


Direct blows to the tailbone, such as falling down the stairs, slipping on ice, or during contact sport, can cause the coccyx to become injured.Low frequency ultrasound can be useful to speed up bone repair, and acupuncture can also help reduce inflammation, reduce pain and stimulate blood flow to help healing. Since it has a hole in the middle of the cushion, it helps to prevent the tailbone from coming in contact with a flat surface. Purchase a doughnut cushion for you to sit on. Always ask your doctor first about taking anti-inflammatories, and if you are unsure, use ice as a first priority. A safer bet is to take acetaminophen, which will help to reduce the pain, but it won’t address the inflammation. Avoid taking these medications if you have a history of kidney disease, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or if you are taking blood thinners. Take an anti-inflammatory medication to reduce pain and to help improve your ability to roam about freely. Use this method for the first few days after the injury occurs to reduce inflammation and bruising. When you suffer with a traumatic injury, you can use ice on the area for 5-10 minutes at a time and ask your therapist how many times per day to use the ice. Lean forward to help direct the bulk of your weight away from the tailbone. Alternate sitting on both sides of your buttocks. When sitting, you want to avoid sitting on a hard surface.
Coccyx fracture how to#
Most of the time, there is a small amount of movement and it curves slightly from one end of the spine and into the pelvis.Īn MRI Scan Showing a Coccyx Fracture How to Treat a Coccyx Fracture:Īvoid sitting in the same position for an extended period of time. A coccyx is the absolute lowest part of the spine or the backbone. Coccyx Fracture AnatomyĬoccyx fractures are essentially broken tailbones. But if the coccyx pain was caused from a fall where you land heavily on your tailbone, it’s likely you may have a fracture. Other common ways are from slipping on ice, where your feet very quickly slip forwards causing people to land on their tailbones.Ĭoccyx fracture is not easily determined without an X-ray, as bone bruising can also occur. The most common way to break or fracture the coccyx is from falling down steps, and the step catching the tailbone. Some coccyx injuries will occur in female because the pelvis tends to be a lot broader, so the coccyx is exposed more than that of the male counterparts. Three to five segments make up the bone, and it is held securely in place with ligaments and joints. The coccyx is the triangular bone that is located at the base of the vertebral column. Even though they may be slower to heal, most of the injuries to the coccyx can easily be managed by using conservative treatment. It is possible to fracture, dislocate or bruise the coccyx. Fracture to the coccyx is typically caused by trauma, most commonly slipping and landing on your tailbone.
