Sitting for hours at a time in a wheelchair can place a lot of stress on the body. The tailbone, or coccyx, often absorbs the brunt of that stress, and can become increasingly painful if you don't take measures to ease the pressure. While there may be no single quick fix for wheelchair-related tailbone pain, there are several things you can do to minimize your discomfort and make sitting for extended periods of time more comfortable
Step 1
Purchase an orthopedic cushion. On orthopedic cushion is a donut, U-shape or V-shape cushion that is specifically designed to keep your tailbone from making contact with the seat of your wheelchair. This transfers the weight off your tailbone and onto your buttocks, and can significantly reduce the pain of sitting in a wheelchair.
Step 2
Switch position as often as you can. Leaning forward in your wheelchair, if you are able, can shift your weight to the pelvis and thigh, and ease the pressure on your tailbone. Avoid leaning back as much as possible, as it places the most stress on the tailbone.
Step 3
Ask your doctor about steroid injections to control wheelchair-related tailbone pain. Steroids can reduce inflammation in the tailbone and provide significant pain relief for several weeks or months at a time. The potential downside to this type of treatment is that you may require several injections a year, and treatment can prove costly. Additionally, steroid injections are not always effective in reducing or eliminating pain. Talk to your doctor about the use of steroids to treat tailbone pain caused by sitting in a wheelchair.
Step 4
Sit on a hot or cold pack to temporarily ease your pain. Hot packs increase blood flow to the area and promote healing, and cold packs reduce pain and inflammation. Try using a cold pack for the first few days after the onset of pain, and then switch to a hot pack. To prevent injuring your skin, restrict use of hot and cold packs to approximately 20 minutes each hour and avoid direct contact with the skin.
Step 5
Talk to an acupuncturist about undergoing acupuncture treatments to relieve tailbone pain. Acupuncture is a therapy that uses needles to stimulate the release of endorphins; your body's natural pain killers. According to New York acupuncturist, Joyce Marley, acupuncture treatments generally center around the elbow and are a highly effective method of treating this kind of pain.
Tips and Warnings
- For chronic and severe pain that does not respond to treatment, it is possible to get the tailbone surgically removed. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of this surgery for wheelchair-related tailbone pain to decide if it is right for you. According to Dr. Richard Staehler, constipation can make tailbone pain worse. Talk to your doctor about taking a stool-softener or laxative if you become constipated.
- Do not assume that your tailbone pain is necessarily related your wheelchair use. Severe tailbone pain can be a sign of injury and may require medical attention. Consult a physician if your pain persist or to discuss treatment options.
Things You'll Need
- Orthopedic cushion
- Hot pack
- Cold pack
References
- Coccygectomy: Orthopedic Seat Cushions
- Coccygectomy: What Is A Coccyx and What Does It Do?
- Coccyx: Injections and Needles to Treat Coccyx Pain
- Acupuncture Services of Central New York: Acupuncture for Tailbone Pain
- How Does Acupuncture Work: Western Scientific Explanation
- Spine Health: Trusted Information for Pain Relief: Treatment for Coccydynia
