Tailbone pain relief?

For months now, I’ve been dealing with this constant pain right where my skull meets my neck on the left side. It feels like burning, searing, or throbbing, and sometimes it gets so intense that it radiates toward my left eye and tooth—basically making my entire left side ache.

The trouble actually started after I began regular deep-tissue sessions with a private physical therapist to deal with some muscle knots in my back. While those knots eventually cleared up, the neck pain at the base of my skull got significantly worse after every single massage. My therapist claimed she could feel lumps in that area and insisted they were just more muscle knots, which she thought she was successfully breaking up. But instead of feeling better, the pain became absolutely maddening. Everything felt "off," so I decided to see a physiatrist. I didn't get a definitive diagnosis; the report just noted "tenderness upon palpation of the occipital bone." My treatment consisted of 24 sessions of ultrasound on my trapezius muscles, electrical stimulation on the occipital nerve exit points, and range-of-motion exercises. The pain didn't budge, so the next step was a regimen of Meloxicam and Normabel. That helped a little bit, but the pain is still very much there. At my follow-up, the doctor simply suggested I try taking Metamizole!😕And then she told me to come back in six months for more therapy. She didn't order any imaging or scans—she just felt around while I sat there wincing, and that was it. Her explanation? Since I have a desk job, it's just from sitting. I asked her if it was possible that the manual massages caused an injury or inflammation, but she dismissed it, suggesting maybe I just irritated some lymph nodes and insisting that muscle knots don't even form in that specific part of the neck.🤷.

To make matters even more complicated, things took a turn two years ago when I had brain surgery following a ruptured aneurysm, and I now have a stent implanted. Supposedly, that shouldn't have anything to do with my neck pain, but I’m already sensitive to the cold, and any kind of head or neck pain just drives me crazy because it serves as a constant reminder of that foreign object in my brain.

Swallowing Metamizole isn't a long-term solution for me, and going back for more electrical stimulation that hasn't worked doesn't seem right either. I'm torn: do I listen to my doctor and hope things improve eventually, or should I go seek a second opinion elsewhere? Has anyone else here dealt with something similar and found a different way to fix it??

Thanks in advance!

One possibility could be an issue stemming from the cervical spine, which can often trigger pain near the temporomandibular joint—at least, that is my own experience with similar symptoms. It would certainly be wise to undergo a thorough diagnostic evaluation.

Grace Davis77 said:One possibility could be an issue stemming from the cervical spine, which can often trigger pain near the temporomandibular joint—at least, that is my own experience with similar symptoms. It would certainly be wise to undergo a thorough diagnostic evaluation.

It’s so easy to overlook this during routine checkups, but you absolutely have to double-check those mastoid and paranasal sinus scans too...

You really need to go somewhere else to get a proper diagnosis and some real physical therapy. There’s zero point in just popping Metamizole like candy; you have to actually fix the root cause. It’s totally possible that it’s your TMJ acting up, but honestly, trying to figure out what’s actually going on via the internet is just impossible...

By the way, muscle myalgia can definitely happen in your neck, too.

Reading through everyone's replies, I’m starting to realize I really need to find a new doctor—even if I don't know where to start looking yet. It feels like I've spent months stuck in physical therapy and endless checkups with a specialist who clearly missed the mark. They never once even hinted at other potential causes for my pain, whereas you all have pointed out everything from simple issues to more complex stuff. Today, I’m likely heading to a private appointment with a specialist who runs a dedicated pain management clinic rather than a traditional physiatrist. I'm hoping she can offer some actual clarity. Does anyone have any thoughts—whether it's medical insight or just your own personal experience—on what kind of diagnostic tests or treatments I should be asking for?🤷

About a year ago, I had a standard X-ray done:
-the cervical spine imaging shows that my natural curvature is intact, with normal vertebral body shapes, heights, and disc space widths preserved

-the lumbar spine imaging shows some flattening of the natural curve along with a slight right-sided scoliosis. There's also some mild narrowing of all the disc spaces, accompanied by subtle subchondral sclerosis of the vertebral bodies. Essentially, it points to early degenerative changes and some osteoarthritis in the small joints of the lower lumbar region.
🤷

First things first—you need a thorough clinical exam, and then, if necessary, we can look at some X-rays.

Looking at these results, your cervical vertebrae seem fine, though there’s a bit of wear and tear on the lumbar spine—but honestly, that’s pretty much standard once you hit your thirties.

