Broken tailbone treatment
- Physical therapy. A physical therapist can help you to learn exercises that stretch the ligaments and strengthen the muscles supporting the lower spine.
- Coccygeal cushions. These are specially designed cushions that support the buttocks, but have a cut-out section to relieve pressure on the coccyx.
- Medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for the pain associated with a bruised or broken coccyx.
- Broken tailbone surgery. Surgery isn’t often used, but may be necessary for people who don’t respond to therapy. ...
How long to heal a broken tailbone?
You should:
- Continue to avoid sitting for long periods.
- Not sit on a hard surface.
- Keep using the cushion or gel donut when sitting.
- When sitting, alternate between each of your buttocks.
- Ice after activity if there is any discomfort.
How long does it take for a broken tailbone?
In general, recovery time is about 4 weeks for a bruised tailbone and about 8 to 12 weeks for a tailbone fracture. If your pain lingers past the target date your doctor provides or you develop new...
How should a broken tailbone be treated?
These steps may be recommended for the first few days or weeks after your injury:
- Rest and stop any physical activity that causes pain. The more you rest, the quicker the injury can heal.
- Ice your tailbone for about 20 minutes every hour while awake for the first 48 hours, then 2 to 3 times a day. ...
- Use a cushion or gel donut when sitting. The hole in the center will take pressure off your tailbone. ...
- Avoid sitting a lot. ...
How does a broken tailbone heal?
A broken or fractured tailbone can take up to 12 weeks to heal. Rehab. Rehabilitation will include physical therapy, home exercises, and possibly a special cushion for sitting. Broken tailbone ...
How long does it take to heal a fracture tailbone?
If you have a fracture, healing can take between 8 to 12 weeks. If your tailbone injury is a bruise, healing takes about 4 weeks.
How do you know if your tailbone is fractured or broken?
The symptoms of a broken tailbone include:an almost constant dull pain in the very low back, just above the buttocks.pain that worsens when sitting and when standing up from a sitting position.swelling around the tailbone.pain that intensifies during a bowel movement.pain that intensifies during sexual intercourse.More items...•
What happens if a broken tailbone goes untreated?
When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn't heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.
What is the difference between a bruised tailbone and a broken tailbone?
In general, a bruised tailbone will heal in roughly 2-4 weeks, while a fractured tailbone will take anywhere from 8-12 weeks of conservative treatment to fully heal. If you're still dealing with symptoms after three months of conservative care, other approaches may be necessary.
Should I see a doctor for a broken tailbone?
If you have the signs and symptoms of a coccyx injury or unexplained discomfort in the tailbone area, contact your doctor. It may be necessary for the doctor to decide if the injury is traumatic or if the pain is caused by other, more serious, problems.
What is the fastest way to heal a sore tailbone?
Lean forward while sitting down. Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion. Apply heat or ice to the affected area. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.
When should I worry about a tailbone injury?
If your pain lasts for more than two months or if it gets worse despite self-care, make an appointment to see your health care provider about your concern. Your tailbone, or coccyx, is the bony structure at the bottom of your spine that helps support your pelvic floor.
How do I know if my tailbone pain is serious?
See your doctor if the pain is severe or lasts more than a few days. Most of the time, tailbone pain isn't serious. It can sometimes be a sign of an injury. In very rare cases, tailbone pain can be a sign of cancer.
How long does a broken coccyx take to heal?
A broken tailbone will generally heal within 6-12 weeks. However, if the injury is severe, or the patient does not modify their lifestyle to preven...
How do you know if you have broken your coccyx bone?
It is hard to distinguish between a bruised and broken tailbone, which is why it is important to seek medical attention. A doctor will generally us...
Is a broken coccyx serious?
A broken coccyx may cause severe pain that can impact a person's lifestyle. In most cases, the injury will heal within 6-12 weeks. However, it is s...
Will a broken tailbone heal on its own?
A broken tailbone will generally heal within 6-12 weeks as long as self-care methods are used to prevent further aggravation or reinjury of the tai...
Should you go to the doctor for a broken tailbone?
Yes, it is important to visit a doctor for a broken tailbone in order to correctly diagnose the condition and determine its severity. A doctor will...
How to help a tailbone?
If you must sit at work, make more of an effort to stand as much as possible, or take periodic breaks to ease stress on your tailbone. Watching your posture can also help.
