Tailbone pain after a fall can be surprisingly intense, especially when you sit, stand up, bend, or have a bowel movement. In many cases, the injury is a bruise to the tissue around the tailbone or a strain of nearby ligaments rather than a broken bone. Still, a fall can sometimes cause a more serious injury, and certain symptoms need urgent evaluation. [1]

If you have an isolated sore tailbone after a minor fall and can walk normally, home care may be reasonable. Seek emergency care right away for weakness, numbness, new trouble controlling urine or stool, inability to move normally, severe or rapidly worsening pain, or a serious fall or crash that could have injured your spine. [1][3]

What is the tailbone?

Your tailbone, also called the coccyx, is the small bony structure at the very bottom of the spine, just above the crease between the buttocks. It helps support you while sitting and serves as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments in the pelvic area.

A direct fall backward onto a hard surface, such as ice, stairs, a slippery floor, or a sports surface, is a common cause of tailbone trauma. Pain after this type of fall is often called coccydynia, meaning pain in the coccyx area. [1][2]

Common symptoms of tailbone pain after a fall

Symptoms can begin immediately or become more noticeable over the next day as soreness and swelling develop. Common symptoms include:

• Aching, tenderness, or a sharp pain at the bottom of the spine
• Pain that is worse when sitting, particularly on hard surfaces
• Pain when moving from sitting to standing
• Bruising, swelling, or tenderness over the area
• Discomfort with bending, walking, or climbing stairs
• Pain during a bowel movement because the surrounding muscles and tissues move

Tailbone injuries can be very painful even when no fracture is present. Actual tailbone fractures are less common than bruising or ligament injury, and pain severity alone cannot tell you whether the tailbone is broken. [1]

When tailbone pain after a fall is an emergency

Call 911 or seek emergency care now if a fall is followed by any of the following:

• Weakness, numbness, tingling, or loss of feeling in one or both legs
• Numbness in the groin, buttocks, or inner thighs
• New loss of bladder or bowel control, including trouble urinating or unexpected leakage
• Inability to stand, walk, or move normally after the injury
• Severe pain that is unbearable or rapidly worsening
• A major injury mechanism, such as a motor-vehicle crash, a fall from a significant height, or a hard impact involving the neck or back
• Concern for a spinal cord injury

If you think someone may have injured their neck, back, or spinal cord, do not try to move them unless there is immediate danger. Call 911 for guidance. [1][3]

When to go to urgent care or contact a clinician soon

Urgent care can be a reasonable choice when the injury does not appear to be an emergency but needs timely assessment. Consider same-day urgent care or prompt medical advice if:

• Pain is severe enough that you cannot sit, sleep, walk, or manage usual daily activities comfortably
• There is significant swelling, extensive bruising, or worsening tenderness
• You are unsure whether the fall also injured your hip, pelvis, lower back, or leg
• Pain shoots down a leg, or you develop new tingling or numbness
• You have fever, redness, warmth, drainage, or a painful lump near the buttock crease
• You take medicines or have a health condition that raises your risk of bleeding or fracture
• You are older, have osteoporosis, use long-term steroid medicines, or had a fall that seemed more forceful than a simple slip

Contact a primary care clinician if symptoms are not gradually improving with home care, if pain continues to interfere with sitting or sleeping, or if the pain returns repeatedly. Back pain that persists, becomes constant or severe at night, spreads down the legs, or occurs with unexplained weight loss also deserves medical evaluation. [3]

Home care for a mild tailbone injury

For a mild injury without emergency warning signs, the goal is to reduce pressure on the area while it heals. Most tailbone injuries improve without a procedure or surgery. [1][2]

Reduce pressure while sitting

Try to avoid long periods of sitting, especially on hard surfaces. When you do sit, lean slightly forward so less weight rests directly on the tailbone. A wedge-shaped cushion or a cushion with a cutout at the back may make sitting more comfortable. [2]

Change positions regularly. If possible, alternate between standing, walking briefly, lying on your side, and sitting with support. Staying in one painful position for a long time can make soreness worse.

Use cold or heat for comfort

A wrapped cold pack can help with pain and swelling soon after an injury. Later, some people find gentle heat more soothing. Use whichever option provides relief, protect your skin with a cloth barrier, and stop if it causes discomfort, numbness, or skin irritation. [2]

Keep moving gently

Complete bed rest is usually not necessary for an isolated tailbone injury. Short, easy walks and gentle movement can help you avoid stiffness. However, pause activities that sharply increase pain, such as cycling, rowing, contact sports, or exercises that place direct pressure on the tailbone.

