Question
my daughter is experiencing pain in the tailbone area. it is severe enough that it hurts to walk or sit and she says it is effecting her legs when she goes up the stairs. she has found a small growth (lump) that seems to be under the skin. the pain started this past monday (today is wednesday) and it is steadily getting worse. should she go to her chiropractor, an orthopedic or regular doctor. thanks.

Answer
Dear Denise,

Thank you for your question and I hope that I can help.

If the pain is right over the growth under the skin, then she should definitely see her family physician (regular doctor).  This would be some type of cyst or mass that needs to be evaluated.

If the pain is more in the sacroiliac joint area (the area to the sides and above the tailbone), then a chiropractor would be the doctor of choice.  

However, I recommend at this point a trip to the family MD to evaluate the growth and determine what it is and what to do about it.  If it is red and swollen around the growth, it is most likely a benign cyst that can be excised and removed without difficulty.

Good luck with this problem and I hope she does well.  If you have any other questions, please contact me at allexperts.com.

Dr. Boss