Bowel movements may be painful. Diagnosis You will need to consult with a doctor for a diagnosis. The doctor will discuss your symptoms with you and the history of the injury. A physical examination of your lower back and coccyx will be completed, and X-rays will be needed to identify the break and plan for treatment. Treatment Conservative treatment for a coccyx fracture is aimed at relieving symptoms while the bone heals.
Your doctor may recommend several ways to alleviate inflammation and pain, including:. Surgical treatment is not likely to be necessary, but your doctor will discuss this option to help you make an informed decision.
As with all surgeries, there are certain risks associated with the procedure. Outlook Generally, coccyx fractures need approximately 4 to 8 weeks to heal. Surgical intervention will require more time for the area to mend.
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. Your doctor will use a physical exam and X-rays to diagnose your tailbone pain. To find out, your doctor will feel the soft tissue around your coccyx and the lower spine sacrum. They may be able to detect a pointy growth of new bone, known as a bone spicule, which could be the source of the pain.
In a rectal examination your doctor grasps the coccyx between the forefinger and thumb. The normal range of motion is about 13 degrees. Too much more or too much less, can be a sign of a problem. X-rays are done in both standing and sitting positions. Comparing the angle of the coccyx in the two positions helps your doctor determine the degree of motion.
X-rays can also reveal if the tailbone is broken or just bruised. A fracture will usually be visible on an X-ray. Although the treatment may be the same, the recovery time is longer for a fracture than for a bruise. A broken or bruised tailbone is usually treated without surgery.
It is successful in 90 percent of cases. Physical therapy and the use of special cushions are the most common and effective forms of treatment. A physical therapist can help you to learn exercises that stretch the ligaments and strengthen the muscles supporting the lower spine. They may use massage or alternating hot and cold compresses to lessen the pain.
Your therapist may also guide you in proper posture for sitting. These are specially designed cushions that support the buttocks, but have a cut-out section to relieve pressure on the coccyx.
Here are some cushions available to purchase. Circular doughnut cushions are not advised as they place extra pressure on the coccyx. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are recommended for the pain associated with a bruised or broken coccyx.
These include:. Use a cushion or gel donut when sitting. The hole in the center will take pressure off your tailbone. You can buy the cushion at a drugstore. Avoid sitting a lot. When sleeping, lie on your belly to take pressure off the tailbone. Do not use these medicines for the first 24 hours after your injury.
They may increase the risk of bleeding. Talk with your provider before using these drugs if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, or have had stomach ulcers or internal bleeding in the past. Do not take more than the amount recommended on the bottle or more than your provider advises you to take.
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. When to Call the Doctor. Some light exercises can help strengthen the muscles in the area. Pain in the coccyx, or tailbone, can appear for a number of reasons, including injury and childbirth. This article explores the causes and treatment…. The tailbone is at the bottom of the spine and helps to support the pelvis.
There are specific exercises that people can use to stretch this area of…. A fracture is a break in the continuity of a bone. There are many different types of fractures. We examine the facts about fractures in this article. A bone fracture is another term for a broken bone.
Depending on the location, type, and severity of the fracture, a doctor may recommend different…. Hairline fractures are small cracks in a bone that occur after stress is placed on the lower leg. The condition can often happen to athletes. This MNT…. What to know about a broken tailbone. Medically reviewed by Timothy Gossett, M.
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