Pick a Tailbone Cushion

How to Pick a COCCYX CUSHION (TAILBONE CUSHION) for Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain)

by Dr. Foye… www.TailboneDoctor.com

Introduction

Patients with tailbone pain often wonder how to pick the best type of cushion to help with this. I get asked this often, since I am a physician who each year treats hundreds of patients with coccyx pain (tailbone pain) due to conditions such as coccyx fractures (fractured tailbone, “broken tailbone”, chipped tailbone, “cracked tailbone”), coccyx dislocations (dislocated tailbone), coccyx sprains (sprained tailbone), coccyx injuries from pregnancy (tailbone injuries while pregnant or from childbirth, labor and delivery), tailbone injuries from sports and other causes (bruised tailbone from trauma) and tailbone pain, aching, soreness or discomfort that began without any trauma or injury at all. This article will outline the most common types of cushions for tailbone pain and offer some tips on choosing the type that is best for you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need

  • A local surgical supply store or Internet access to shop online

Steps

Step One

Start by understanding the different types of cushions that are used for tailbone pain, as outlined below.

Step Two

Donut cushions (doughnut cushions) are circular cushions that have a hole in the center, like a donut. The idea is for you to sit with the lower part of each buttock cheek supported by the ring of the doughnut, while the tailbone is centered over the middle of the hole. This way, when you are sitting, little or none of your body weight should be causing pressure on the tailbone itself. Unfortunately, many patients tell me that they find a donut cushions awkward, with difficulty lining up the tailbone right over the hole.

Step Three

Wedge cushions are essentially a square seat pad with a wedge-shaped (triangle-shaped) cut-out along one side/edge of the square. When you put this cushion on your chair, the cut-out wedge goes to the back of the seat. When you sit on this cushion, the cushion supports bones at the lower part of each buttock cheek, as well as supporting the back of the upper thighs. But the tailbone is located above the cut-out hole (wedge) so that the tailbone does not make contact with the sitting surface. This way, when you are sitting, little or none of your body weight should be causing pressure on the tailbone itself. Many patients tell me that they find the wedge cushions to be more comfortable than the donut cushions.

Step Four

Note that some cushions are inflatable, which may make them easier (smaller) to pack when you let the air out of them. But if these get a leak, you may end up needing to buy a new one.

Step Five

Visit your local surgical supply store or search online for terms like “coccyx cushion”, “tailbone cushion”, “tailbone wedge cushion”, etc.

Step Six

One potential advantage of using your local surgical supply store is that you may be able to actually try out before buying it, by sitting on the cushion on a chair in the store. Alternatively, many patients find that online sources are less expensive and more convenient since you can shop from home.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • For more information on Tailbone pain, please see Dr. Foye’s other TailboneDoctor articles on eHow, or go to www.TailboneDoctor.com and www.Tailbone.info
  • WARNING: Coccyx pain can sometimes be due to very serious underlying medical conditions: seek in-person evaluation by a medical professional.
  • WARNING: This information is intended to be educational and is NOT to be considered as medical advice. This information is NOT a substitute for direct medical care from a physician who evaluates you in person.
  • WARNING: Many physicians and other health providers have little or no experience in evaluating or treating tailbone pain or coccyx injuries. Seek medical attention from a specialist with experience in treating tailbone pain.
  RELATED WEBSITES AND WEB-PAGES:

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Doctor / Physician

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Free Review Article at eMedicine

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Publications

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Information

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Dr. Foye

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Injections

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New Jersey (NJ)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New York (NY)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New York City (NYC)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Pennsylvania (PA)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Connecticut (CT)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Images, Xrays, MRI & Photos

Dr. Foye’s Listing on Spine Universe

Information on Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Relief

eMedicine article on Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain)

Testimonials from Patients with Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain)

Dr. Foye’s Faculty Profile at New Jersey Medical School

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) images on Flickr


Dr. Foye’s “How to” articles on Tailbone Pain:
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How to tell if you have a DISLOCATED TAILBONE (COCCYX DISLOCATION)

How to tell if you have a BROKEN TAILBONE (FRACTURED COCCYX)

How to tell if you have TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYX PAIN)

How to describe TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYX PAIN)

How to Pick a COCCYX CUSHION (TAILBONE CUSHION) for Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain)

How to know if your MRI included the TAILBONE (COCCYX MRI)

How to Cope with TAILBONE PAIN DURING PREGNANCY

How to SIT with TAILBONE PAIN

How to Decide about Tailbone Removal (Coccyx Removal Surgery, Coccygectomy) for Tailbone Pain

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 Patrick Foye, M.D.,
Director of the Coccyx Pain Center,
PM&R at Rutgers
New Jersey Medical School,
90 Bergen St,
DOC Suite 3100,
Newark, New Jersey,
USA, 07103For an appointment, call:
973-972-2802
TAILBONE PAIN


 Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013.
Patrick Foye, M.D.
www.TailboneDoctor.com
and
www.Tailbone.info
and
www.TailbonePain.net

 

Disclaimer:
This web site is for
general informational purposes only.The information should not be
considered as medical advice.The information is not a substitute for appropriate in-person care
by a physician
with expertise in evaluating
and treating tailbone pain.This website
is not meant to represent
official views
of any university,
medical school,
hospital, etc.
 

 

Effective July 2013:
New Jersey Medical School is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.