Treatments For Tailbone Pain

Local Anesthetic Injection

A local anesthetic injection may be used if normal at-home treatments and over-the-counter drugs to minimize pain haven't been effective. It may also be used in conjunction with these treatments in cases where the tailbone pain is severe, chronic, or both. Injections use a mixture of lidocaine and steroids. Lidocaine is used to numb the tailbone and surrounding areas. The corticosteroid medication imitates cortisol, a natural hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Cortisol can reduce inflammation. During the procedure, the doctor uses imaging technology to make sure the injection targets the right area. Patients may experience pain relief from anywhere from a week to multiple years. If the injection is successful, patients can have up to three per year.

Over-The-Counter Anti-Inflammatory Medication

Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication reduces inflammation and pain, and can be used for tailbone pain. They work fairly quickly and, unlike corticosteroids, don't tend to come with a lot of side effects. That said, anti-inflammatory medications can cause nausea, vomiting, indigestion, headaches, and other kinds of discomfort. The most serious potential risks are liver and kidney damage, which typically occur after prolonged use. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) block prostaglandins in the body, which are substances that cause nerve endings to be more sensitive to inflammatory-related pain. Because prostaglandins are also related to body temperature regulation, blocking their effects can bring down a fever. Before taking any NSAIDs, individuals should double check potential interactions with other medications they take. Some medications can become toxic or cause organ damage if taken with an NSAID.