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Fell on my tailbone and it hurts when i sneeze: Tailbone (Coccyx) Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Tailbone (Coccyx) Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

  • Tailbone Injury Overview
  • Tailbone Injury Causes
  • Tailbone Injury Symptoms
  • When to Seek Medical Care
  • Exams and Tests
  • Tailbone Injury Treatment
  • Home Remedies
  • Medical Treatment
  • Next Steps
  • Follow-up After a Tailbone Injury
  • Prevention of Tailbone Injuries
  • Outlook

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 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.

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.
  • The coccyx can be injured or fractured during childbirth.
  • Repetitive straining or friction against the coccyx (as happens in bicycling or rowing) can injure the coccyx.
  • Sometimes, the cause of coccyx injuries is unknown.
  • Less common causes of coccyx injuries include bone spurs, compression of nerve roots, injuries to other parts of the spine, local infections, and tumors.
  • 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.
  • Some women may experience pain during sexual intercourse.

Call 911 and avoid moving the person if they have signs of spinal cord injury along with a tailbone injury caused by a fall.

Symptoms of spinal cord injury include:

  • Severe neck or back pain
  • Paralysis in part of the body
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Weakness in the legs or arms
  • Numbness

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.

The cause of a coccyx injury is largely determined based on a medical history and a physical exam. 

  • The entire vertebral column (spine) may be examined. 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.
  • Rarely, if the cause of discomfort is unknown, a local anesthetic may be injected into the tailbone area to determine whether the origin of the pain is from the coccyx or another part of the vertebral column.
  • X-rays may be taken to determine whether there is a fracture or dislocation. However, X-rays occasionally may not reveal these injuries. Some doctors recommend X-rays in both the standing and seated positions to better determine the presence of a fracture or dislocation.

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. Also, lean forward and direct your weight away from the tailbone.
  • For traumatic injuries, apply ice to the tailbone area for 15-20 minutes, four times a day, for the first few days after the injury.
  • Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce pain and improve your ability to move around. Do not take NSAIDS if you have kidney disease, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, or are also taking a blood thinner — such as Coumadin — without first talking with your doctor. In that case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps lessen pain but does not reduce inflammation.
  • You can purchase a “doughnut” cushion or pillow to sit on. This cushion has a hole in the middle to prevent the tailbone from contacting the flat surface.
  • Eat foods high in fiber to soften stools and avoid constipation.

In addition to home care, a doctor may be able to provide further relief of pain with other medical and, rarely, surgical interventions.

  • Stronger pain medications may be prescribed at the discretion of your doctor.
  • Stool softeners may be prescribed to prevent constipation.
  • Injections of local anesthetics into the tailbone are sometimes required for continuing pain.
  • Rarely, the coccyx may be surgically removed.

Follow-up is recommended at the discretion of your doctor and depends on the severity of the injury and the progress you are making with medical treatment.

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.

Most tailbone injuries are accidental (such as slipping on ice) and therefore cannot be entirely avoided.

Wear proper protective padding when participating in contact sports that can potentially lead to coccyx injuries.

The prognosis for tailbone discomfort depends on many factors.

  • The original cause of the problem (whether from a fall or other trauma, tumor, or infection)
  • If traumatic, the severity of the injury (a bruise, fracture, or dislocation)
  • Your ability to comply with medical treatment
  • 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. This can be an extremely frustrating and debilitating problem.

Top Picks

Tailbone (Coccyx) Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

  • Tailbone Injury Overview
  • Tailbone Injury Causes
  • Tailbone Injury Symptoms
  • When to Seek Medical Care
  • Exams and Tests
  • Tailbone Injury Treatment
  • Home Remedies
  • Medical Treatment
  • Next Steps
  • Follow-up After a Tailbone Injury
  • Prevention of Tailbone Injuries
  • Outlook

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 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.

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.
  • The coccyx can be injured or fractured during childbirth.
  • Repetitive straining or friction against the coccyx (as happens in bicycling or rowing) can injure the coccyx.
  • Sometimes, the cause of coccyx injuries is unknown.
  • Less common causes of coccyx injuries include bone spurs, compression of nerve roots, injuries to other parts of the spine, local infections, and tumors.
  • 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.
  • Some women may experience pain during sexual intercourse.

Call 911 and avoid moving the person if they have signs of spinal cord injury along with a tailbone injury caused by a fall.

Symptoms of spinal cord injury include:

  • Severe neck or back pain
  • Paralysis in part of the body
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Weakness in the legs or arms
  • Numbness

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.