How long does it take for a tailbone to heal after a fall?
If you do fall and experience pain for longer than 48-72 hours, see your doctor or a Los Angeles spine surgeon. Get in touch with The Spine Institute if you think you have a broken tailbone or another serious condition that may require minimally invasive spinal surgery.
What does it feel like to have a bruised tailbone?
Think of tailbone pain (coccydynia) as being similar to what you’d experience after stubbing your toe. The discomfort is intense and then becomes duller as the toe heals, which is similar to what normally happens when a tailbone is bruised but not broken.
What is the purpose of a CT scan of the tailbone?
CT or MRI scans – Static images of the tailbone are produced to identify any fractures
How long does it take to fall on your back?
It only takes a second or two to fall and land on your lower back. Most of the time, the resulting sharp, intense pain in the affected area is a temporary inconvenience.
Is tailbone surgery necessary?
Surgery is rarely necessary for a fractured tailbone. However, it may be an option if you’re not seeing any improvements after several weeks of conservative care. Additional image tests are usually done prior to surgery to determine if a fracture has worsened or if the tailbone has shifted out of its normal position.
Can you fall off a tailbone?
Removal of part of the tailbone (coccygectomy) No human being can completely avoid falling. Still, you can be more cautious when walking on uneven or slippery surfaces. If you play sports, avoid direct impacts as much as possible to minimize hard falls.
How to treat a bruised tailbone?
Treatment focuses on staying off of the injury and icing the area to keep swelling at a minimum. Your doctor may tell you to invest in a donut se at or to avoid sitting on hard wooden surfaces if at all possible. Anti-inflammatory and pain relieving medications are also useful depending upon your symptoms.
What to do if tailbone is not responding?
In the rare event that your fractured tailbone is not responding after weeks of conservative care, your doctor may order imaging tests to determine if something else is going on or if surgery could help with the issue.
How long does it take for a bruised tailbone to heal?
If pain has decreased and you’re less bothered by the injury after 48-72 hours , it’s probably just a bruise.
Where is the tailbone located?
Your tailbone (coccyx) is located at the bottom of your spine, and injuries to this area commonly occur when you fall while in a seated position. In Minnesota where many of our roads and sidewalks are covered with ice for a few months of the year, it’s not uncommon for spine specialists to see an uptick in patients who are dealing ...
Does it matter if you break a tailbone?
Similarly, just like when you stub your toe, it really doesn’t matter if you bruise or break a bone, because treatment is oftentimes identical. Now, that’s not to say you should just assume fractured tailbones will heal fine on their own.
What does a doctor do when a tailbone is broken?
A doctor will generally take an x-ray image of the tailbone to determine if it has been broken and assess the severity of the injury.
How long does it take for a broken tailbone to heal?
A broken tailbone will generally heal within 6-12 weeks. However, if the injury is severe, or the patient does not modify their lifestyle to prevent aggravation or reinjury of the tailbone recovery may take longer.
What is a broken coccyx?
A broken coccyx (or broken tailbone) refers to a fracture of the coccyx, a group of bones located at the bottom of the spinal column. Such an injury is generally caused by a fall or other impact to the tailbone or during childbirth. The symptoms of this condition are hard to distinguish from a bruised tailbone, which is why it is important to get a diagnosis from a doctor. A doctor will generally use an x-ray image to determine the severity and nature of the injury and diagnose a broken coccyx. The main symptom of a broken tailbone is localized pain around the tailbone. The treatment for this condition generally involves self-care methods, including:
What causes a tailbone fracture?
A common cause of a broken coccyx is car accidents, and women and people with osteopenia (or bone deterioration) are demographics that are considered to be at a higher risk of a tailbone fracture. Other common causes include:
Can a broken tailbone cause pain in the lower back?
Furthermore, a broken tailbone can sometimes cause pain that spreads to the lower back and radiates down the legs. It can also lead to feeling a frequent need to pass bowel movements. However, these broken tailbone symptoms are fairly uncommon.
Can a doctor diagnose a broken tailbone?
It is hard to distinguish between a bruised and broken tailbone, which is why it is important to seek medical attention. A doctor will generally use an x-ray to correctly diagnose a broken coccyx bone.
Can a coccyx fracture cause a bruised tailbone?
