone, worse when sitting (especially on hard surfaces), and often worse when standing up from sitting. It usually comes from irritation of the coccyx and its joints after a fall, childbirth or prolonged sitting, though in some people no cause is found. Most cases are self-limiting and settle over weeks to a few months with simple measures.

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

Pain after a significant fall, with fever, unexplained weight loss, night pain, a lump, or new bladder or bowel changes or numbness around the buttocks points away from simple tailbone pain and needs review.

Common causes

The classic cause is a fall — landing hard on the tailbone, causing a bruise or, rarely, a fracture. Childbirth is a well-recognised cause in women, from pressure on the coccyx during delivery. Prolonged sitting and desk work, poor sitting posture (slouching back onto the tailbone), cycling and driving, and repetitive strain all contribute, and being significantly overweight (more pressure) or underweight (less cushioning) can play a part. Rarely, a bone spur, infection or a growth is responsible — the exceptions clinicians screen for. Coccydynia is reported to be more common in women and around middle age.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms are an aching or sharp pain at the base of the spine, worse on sitting (particularly hard seats and long periods) and often on standing up, with tenderness when the area is pressed. The pain may worsen with constipation or bowel movements and ease afterwards, and can be uncomfortable during sex in some people. It is often a dull, constant ache with intermittent sharp spikes.

Red flags

Some features point away from simple mechanical tailbone pain and need review: pain after significant trauma or a suspected fracture, or being unable to sit or bear weight; fever or feeling unwell, or redness, swelling or discharge over the area (possible infection); unexplained weight loss or a lump near the tailbone; night pain that wakes you; and new bladder or bowel changes or numbness around the buttocks or genitals, which needs urgent assessment. Numbness, pins-and-needles or weakness spreading into the legs also warrants prompt review; a new loss of bladder or bowel control with leg weakness is an emergency.

Diagnosis and treatment

Diagnosis is mainly clinical — a history of sitting-related pain and any fall or childbirth, plus gentle pressure over the coccyx to reproduce tenderness. Imaging is often not required; it is used selectively, such as an X-ray if a fracture is suspected after trauma or an MRI if red flags suggest infection or another cause. Treatment is conservative first, and the reassuring message is that most coccydynia settles. A wedge or “donut” coccyx cushion offloads the tailbone when sitting; posture and sitting habits help (sit upright with lower-back support, avoid prolonged sitting, take standing breaks, and lie on your side to reduce pressure). Physiotherapy — mobilisation of the muscles and joints around the coccyx plus pelvic-floor and postural work — is useful, alongside over-the-counter pain relief and managing constipation. For resistant cases, a corticosteroid and local-anaesthetic injection can help, and surgery to remove part of the coccyx is a rare last resort after all else has failed.

Simple day-to-day self-care

Most tailbone pain responds to consistent, simple self-care while it settles. A wedge or U-shaped coccyx cushion is the single most useful aid, taking pressure off the tailbone whenever you sit — keep one for the office chair, the car and home. Break up long periods of sitting with regular standing breaks, sit upright with your lower back supported rather than slumping onto the tailbone, and lean slightly forward or shift your weight when seated for a while. Lying on your side rather than your back reduces pressure at night. Keeping the bowels regular helps, since straining and hard stools aggravate the area, so aim for enough fibre and fluids and treat constipation early. Heat or an ice pack can ease discomfort, and gentle stretches and staying generally active prevent the surrounding muscles from stiffening. Over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol, used as directed, can take the edge off while you get moving again. These measures will not force a quick cure — recovery is often gradual over weeks — but used together and consistently they give most people steady improvement and make sitting through daily life far more bearable. If your work involves long periods seated, taking your cushion with you and standing for a short while each hour can make a noticeable difference.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if tailbone pain is not improving after a few weeks of home care, or is affecting daily activities and sleep. Any red flag — trauma, fever, weight loss, night pain, a lump, or bladder, bowel or saddle-numbness changes — needs prompt review, and emergencies such as new loss of bladder or bowel control with leg weakness need 995. A pain specialist can help with injections for persistent cases.

Sources

NHS — Tailbone (coccyx) pain: nhs.uk
Cleveland Clinic — Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain): clevelandclinic.org
Mayo Clinic — Tailbone pain: how to relieve it: mayoclinic.org
Harvard Health — Treatment for coccygodynia: health.harvard.edu

General information only. This guide is general information about a pain condition or treatment and is not a diagnosis or personalised medical advice. See a doctor — a GP or a pain specialist — for assessment and a treatment plan. Seek urgent care for pain after a major injury, a fever with severe pain, new leg weakness or numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control (possible nerve compression). Call 995 for signs of an opioid overdose — excessive drowsiness, very slow or shallow breathing, or a person who cannot be roused.

Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain) in Singapore