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Step 1
Location: First, your doctor will want to know where your pain is coming from. Notice which location seems most painful. If you can point with one finger to the most painful area, that will help the doctor to know whether the pain seems to be coming from the tailbone (coccyx) rather than coming from some other nearby locations.
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Step 2
Severity: Try to rate the severity of your tailbone pain on a scale of zero to 10, with zero being no pain at all and 10 being the worst pain imaginable. Is the tailbone pain excruciating, or is it just a mild annoyance?
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Step 3
Duration: How long have you been experiencing the tailbone pain? When did the tailbone pain first start? Be as specific as you can.
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Step 4
Onset of pain: Did the tailbone pain start suddenly or did it start more gradually? What do you think might have caused it?
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Step 5
Pain descriptors: What phrases would best describe the type of tailbone symptoms that you are having? Would you call it pain, soreness, discomfort, burning, stabbing, or aching?
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Step 6
Is the tailbone pain constant, or does it come and go?
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Step 7
Exacerbating factors: What makes the tailbone pain worse? Is it worse with sitting? After you are sitting for a while, does the coccyx pain suddenly get worse when you first stand up? Is sitting worse on some chairs or surfaces than on others?
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Step 8
Relieving factors: Notice what makes the tailbone pain feel less. Does it feel better with over-the-counter pain medications? Does it feel better when you avoid certain activities?
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Step 9
See your physician: Have your doctor evaluate your symptoms and perform a careful physical examination that should specifically include checking to see if the pain is really coming from the tailbone are not. The doctor may also want to order some tests.
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Step 10
Web Search for Tailbone DoctorIf your doctor is not experienced at evaluating tailbone pain or is not aware of non-surgical treatments to offer you, seek a second opinion from a physician with more expertise in this area.











Comments
TailboneDoctor said
on 5/3/2009 Dear tomasusa, I am very sorry to hear about the TAILBONE PAIN (coccyx pain) and multiple other painful areas that you have been experiencing, as you have noted in various postings on my eHow articles. While I can not give you medical advice (since I have not seen you as a patient), I have sent you some general information to your email address that you provided here on eHow and that you also provided via the newsletter sign-up at my website: www.TailboneDoctor.com. Giving my reply via the newsletter from the TailboneDoctor.com website allows me to give more text/info and also respects your confidentiality by avoiding having you post any further medical details in the public forum here at eHow. I hope you find the info. helpful.