Tailbone Disorders

The tailbone is the small bone at the bottom of your backbone, or spine.

Placeholder Image

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.

 

Highlights

Call for immediate medical help if:

  • Spinal cord injury is suspected
  • The person can’t move
  • Pain is severe

 

Prevention

Do NOT run on slippery surfaces, such as around a swimming pool.
Dress in shoes with good tread or slip-resistant soles, especially in snow or on ice.

 

Causes

Backward falls onto a hard surface, such as a slippery floor or ice, are the most common cause of this injury.

 

Symptoms

Bruising on the lower part of the spine
Pain when sitting or putting pressure on the tailbone

HarbinCONNECT

Virtual Appointments Available!

Already a Patient?

Make appointments, pay bills, contact providers and more.

Visit Patient Portal

My Locations

Your saved providers will appear below.

My Providers

Your saved providers will appear below.