The tailbone (coccyx), is the bone at the lower end of your spine. Tailbone pain (also known as coccydynia) can result from a fall, fracture, dislocation, childbirth, tumor, or an unknown cause. Tailbone pain will be painful and limit a person's ability to sit, walk, and carry out daily activities. One way to relieve tailbone pain is with a tailbone pillow. This pillow is specially designed for the coccyx and is made of gel or heavy-duty memory foam, with a cut in the back to relieve pressure on the coccyx or back.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using the Tailbone Pillow
Step 1. Use a pillow anywhere
Tailbone pillow treatments are most effective when used in your car, home, workplace, and all of your seats. You can buy several pillows which are quite cheap or choose one that you can carry around and use anywhere.
- The key to the success of this step is consistency in treating the tailbone using this pillow.
- Know that one pillow doesn't always work. For example, a pillow may feel comfortable to sit in an office chair, but not when worn in a car seat. Try pillows for different situations to get a feel for which pillow provides the best benefits.
Step 2. Sit in a chair with a backrest
Use a tailbone pillow with a reclined seat that will provide additional support. Pillows will help improve posture naturally by elevating your pelvis, and the back of the chair will help you sit up straight and relieve stress on your spine and pelvis.
When using a cushion on a chair that is the right height for you, your thighs may be slightly higher than normal. To eliminate this difference, try using a stand so that your lower body is still comfortable. If your chair is adjustable, that means you can adjust the height of the chair so that it feels more comfortable
Step 3. Place the tailbone pillow directly on the seat
Do not use the tailbone pillow with other pads. Additional pillows will only make your sitting position uneven and the result is an uneven distribution of weight and body pressure. This worsens the health of your back. You can lay the pillow flat as usual or slightly inclined, depending on what feels most comfortable to you.
- If you need extra height, purchase a thicker tailbone pillow or use an extra pillow.
- If you are placing your tailbone pillow in a very soft chair, such as a sofa or plush chair, tuck the hard board under the pillow.
Step 4. Apply an ice pack or heat to help relieve pain
You can apply heat or cold therapy by placing an ice or heat pack on a tailbone pillow. Wrap the pack in a towel and place it on either side of the cut area on the pillow.
- Some pillows may have a gel filling that can be warmed or cooled before being put back into the pillow to sit on.
- Talk to your doctor to make sure you can use ice or heat packs.
Step 5. Keep the pillow clean
It's a good idea to wrap your tailbone pillow in a washable wrap. Thus, the cleanliness of the pillow is maintained.
Step 6. Upgrade your pillow if needed
If a tailbone pillow isn't enough to give you tailbone pain, try another brand.
For example, if you use a soft foam tailbone pillow and it doesn't seem to be able to relieve the pain, switch to a pillow made of a denser, stiffer foam for better support. The type of pillow that each person uses is indeed tailored to their individual needs
Method 2 of 2: Buying a Tailbone Pillow
Step 1. Know what the coccyx pillow is and what it does
A coccyx cushion is a U or V-shaped pillow that protects the tailbone from uncomfortable pressure. Some pillows are also shaped like a wedge (a semi-circle with the curved part thicker than the flat part). The shape of the letter U or V will provide comfort for people with tailbone pain, hemorrhoid pain, prostate disorders, pilonidal cysts, or porous bone disorders.
- Doctors usually advise patients to use a tailbone pillow after surgery to relieve pressure on the spine and tailbone.
- Tailbone pillows are also often used to help relieve pain from other chronic and inflammatory pains, or to relieve pressure on the back and pelvic area during pregnancy.
- A tailbone pillow is different from a ring or donut pillow with a hole in the middle, and helps reduce pressure on the anal region and prostate if you have hemorrhoids and prostate swelling.
Step 2. Purchase a tailbone pillow
You can buy them at surgery supply stores or pharmacies. You can also search for it on an internet search engine by entering the keywords “tailbone pillow”, “coccyx cushion”, “coccyx pillow” and “tailbone wedge cushion”. Online prices may be cheaper, but you can try on pillows if you buy them directly at the store so you can choose the size that fits you best.
Do some research beforehand. There are several things to consider when buying a tailbone pillow. Some pillows are softer and thicker than others, some are blown, and some have washable covers. There are also pillows that use different materials as cushions, and some are more comfortable than others. Some of the materials commonly used to make tailbone pillows are memory foam, gel, semi-liquid gel, or other materials. Ask your doctor or orthopedist for advice to find the best pillow for you
Step 3. Consider making your own tailbone pillow
If you can't find any other options in the store, then you can try making this pillow yourself. Most tailbone pillows are regular pillows with a small opening on one side. You can use a large memory foam or memory foam pillow and make a small cut on one side.
You can also get creative by gluing together the foam parts of the cylinder float, using a neck pillow, or filling long socks with rice and arranging them into a U or V shape
Step 4. Choose a pillow that feels comfortable
Tailbone pillows come in a variety of thickness sizes and you should have the one that feels most comfortable. Squeeze the pillow with your hands to feel its density. This way, you will know how comfortable and firm the pillow is when you sit on it.
The tailbone pillow is also made with a gel filling. This gel will provide softer cushioning and a more comfortable feel in some curves of the body. A portion of the tailbone pillow gel filling can be removed and warmed or cooled for hot or cold therapy
Step 5. Try a tailbone pillow with and without a cut
Some tailbone pillows are U-shaped and have a cutout area to help relieve pressure on the spine and tailbone. Many people find it useful so try these two types of pillows and choose the best one for you.
Step 6. Make sure you choose a tailbone pillow of the right thickness
The thickness of the coccyx cushion can range from 8-18 cm. Usually people wear pillows that are 8 cm thick, but people who are overweight should choose a thicker pillow.
Ask your doctor for advice regarding the ideal pillow thickness for you, based on your body size
Tips
- Tailbone pain can occur at any age, but the elderly are at the highest risk, especially if they have bone loss. Women are also more susceptible to infection than men.
- The use of a tailbone pillow at all times and an ice and heat pack treatment as recommended will speed healing and relieve tailbone pain as soon as possible.