As previously mentioned, a coccyx injury may result in a bruised tailbone or a broken tailbone. Both types of tailbone injuries have similar symptoms (primarily localized tailbone pain, which is intensified during certain actions), making them hard to distinguish without diagnostic tests such as x-rays. These diagnoses enable the doctor to visually determine if the bone has, in fact, been broken or dislocated or if the injury is just due to bruising.
How long does it take for a broken tailbone to heal?
Recovery. Recovery from a broken tailbone can take some time. Most fractures take 6–12 weeks to heal. Many people who experience a broken tailbone are athletes, and they are usually eager to return to play. Some experts say that the limiting factors are pain and the risk of pressure on the tailbone.
How to diagnose a broken tailbone?
Because many factors and conditions can cause pain around the tailbone, diagnosing a broken tailbone requires a doctor taking the person’s medical history, conducting a physical exam, and ordering medical testing.
What causes pain in the tailbone?
Problems with the piriformis muscles and nearby joints, for example — such as the sacroiliac and lumbosacral facet joints — can contribute to pain in and around the tailbone. Testing for a broken tailbone will include cancer screening and medical imaging. X-rays can help a doctor locate and assess the damage to the tailbone.
What happens when a tailbone is broken?
When the tailbone is broken, it may: be displaced, which occurs when the separated bone fragments are clear on an X-ray. be a hairline fracture, wherein the broken pieces are not separated. be comminuted, which occurs when the bone breaks into multiple pieces. This article discusses what can cause a broken tailbone and how to identify one, ...
Why is my tailbone broken?
Causes. The most likely cause of a broken tailbone is trauma or direct injury. In young people, a broken tailbone is most often due to a backward fall or a high energy accident. In some groups, including older adults, nutritional deficiencies can make broken bones more common.
Why is rest important for a coccyx fracture?
However, it is also important to strengthen the muscles around the tailbone, stretching them regularly to keep tightness and imbalances from developing .
What is the last bone in the spine?
Here’s our process. The tailbone, or coccyx, is the last bone in the spine. This triangle shaped bone is made up of three to five different sections, which can make it difficult to detect a broken tailbone. Tailbone breaks, or fractures, are fairly uncommon. It is more common for a person to bruise their tailbone or pull a ligament in that area.
How to treat a tailbone injury?
Tailbone injuries are often extremely painful, so home remedies aim to control pain and avoid further irritation to the area. Avoid sitting down for long periods of time. When seated, avoid sitting on hard surfaces and alternate sitting on each side of the buttocks.
What causes a tailbone injury?
Tailbone Injury Causes. Most tailbone injuries are caused by trauma to the coccyx area. A fall onto the tailbone in the seated position, usually against a hard surface, is the most common cause of coccyx injuries. A direct blow to the tailbone, such as those that occur during contact sports, can injure the coccyx.
What is a coccyx injury?
A coccyx injury results in pain and discomfort in the tailbone area (the condition is called coccydynia). These injuries may result in a bruise, dislocation, or fracture (break) of the coccyx. Although they may be slow to heal, the majority of coccyx injuries can be managed with cautious treatment. The coccyx is the triangular bony structure ...
How long does it take for a traumatic coccyx to heal?
Your natural ability to recuperate and heal. The majority of cases of traumatic coccyx injury get better within several weeks of the injury with proper medical treatment. A few people suffer from chronic discomfort despite proper medical treatment.
What exam is done to determine if a dislocation is a fracture?
A neurologic exam may be performed. A rectal exam may also be performed. For this exam, the doctor inserts a finger into your rectum to feel the area of the coccyx and determine if there is a dislocation or a fracture that can be felt and if direct pressure against the coccyx reproduces your pain.
Where is the coccyx located?
The coccyx is the triangular bony structure located at the bottom of the vertebral column. It is composed of three to five bony segments held in place by joints and ligaments. The majority of coccyx injuries occur in women, because the female pelvis is broader and the coccyx is more exposed.
Do you need to follow up on a tailbone injury?
Most people do not require follow-up if their coccyx injury is improving with medical treatment. People with chronic tailbone pain, for whom medical therapy has not worked, require more frequent follow-up and may be referred to other medical or surgical specialists. Prevention of Tailbone Injuries.
What is the best treatment for tailbone pain?