Make bowel movements easier

Constipation can make tailbone pain worse because straining puts pressure on the sore area. Drink fluids, include fiber-containing foods in your meals, and do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. A clinician or pharmacist can advise whether a short-term stool softener is appropriate for you. [1]

Use over-the-counter pain medicine carefully

Acetaminophen or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, may help some adults manage pain when used exactly as directed on the package. These medicines are not right for everyone.

• Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using an NSAID if you have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, kidney disease, heart disease, are taking a blood thinner, or are pregnant.
• Do not combine multiple NSAID products unless a clinician specifically tells you to do so.
• Check all medicine labels before taking acetaminophen. It is included in many cold, flu, sleep, and prescription pain products, and taking more than directed can cause severe liver damage.
• Ask a clinician before using acetaminophen if you have liver disease or regularly drink alcohol.

Follow the product label and use the lowest amount needed for the shortest practical time. If pain is not controlled with label-directed treatment, do not take extra doses; contact a health professional instead. [4]

How long does a bruised tailbone take to heal?

Recovery varies with the severity of the injury and how much pressure the tailbone receives during daily life. Mild tailbone pain may begin to ease over days to weeks. More substantial bruising or irritation of nearby ligaments can take weeks or sometimes months to fully settle. [2]

Improvement is usually gradual. You may notice that you can sit longer, stand up more easily, or need less pain medicine over time. It is a good idea to arrange medical evaluation if pain is getting worse instead of better, if it is not meaningfully improving, or if it continues to limit work, sleep, mobility, or bowel movements.

Can you tell whether your tailbone is bruised or broken?

Not reliably at home. Both a bruise and a fracture can cause pain with sitting and movement. Tailbone fractures are uncommon, and initial treatment often focuses on protecting the area from pressure and managing pain regardless of whether the injury is a bruise or fracture. [1]

A clinician may ask how the injury happened, examine the painful area, and check your ability to walk, leg strength, sensation, and other symptoms. Depending on the injury and examination, imaging such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI may sometimes be considered. Imaging is not needed for every sore tailbone. [5]

Other conditions that can feel like tailbone pain

A fall is a common explanation when pain starts immediately after landing on your buttocks. But not all pain near the tailbone comes from an injury. Prolonged sitting, childbirth, arthritis-related changes, and problems involving nearby skin or soft tissue can also cause discomfort in this area. [2]

See a clinician if you develop a new lump, drainage, skin redness, fever, pain that is not clearly linked to an injury, or persistent pain that does not respond to reasonable home care. These symptoms may point to a problem that needs a different evaluation.

Tips for preventing another tailbone injury

• Wear shoes with good traction during wet, icy, or uneven conditions.
• Use handrails on stairs and take extra care on slippery surfaces.
• Keep walkways clear of clutter, loose rugs, cords, and poor lighting.
• Use appropriate protective equipment for sports where falls are common.
• Take breaks from long periods of sitting and use supportive seating when possible.

The bottom line

Tailbone pain after a fall is often caused by a bruise or strain and can frequently be managed at home with pressure relief, gentle activity, cold or heat, and careful use of pain medicine. Do not ignore symptoms suggesting a possible spinal nerve injury, including leg weakness, numbness, groin numbness, or new bowel or bladder problems. Those symptoms require emergency evaluation. [1][3]

If pain is severe, worsening, or not gradually improving, urgent care or a primary care clinician can help determine whether further evaluation is needed.

References

1. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Tailbone trauma. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Reviewed January 14, 2026. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000008.htm

2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Tailbone pain: How can I relieve it? Mayo Clinic. Updated April 21, 2023. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/expert-answers/tailbone-pain/faq-20058211

3. Mayo Clinic Staff. Back pain: When to see a doctor. Mayo Clinic. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/back-pain/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050877

4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safe use of over-the-counter pain relievers and fever reducers. Updated 2026. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/safe-use-over-counter-pain-relievers-and-fever-reducers

5. Cleveland Clinic. Coccyx (tailbone): Anatomy, function and common conditions. Updated 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/coccyx-tailbone