Casey Palmer5 said:First things first—you need a thorough clinical exam, and then, if necessary, we can look at some X-rays.

Looking at these results, your cervical vertebrae seem fine, though there’s a bit of wear and tear on the lumbar spine—but honestly, that’s pretty much standard once you hit your thirties.

Come on, at least let there be one thing that actually makes sense!😉What exactly does a "detailed clinical examination" entail here? Does that mean seeing a physiatrist—who I’ll definitely need to find a new one for, by the way—or something else entirely? Honestly, the way she just gave my neck a quick, superficial feel didn't exactly scream "comprehensive medical evaluation" to me!👎.

It starts with a deep dive into your symptoms and any issues you're feeling, followed by a full physical exam where the doctor observes everything, feels for tenderness, checks your range of motion, and maybe runs a few quick tests right there in the office.

Casey Palmer5 said:It starts with a deep dive into your symptoms and any issues you're feeling, followed by a full physical exam where the doctor observes everything, feels for tenderness, checks your range of motion, and maybe runs a few quick tests right there in the office.

Thanks so much!!🙂

A full clinical workup—to really dig into what you’re dealing with here—is pretty extensive. We’re talking about checking head range of motion, palpating nerve exits, tapping specific spots on the skull for percussion, watching how things move, feeling the jaw joints, maybe even listening to them with a stethoscope, plus eye movement tests, light reactivity, blood pressure, and all that good stuff...

Now, the actual diagnostic path depends entirely on what we uncover during that initial phase. Personally, I usually kick things off with a standard lab panel, like a CBC, and then move to X-rays of the neck—though yours already came back clear, which is a start—along with specialized imaging of the mastoid areas and paranasal sinuses to rule out or confirm any chronic inflammation. If that doesn't give us a smoking gun, we have to pivot in several different directions... looking at functional spinal imaging, deep neurological exams (which might lead to an EEG or some highly specialized radiology if the doctor finds a reason to go that route), and so on, depending on what looks like the most likely culprit...

Kevin Garcia12 said:A full clinical workup—to really dig into what you’re dealing with here—is pretty extensive. We’re talking about checking head range of motion, palpating nerve exits, tapping specific spots on the skull for percussion, watching how things move, feeling the jaw joints, maybe even listening to them with a stethoscope, plus eye movement tests, light reactivity, blood pressure, and all that good stuff...

Now, the actual diagnostic path depends entirely on what we uncover during that initial phase. Personally, I usually kick things off with a standard lab panel, like a CBC, and then move to X-rays of the neck—though yours already came back clear, which is a start—along with specialized imaging of the mastoid areas and paranasal sinuses to rule out or confirm any chronic inflammation. If that doesn't give us a smoking gun, we have to pivot in several different directions... looking at functional spinal imaging, deep neurological exams (which might lead to an EEG or some highly specialized radiology if the doctor finds a reason to go that route), and so on, depending on what looks like the most likely culprit...

That was such a thorough explanation, thank you!👍 I should hear back by this evening after I get the opinion from my doctor at the pain management clinic. I’m heading there during her shift, though it feels like I might end up having to start all over again with someone else. I'm not sure if you caught it in my first post, but I actually have a brain stent implanted. I really hope all these issues aren't connected to that.😕 I have an MRI scheduled for October, and I was wondering—is it possible for that scan to cover the neck area where I'm feeling the pain too?

Look, I’ve looked into this, and if we're talking about the specific type of stent I think you mean, then the bleeding from when the aneurysm ruptured shouldn't really be an issue... theoretically, there could be some lingering effects, but honestly, in practice, I just don't see them being a factor if nothing happened immediately after the incident. Having a foreign object in there isn't something you need to lose sleep over in this situation because it doesn't fundamentally change anything...

As for getting an MRI—look, just follow whatever is written on the referral that the radiologist provides. When you head back to your primary care doctor to get the paperwork drawn up, just tell them about the issues you're having so they can make sure to include everything on the order...

Kevin Garcia12 said:Look, I’ve looked into this, and if we're talking about the specific type of stent I think you mean, then the bleeding from when the aneurysm ruptured shouldn't really be an issue... theoretically, there could be some lingering effects, but honestly, in practice, I just don't see them being a factor if nothing happened immediately after the incident. Having a foreign object in there isn't something you need to lose sleep over in this situation because it doesn't fundamentally change anything...

