Whether you have a bruised or fractured tailbone, the following treatments may help you feel better:
- Pain-relieving medications. Your doctor may prescribe a short course of painkillers. ...
- Doughnut pillows. These seat cushions have a hole in the middle, which takes the pressure off your coccyx. ...
- Physical therapy. A physical therapist can teach you exercises that stretch the ligaments and strengthen muscles that support the back.
- Steroid injections. ...
What is the best treatment for coccyx pain?
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ). Common NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or COX-2 inhibitors ( Celebrex ), help reduce the inflammation around the coccyx that is usually ...
- Ice or cold pack. ...
- Heat or heating pad. ...
What happens if you break your coccyx?
Tailbone Injury Symptoms
- Severe localized pain and tenderness may be felt in the tailbone area.
- If the injury is traumatic, a bruise may be visible in this area.
- The pain is generally worse when sitting for prolonged periods of time, or with direct pressure to the tailbone area.
- Bowel movements and straining are often painful.
What causes tailbone pain without injury?
Tailbone pain can have many causes. It may be degenerative. It may also happen because of a sudden injury or repetitive stress. Bone spurs, nerve pain, and problems with the muscles of the pelvic floor can also cause tailbone pain. Rarely, tailbone pain may be caused by an infection or cancer.
How long does it take to heal a bruised tailbone?
The cause and severity of your tailbone pain will determine how long it will take for you to feel better. In general, recovery time is about 4 weeks for a bruised tailbone and about 8 to 12 weeks for a tailbone fracture.
How do I know if my coccyx is bruised or fractured?
Your doctor will most likely perform an x-ray to confirm whether or not you have bruised or broken/fractured your tailbone. It's important to visit with your doctor about your tailbone injury because there may be a more serious underlying medical condition that needs further attention.
How long does a bruise last on your tailbone?
If your tailbone is bruised it generally takes about 4 weeks to heal. If your pain or discomfort is not getting any better you may need steroid injections, or surgery to remove a portion of the tailbone.
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.
How do I know if my tailbone pain is serious?
You should call your doctor immediately if you have pain in the tailbone and any of the following other symptoms: A sudden increase in swelling or pain. Constipation that lasts a long time. Sudden numbness, weakness, or tingling in either or both legs.
When should I go to the doctor for tailbone pain?
It is recommended to visit a doctor immediately if you are experiencing tailbone pain, or have recently injured your tailbone. This is because an x...
How long does a bruised tailbone pain last?
A bruised tailbone generally heals within 4 weeks. However, if the injury is more severe (e.g., a broken tailbone) it may take anywhere between 8-1...
How do you know if tailbone is broken or bruised?
It is difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of a broken or bruised tailbone. This is why it is important to seek diagnosis from a doctor, w...
What exercises can you do with a bruised tailbone?
It is recommend to avoid exercises that involve prolonged sitting or standing or high-impact exercises (such as jogging) if you are suffering from...
How to help a bruised tailbone?
Applying heat to a bruised tailbone can help relax muscles, which can improve pain. Apply heat with a hot water bottle, a heat pack, an adhesive strip, or a heat gel.
What is the best treatment for tailbone pain?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are pain-relieving medications that help reduce inflammation around the tailbone, easing pain. People can buy NSAIDs over the counter (OTC). Applying pain relief gels to the skin where a person is experiencing pain can also help.
What does it mean when your tailbone is tingling?
Chronic coccydynia. If tailbone pain does become chronic, it may mean that a person has dislocated or broken their tailbone and may require specialist treatment. A broken tailbone may cause a tingling sensation. Anyone experiencing this should visit their doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Why does my tailbone hurt when I sit down?
The tailbone provides support when a person sits down. The tailbone also has several ligaments, tendons, and muscles attached to it. Damage to these muscles or the bone can cause pain in the tailbone or the surrounding area. The tailbone has a small range of movement.
How to stop tailbone pain while sitting?
Sitting down for shorter periods while working may help to stop the tailbone from becoming irritated. Standing up from time to time or using a standing desk while working can minimize time spent sitting down.
Why does my tailbone bruise?
Causes. A bruised tailbone typically occurs due to a backward fall or another impact injury. It may also occur during childbirth or because of a medical condition. A 2014 study reports that females are five times.
What does it feel like to have a tailbone?
Tailbone pain often feels like a dull, achy pain at the base of the spine or between the buttocks. The pain may get worse when sitting or placing pressure around the bone.
Bruised Tailbone (Coccyx)
What is a bruised coccyx? A bruised coccyx, sometimes known as a bruised tailbone, refers to an injury of the coccyx (or tailbone). The coccyx is a triangular bone found at the end of the spinal column. It is composed of three to five fused vertebrae and is the part of the spine that holds the upper body's weight when a person sits down.
Bruised Tailbone Symptoms
The major symptom of a bruised tailbone is a dull pain in the tailbone region. This pain is generally triggered when pressure is put on the tailbone. For example, a person may experience increased pain from a bruised tailbone when sitting or standing for a prolonged period of time.
Treatment for a Bruised Tailbone
A person suffering from tailbone pain might be wondering how to heal a bruised tailbone at home. A treatment plan regarding what to do for a bruised tailbone is generally prescribed by a doctor.
What causes a coccyx to hurt?
They’ll also look for other possible causes of the pain, such as a tumor, an ingrown hair cyst, or pelvic muscle spasms. In a rectal examination your doctor grasps the coccyx between the forefinger and thumb. By moving it, they can tell if there’s too much or too little mobility in the coccyx.
Why does the coccyx rotate when sitting?
In a thin or average-weight person, the coccyx rotates under the body when seated, so it can better absorb the weight. In a heavier person, with larger buttocks, the pelvis and coccyx rotate less when sitting. This puts more stress on the tip of the coccyx and leads more readily to dislocation or fracture.
Why does my tailbone hurt when I sit down?
A break or injury to the coccyx can be very painful, especially when you sit down. The tailbone attaches to the large gluteus maximus muscle, as well as several other muscles and ligaments. to have tailbone pain than men, especially during and after pregnancy.
Why does my tailbone hurt?
Broken tailbone causes. The medical term for pain in the tailbone is coccydynia. It can be due to a dislocation or a full fracture (break). People who go to a doctor with tailbone pain may have had a recent traumatic injury to the tailbone from a fall or impact.
How to diagnose tailbone pain?
Diagnosis. Your doctor will use a physical exam and X-rays to diagnose your tailbone pain. It’s important to know if something other than a traumatic injury is causing the pain. To find out, your doctor will feel the soft tissue around your coccyx and the lower spine ( sacrum ).
What exercises can you do to strengthen your tailbone?
Broken tailbone exercises. Your doctor or physical therapist can give you exercises to strengthen the muscles around the coccyx. These include your stomach muscles and those of the pelvic floor. Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor. They’re helpful for both men and women.
How long does it take to recover from a broken tailbone?
Children recover faster than adults, and young adults recover faster than older ones. Average recovery time for a bruised tailbone is up to four weeks.
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.
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 ...
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.
