Cortisone Injections for Coccyx Pain in South London
Coccyx pain cortisone injections at our clinic
We are a leading cortisone injection clinic offering steroid injections for coccyx pain, also known as coccygodynia or coccydynia in medical terms. Steroid injections can bring significant relief from coccyx pain and bring you much-needed respite from your condition.
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We offer private injections at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether injections will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case, and to ensure your injection will be safe and give you maximum benefit.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
Types of Coccyx pain that are suitable for cortisone injection
The coccyx is the small, triangular bone at the base of the spine, commonly referred to as the tailbone and can be a cause a low back pain. When it is painful, symptoms are often aggravated by sitting, standing, or any activity that puts pressure on the tailbone. Cortisone injections are appropriate treatments for coccyx pain and medical research has suggested that patients with coccygodynia for less than 6 months are more likely to improve. However there is no hard-and-fast rule for which conditions are suitable, as various factors need to be taken into consideration such as the severity of the condition or pain, overall health, the particular diagnosis and any contraindications to treatment.
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In order to ensure injection therapy is the right course of action in your particular case, we offer a free virtual consultation to get a quick picture of your health and the condition you are experiencing, and advise on whether steroid injections are a good course of action for you. At your appointment we will also carry out a full ultrasound-led diagnosis and assessment to ensure you are receiving the most appropriate treatment and best possible care.
What our patients say
How do cortisone injections help with coccyx pain?
Cortisone injections can rapidly reduce pain, bringing much-needed relief and increased mobility. If you have found your work or other daily activities involving prolonged sitting, standing, or anything increasing the pressure on the pelvic floor being hindered by your coccyx pain, a steroid injection can allow you the freedom to get back to work and normal life.
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Pain is not to be underestimated and when it becomes bad it can become debilitating and lead to depression. Coccyx pain can also lead to inactivity which can cause further problems such as postural and health issues, leading to even further inactivity, known as the chronic pain cycle. It is crucial to seek help when you are in pain and not simply try to live with it, as when left unchecked pain can cause gradual deterioration of both mental and physical health.
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The break from pain and other symptoms brought by steroid injections will also allow you to take other actions to proactively combat your problem. In particular, you will be able to follow a physiotherapist-prescribed exercise programme to deal with your condition at the root by building flexibility and strength in the pelvic floor. It is important you do any exercises your physiotherapist gives you to avoid your problem worsening in the future and potentially leading to more problems further down the line.
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All our treatments include a written report and guidance on moving forward with treating your problem following your injection, so that you can use the opportunity the injection gives to set yourself on a path to better health. We also include a personalised physiotherapy exercise plan wherever appropriate.
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For more information about cortisone injections and frequently asked questions, see our cortisone injections page.
What coccyx pain conditions do you typically treat with injections?
Whilst there is no definitive list, coccyx pain conditions that we often see as candidates for injection therapy include: after an injury to the coccyx such as a fall or direct impact, prolonged sitting, especially on hard surfaces, activities that involve repetitive strain on the tailbone, such as cycling or rowing or after childbirth, sometime caused by trauma during delivery.
These conditions are all often related to inflammation, whilst structural damage such as fractures or bone-related conditions are generally not treated with steroid injections.
In all cases, a consultation with a medical professional is crucial in choosing the right course of treatment for your particular case.
Are cortisone injections a long-term solution for coccyx pain?
Corticosteroids have a short term effect (around 3 months) but a common belief is that cortisone injections do not address the underlying causes of your pain and will only stop the symptoms.
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First of all, your pain has a massive impact on your daily life and any relief, even temporary, can help significantly with your sleep, work or family activities, and as a result, improve your general well being and mental health. Fortunately, simple pathologies, even when causing severe pain, tend to improve overtime and by the time the steroid has stopped working, we expect that your body has healed by itself and the pain won't return.
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Secondly, the pain free period allowed by steroid injections (up to 3-6 months on average and sometime over 1 year) is a window that will be used to begin further treatment such as a prescribed exercise program or sessions of physiotherapy, in order to address other causative factors for your problems.
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In some cases steroid injections can also be a permanent solution by stopping chronic inflammation or disrupting your pain signal. More information about pain can be found on our blog.
At your virtual consultation and first appointment, your clinician will ask questions and assess you to diagnose your problem and explain to you the options available. This will help you to understand how you can use the respite from pain which a corticosteroid injection provides, to work directly on your problem and provide you with a personalized exercise plan to avoid reliance on injections in the future.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free online or telephone consultation to speak to Max directly.
What other treatments are available for coccyx pain?
After a minor injury, such as a low grade impact or fall into your buttock from a low height, usually rest, ice and painkilling treatments like over-the-counter analgesic pills or gels are often sufficient. Cushions in U shape or circular such as donuts, are also helpful adjuncts to sit comfortably. For sever pain or when symptoms persist over 3 months and are not responding to cortisone injection, nerve blocks into the pelvic floor or surgery might be recommended. More information are available here.
Rehabilitation with pelvic floor exercises are all also important, and your physiotherapist will guide you on what activities you should do or should avoid at each stage of your recovery.
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If you are suffering from coccyx pain, a diagnosis from a medical professional is an essential first step in understanding your problem and understanding what is the right course of treatment for you.
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.