Possible treatments for chronic tailbone pain might include: Physical therapy.
How to treat a swollen tailbone?
Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion. Apply heat or ice to the affected area. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin. If your tailbone pain doesn't improve (chronic coccydynia), consult your doctor.
Why does my tailbone hurt?
Tailbone pain — pain that occurs in or around the bony structure at the bottom of the spine (coccyx) — can be caused by trauma to the coccyx during a fall , prolonged sitting on a hard or narrow surface, degenerative joint changes, or vaginal childbirth.
How long does tailbone pain last?
Tailbone pain, also called coccydynia or coccygodynia, usually goes away on its own within a few weeks or months.
What is the procedure called when you have a coccyx removed?
Surgery. During a procedure known as a coccygectomy , the coccyx is surgically removed. This option is typically only recommended when all other treatments fail.
How to treat a tailbone injury?
Apply ice or heat: Apply ice to the tailbone area for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. Do this for up to three days after the injury. This can help reduce pain.
How to relieve pain from a tailbone injury?
Instead, choose a modified wedge-shaped cushion (called a coccygeal cushion) to ease pressure on the tailbone. 12 These are available over the counter. Apply Ice or Heat: Ice can be applied to the tailbone area for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day for up to three days after the injury to help reduce pain.
Why does my tailbone hurt?
The most common cause of tailbone pain is trauma. Since the coccyx is the insertion site for many muscles and ligaments, this may include direct, forceful trauma, or repetitive trauma to the bones of the coccyx or to the surrounding muscles or ligaments. 1
How long does it take for a bruised tailbone to heal?
Most cases of tailbone pain can be treated with lifestyle modifications. Keep in mind, a bruised tailbone may take between several days and several weeks to completely heal, while a fractured tailbone can take four to six weeks. In general, you should be able to return to activities slowly as you heal. A full return to sports may depend on the ...
What causes tailbone pain?
Cancer: In rare instances, a malignant tumor that has metastasized to the tailbone (for example, cancer from the prostate, ovaries, cervix, or colon) may be the source of tailbone pain. 7 Also rarely, a chordoma, which is a primary bone tumor, may arise on the coccyx or within the coccygeal region. Infection: An infection located in ...
What is the pain in the tailbone called?
Tailbone pain is called coccydynia. It can develop after injury to the tailbone. The tailbone is also called the coccyx .
What causes swelling and pain in the coccyx?
Infection: An infection located in the tailbone area, such as a pilonidal cyst, can cause swelling and pain over the coccyx, along with redness, warmth, and pus (thick, whitish fluid). 8.
How to tell if a tailbone is broken?
Pain is the main symptom, but additional symptoms from a broken tailbone include bruising over the area, tenderness, pain with bowel movement, and women may have pain with sex. The focus of treatment for a fractured coccyx include pain relief and time to allow healing. It's important to avoid sitting for prolonged periods since this increases ...
How to help a broken coccyx?
Using a donut cushion can help relieve pressure on an injured coccyx and make sitting easier. Usually these simple steps should heal Melissa's broken tailbone in time. Some people may not be able to manage their pain with these interventions and the doctor may need to prescribe stronger pain medications.
How to heal a fractured coccyx?
This is a very painful injury so focusing on pain management is key. Using over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help. Melissa can apply ice to the area to help with pain as well.
What does it feel like to break your coccyx?
The main symptom associated with a broken coccyx is pain in the area, just as we saw with Melissa. Pain in the tailbone area can be severe and it can be tender to the touch. If the injury was traumatic, bruising can occur over the area.
How to relieve pressure from a swollen thigh?
Using a soft chair or a donut cushion can help to relieve the pressure, as can re-positioning frequently. Using pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help, as well as applying ice to the area. You will want to avoid constipation, as this can cause increased pain. Try to eat a diet high in fiber!
How to stop coccyx pain?
If you do have to sit, try to have a comfortable chair and shift your weight frequently to relieve the pressure on the coccyx. Use of a donut cushion can help as it relieves any pressure put directly onto the coccyx.
What is the coccyx bone?
She had no idea what that was. Coccyx. He explained that the coccyx is a small, triangular shaped bone at the base of the spine. It is made up of four small bones that are mostly fused together. He said that might know it better as the 'tailbone'. The doctor explains that a fracture and a broken bone are the same thing.
