Coccygeal Injections

Pain in the coccyx can be caused by a direct fall on the buttocks, prolonged sitting on hard surfaces, childbirth, or joint degeneration. This trauma causes the ligaments and joints around the tailbone to become highly inflamed and sensitive, leading to chronic pain known as coccydynia.

A coccygeal injection is a targeted medical procedure where a mixture of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid is injected directly into the joints or surrounding ligaments of the tailbone, or occasionally around the ganglion impar (a cluster of nerves near the coccyx).

Patients who experience sharp or aching pain at the very bottom of their spine, especially when sitting down, leaning back, or transitioning from sitting to standing, are prime candidates. It is usually recommended after conservative measures like special cushions or anti-inflammatory pills have failed.

You will lie comfortably on your stomach. The doctor will clean and numb the skin above your tailbone. Using fluoroscopy (live X-ray) or ultrasound to ensure perfect accuracy, the doctor guides a small needle to the precise location of inflammation and delivers the medication.

The local anesthetic provides almost immediate relief, allowing you to sit comfortably right after the procedure. While the anesthetic wears off in a few hours, the corticosteroid begins to deeply reduce inflammation over the next 3 to 5 days, providing lasting relief.