Tailbone issue...

[sayerville]

I am worrying over this so much.
I have this problem where I can feel my tailbone is sore, it's always later in the day, usually when I sit to watch TV. After resting overnight in the morning it's not an issue.
It feels like it has a bump but as I haven't made a habit of feeling my tailbone it may have always been like this. It's kind of in the cleft at the top of my bum. So I was wondering if it's normal for tailbones to feel this way or do I have something seriously wrong.
By the way I haven't had any accidents or pregnancies, I'm 52 (not skinny and bony!) and have a sedentary job but no issues when sitting at work just later in the day.
Scared to go to the GP in case they want to do the rectal examination which reading on the net I ma sure they will - I have that before when I had haemorrhoids and detested it! PS I also have a hospital phobia!

Ooo, sounds sore.

I am a nurse practitioner and it sounds like there maybe a a skin problem such as the start of a boil or possibly an abscess. Pressure by sitting in the same position can cause pressure sores or bruising but is less likely if that area is well padded. Sometimes the skin in the cleft can split slightly and in some people get an ingrowing hair can cause pain, swelling and later a discharge.

As your problem has been described as something on the surface of the body it is not always the case that a rectal examination is needed. Although you are not keen to seek medical help, it is probably best to sort this out early rather than, if or when things are worse and can be treated much easier. Plus your mind will be put at ease.

In the meantime, take some simple painkillers such as paracetamols and have nice long soaks in the bath.

Best wishes

Hi Bev, thank you for your reply, i know you are thinking if a certain type of thing - pilondial? It's definitely not on the skin surface or even just under the surface, it just feels like my bone is protruding/more prominent even like there may be a lump dare I say it?

Yes it may be the start of something like a pilonidal sinus but without seeing it it is hard to say. You have not mentioned things like alternating bowel habits (constipation alternating with diarrhoea) blood in your stools or unintentional weight loss so things may not be sinister.

If you can get your gp or nurse prac to see the lump they will be able to diagnose and treat.

Please let me know how you get on.

Hi Bev
There's nothing on my skin at all, no alternating bowel movements or anything like that but I just know they'll want to snap on those gloves and I can't bear it. When I think about it I've had it for months now, I'm just hoping what I feel is my normal bone that I'd not noticed before as I never had reason to go prodding there!