{
  "id": 8001792,
  "title": "Take good care of your tailbone. I didn’t – and my derriere has never been the same since | Adrian Chiles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/take-good-care-of-your-tailbone-i-didnt-and-my-derriere-has-never",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T10:00:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Health",
    "slug": "guardian-health",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/17/take-good-care-of-your-tailbone-i-didnt-my-derriere-has-never-been-the-same"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I once experienced severe pain in my tailbone after participating in an extreme cycling challenge over two decades ago. My general practitioner informed me around ten years later that this was a common occurrence in middle age, a sentiment I have come to acknowledge daily as I approach my sixtieth birthday. Alongside this pain, I now frequently endure discomfort in my shoulders, which has compelled me to approach everyday tasks like reaching for items or fetching objects from elevated locations with caution, as they have become arduous endeavors requiring careful planning. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Alice Roberts, a renowned writer, broadcaster, academic, anatomist, archaeologist, and occasional medical doctor, who is deeply knowledgeable about the human skeleton. Her doctoral thesis focused on the palaeopathological examination of rotator cuff disease in both humans and apes, providing valuable insights into the evolutionary aspects of shoulder pathology. This conversation prompted a newfound connection between my current discomfort and the experiences of our ancient ancestors, who might have suffered similar challenges while performing manual tasks. These reflections have helped me better manage my shoulder pain, drawing parallels between my present state and the struggles of our forebears.",
  "summary": "My coccyx still hurts from an extreme cycling challenge almost two decades ago. Is there anything it’s good for? ‘Welcome to middle age.” This is what my GP said to me 10 years ago when I asked her why I needed this pill or that. Being then just shy of 50, that hit home. Now being just shy of 60, I mutter those words to myself at least once a day. There’s a long list of aches, pains and assorted…",
  "key_points": [
    "Adrian Chiles experienced tailbone pain from extreme cycling challenge.",
    "Shoulder discomfort affects daily tasks, requires careful planning.",
    "Dr. Alice Roberts connects human pain to ancient ancestors' struggles."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Science",
        "title": "Take good care of your tailbone. I didn’t – and my derriere has never been the same since | Adrian Chiles",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/take-good-care-of-your-tailbone-i-didnt-and-my-derriere-has-never-8004202",
        "published": "2026-09-17T10:00:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}