Coccyx (tailbone) pain: pain when sitting and standing up
Why the tailbone hurts, what makes sitting painful, how long it can last, and practical ways to sit and manage it.
The coccyx, or tailbone, is a small group of three to five fused bones at the very bottom of the spine. Pain here (coccydynia) is typically felt as an ache or sharp pain when sitting, especially on hard seats, or when standing up from sitting. It is uncomfortable and can be frustrating, but it usually settles with time.
When to get urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you have back pain together with any of these. They can be signs of a rare but serious condition such as cauda equina syndrome. Do not drive yourself.
- Numbness or tingling around your genitals, buttocks or inner thighs (the saddle area)
- Difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder or bowel control, or being unable to feel when you are passing urine or stool
- Pain, tingling, weakness or numbness in both legs, or sciatica on both sides, or weakness in a leg that is getting worse
- New changes to sexual sensation or function alongside back or leg pain
- Chest pain, or back pain that started after a serious accident such as a car crash
What it can feel like
- Pain or tenderness at the very bottom of the spine, between the buttocks
- Pain when sitting, leaning back, or standing up from a seat
- Pain with bending or daily activities, sometimes with a deep ache
- Pain during bowel movements, or during sex, in some people
Common contributors
- A fall landing on your bottom
- Childbirth
- Repeated strain on the tailbone, for example from cycling or rowing
- Being very over or underweight, and, less often, a bony growth, arthritis or a very flexible or rigid coccyx
- Often no cause is found
General self-care
These are general comfort measures many people find reasonable. They are not a treatment plan, and what suits one person may not suit another.
- Avoid sitting for long periods and change position before the pain builds up
- Lean forward onto your thighs when sitting, and avoid sitting on one buttock
- NHS Fife suggests two rolled towels in a V shape, with the point at the front of the seat, so your sit bones take the weight and the coccyx is not pressed. A coccyx cushion can also help some people
- Keep your bowels regular with enough fluid and fibre, because straining can be painful
- Warmth or ice for 10 to 20 minutes, never directly on the skin, can be comfortable. If you use over-the-counter pain relief, ask a pharmacist what suits you
When to see your GP
See your GP promptly, or call NHS 111, if you have any of the following:
- Feeling hot, cold, shivery or generally unwell, or severe pain that starts suddenly or quickly gets worse
- Unexplained weight loss, or a lump, swelling or change in the shape of your back
- Pain that is worse at night or does not ease with rest, or is worse when you cough, sneeze or open your bowels
- A history of cancer and new, persistent back pain
Consider seeing your GP if:
- Pain that is not improving after a few weeks, or is severe
- Bleeding, a fever, or pain spreading away from the tailbone
- Numbness around the genitals, buttocks or inner thighs, or any bladder or bowel changes. Call 999 or go to A&E
Where an osteopath fits in
There is limited good-quality research showing that hands-on treatment changes the course of tailbone pain, so I do not claim that osteopathy treats it.
What an osteopath can usefully do is check your lower back, pelvis and hips, advise on sitting positions, cushions and activity, and, if your pain is persisting, recommend that you see your GP about a physiotherapy referral. NHS sources say most cases improve within a few weeks or months, although some last much longer. If the assessment suggests you need your GP, a physiotherapist or a specialist instead, I will tell you.
If you would like your symptoms assessed, you are welcome to book an appointment. Osteopathic care is not right for everyone, and if something needs medical attention first, I will tell you.
Common questions
How long does coccyx pain last?
NI Direct says most cases improve within a few weeks or months, although some last much longer and can affect daily life. NHS Fife says self-management should gradually become easier over several weeks.
What is the best way to sit with a sore tailbone?
NHS Fife advises leaning forward onto your thighs, avoiding sitting on one buttock, and using two rolled towels in a V shape with the point at the front of the seat so that your sit bones take the weight.
Sources and further reading
Links open in a new tab. Sources were checked in October 2026.
Related guides
This page is general information to help you understand common aches and pains. It is not medical advice and cannot diagnose your problem. If you are worried about your symptoms, please speak to your GP or call NHS 111.