As for getting an MRI—look, just follow whatever is written on the referral that the radiologist provides. When you head back to your primary care doctor to get the paperwork drawn up, just tell them about the issues you're having so they can make sure to include everything on the order...

Exactly! I haven't had any issues from the bleeding, and my stent looked absolutely perfect during my angiography last year. My biggest worry was actually that foreign object, especially when I was undergoing radiation therapy. Plus, there’s that nagging sense of anxiety whenever neck pain radiates up toward the base of my skull. At first, I was convinced the stent itself was causing the pain 🤷 so I ended up seeing a neurologist. He really put my mind at ease and explained it was just referred muscle spasms, which matches what I mentioned in my first post.
Thanks for all the advice! I'm getting ready to head to the doctor's office now. 😉

So, I just got back from my doctor's appointment, and honestly, there isn't much of an update. The big news is that she’s officially ruled out any issues with my TMJ. According to her, the pain I'm feeling is actually coming from the base of my skull—that spot where the head meets the neck—which is nowhere near where the jaw joint is located.🤷..
On the treatment side, I've been prescribed 600mg of Tylenol three times a day until things settle down and I can start tapering off. I also need to stick with my physical therapist and continue with the electrical stimulation and ultrasound treatments. She even suggested I give acupuncture a shot!

Since we've ruled out the TMJ and your neck X-rays came back clear, there's a good chance the pain is coming from tension in your trapezius and those muscles running along your spine—basically where they attach at the base of your skull. Honestly, that’s probably better news because it means your joints are fine. You might want to take a look at your posture while you're working; check if your setup is actually ergonomic, like how high your monitor is or how far away it sits if you're glued to a computer all day... I can't really offer much more help than that 🙂

Hang in there, things will get better 🙂

Casey Palmer5 said:Since we've ruled out the TMJ and your neck X-rays came back clear, there's a good chance the pain is coming from tension in your trapezius and those muscles running along your spine—basically where they attach at the base of your skull. Honestly, that’s probably better news because it means your joints are fine. You might want to take a look at your posture while you're working; check if your setup is actually ergonomic, like how high your monitor is or how far away it sits if you're glued to a computer all day... I can't really offer much more help than that 🙂

Hang in there, things will get better 🙂

I have to admit, my workspace is anything but ergonomic 👎. Now that I think about it, I’m working in a totally unnatural position. My keyboard is centered, but my monitor is off to the right, and the absolute worst part is that my printer is sitting on a separate desk to my right. This means I spend the entire workday twisting my head to the side, which is likely irritating my neck muscles 🤷. Oh man, if that really is the cause, then I'm in trouble—especially since I rotate through different workstations and can't just set things up my way. I'm stuck with whatever fits the space 😕. I definitely need to come up with a plan...

There’s honestly nothing worse than spending most of your workday staring at a monitor that’s sitting slightly off to the side. I think we might have just pinpointed one of the main reasons you're feeling so much discomfort. You should definitely try to get everything lined up straight... Just do a quick search on some ergonomics websites; a bad desk setup can cause some pretty nasty issues, but it’s usually something you can fix without spending a ton of money.

Casey Palmer5 said:There’s honestly nothing worse than spending most of your workday staring at a monitor that’s sitting slightly off to the side. I think we might have just pinpointed one of the main reasons you're feeling so much discomfort. You should definitely try to get everything lined up straight... Just do a quick search on some ergonomics websites; a bad desk setup can cause some pretty nasty issues, but it’s usually something you can fix without spending a ton of money.

If this isn't my only issue, it's certainly one of the biggest! I've been reading up on ergonomic setups lately, and it really clicked for me😕. I've been dealing with this pain for months now, going through various treatments, yet I spend seven hours every single day at my desk with my head turned toward the right... so it's no wonder nothing seems to be working! I did try moving the monitor directly in front of me—I'm no expert, but even I could tell my posture was totally off—but honestly, what can you do when the cables are too short? I'll have to make some real changes once I'm back from vacation🙂.

Could anyone else, or perhaps an expert here, share their thoughts on using acupuncture for these neck pains and general spinal issues?

Could anyone else share their perspective, or perhaps an expert weigh in, regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture for my specific neck issues and general spinal discomfort?

An excellent 🙏 👍