I have a painful problem when sitting called coccygodynia. It’s gotten so bad I can’t go anywhere without a donut-shaped pillow to keep the pressure off my tailbone. I’m seriously thinking of asking my doctor to just take the tailbone out. What do you think of this idea?

A recent study from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital suggests removing the coccyx or tailbone is a safe and effective way to treat this problem.

The operation is called a coccygectomy and gives permanent pain relief in 90 percent of all patients.

Other more conservative treatment includes injections of a numbing agent with a steroid. This is only successful in about 20 percent of all patients. Physical therapy can bring relief in some cases. Chiropractors can manipulate the coccyx if malalignment is the problem.