(HealthDay News) -- Tailbone trauma usually involves bruising of the coccyx at the base of your spine or pulling the ligaments after backward falls onto a hard surface, such as ice.

Duke University Medical Center recommends taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like Tylenol for pain where no spinal cord injury is suspected.

It may also be necessary to change your sitting position and position yourself on an inflatable rubber ring. If you experience constipation, it may also be necessary to take a stool softener.

However, there are ways to minimize your chances of a tailbone injury. You should not run on slippery surfaces and you should always wear shoes with slip-resistant soles during winter.