Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator
Post count: 8660

Tailbone pain is one of the most difficult symptoms to diagnose and treat. There are times that “tailbone pain” is misunderstood as to the true location of pain and this pain really might be buttocks or sacroiliac pain. Nonetheless, I will assume this is true tailbone pain and we will discuss this symptom.

Coccyx pain has three different origins; nerve compression pain (herniated disc-HNP), local ligamentous pain (sprain of the coccyx) and sacral or pudendal neuropathy. The way to diagnose these is with nerve blocks (see SNRB on website to understand these blocks) or local blocks (injection into the coccyx ligaments).

If this is neuropathy type pain, treatment is very different than the other two disorders. See chronic neuropathy on the website.

If this is HNP mediated pain, a block of the nerve compressed at the herniation should yield temporary relief (see pain diary).

Loose bowel movements are not related to this disorder.
Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
 
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.