The cause of a coccyx injury is largely determined based on a medical history and a physical exam. 

  • The entire vertebral column (spine) may be examined. 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.
  • Rarely, if the cause of discomfort is unknown, a local anesthetic may be injected into the tailbone area to determine whether the origin of the pain is from the coccyx or another part of the vertebral column.
  • X-rays may be taken to determine whether there is a fracture or dislocation. However, X-rays occasionally may not reveal these injuries. Some doctors recommend X-rays in both the standing and seated positions to better determine the presence of a fracture or dislocation.

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. Also, lean forward and direct your weight away from the tailbone.
  • For traumatic injuries, apply ice to the tailbone area for 15-20 minutes, four times a day, for the first few days after the injury.
  • Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or ibuprofen to reduce pain and improve your ability to move around. Do not take NSAIDS if you have kidney disease, a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, or are also taking a blood thinner — such as Coumadin — without first talking with your doctor. In that case, it is safer to take acetaminophen, which helps lessen pain but does not reduce inflammation.
  • You can purchase a “doughnut” cushion or pillow to sit on. This cushion has a hole in the middle to prevent the tailbone from contacting the flat surface.
  • Eat foods high in fiber to soften stools and avoid constipation.

In addition to home care, a doctor may be able to provide further relief of pain with other medical and, rarely, surgical interventions.

  • Stronger pain medications may be prescribed at the discretion of your doctor.
  • Stool softeners may be prescribed to prevent constipation.
  • Injections of local anesthetics into the tailbone are sometimes required for continuing pain.
  • Rarely, the coccyx may be surgically removed.

Follow-up is recommended at the discretion of your doctor and depends on the severity of the injury and the progress you are making with medical treatment.

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.

Most tailbone injuries are accidental (such as slipping on ice) and therefore cannot be entirely avoided.

Wear proper protective padding when participating in contact sports that can potentially lead to coccyx injuries.

The prognosis for tailbone discomfort depends on many factors.

  • The original cause of the problem (whether from a fall or other trauma, tumor, or infection)
  • If traumatic, the severity of the injury (a bruise, fracture, or dislocation)
  • Your ability to comply with medical treatment
  • 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. This can be an extremely frustrating and debilitating problem.

Top Picks

Coccyx injuries – causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Who among us has not experienced falls during icy conditions! This is the most common opportunity to fall back hard and earn a coccyx bruise. Feels like pain can even respond in the head.
What can we say about infantile landings on a “soft spot”, when the baby is just learning to walk!

It would seem nothing tragic, he got up and went on, but sometimes the pain syndrome from a bruise does not let go for several days, disrupting his usual way of life. Or, even worse, dangerous injuries occur when a medical emergency and osteopathic correction are required.

Physiology of the coccyx

The coccyx is the lowest part of the spine, completing it. It belongs to the rudiments, that is, it does not perform any vital functions, but has been preserved in the human body, combining about four vertebral links. They grow together by adolescence (sometimes much later), and in girls, the one on top remains mobile. Nature thought this moment to facilitate the birth process.

Is it possible to call the coccyx an extra appendage? Not at all. It is joined by ligaments, tendons and muscle fibers, including the anal sphincter, intestines, and pelvic floor.

From above, the coccyx is attached to the larger bone of the sacrum, through the holes in which the pelvic nerve fibers pass.

The merit of the coccyx in the functioning of the body is difficult to overestimate. Thanks to him, a person can move freely, sit down, get up, bend over, cope with physiological needs. This element also supports the spinal column and protects it.

Coccyx injury: basic concepts

Most often, a serious injury to the coccyx is caused by a sharp fall – in winter or during training – or with strong blows, accidents, when other injuries are superimposed on the bruise. Riding on a hard seat over potholes and stones can also disrupt the coccyx structure, only this happens gradually.

Women injure the coccyx in difficult childbirth, especially if the baby is large. Pregnancy itself is a factor that thins the bones, so that the risk of a fracture or crack increases. There is a deformed coccyx in infants.

Coccyx injuries are classified depending on the type of disorders:

  • contusion of the coccyx itself and nearby soft tissues, internal and external;
  • dislocation and subluxation, anterior and posterior;
  • offset with a bend – forward, to the side, with displacement of the vertebrae in different directions;
  • fractures, like any other bone structure, subdivided into closed, open, displaced, splinter;
  • injuries, sprains, torn ligaments of the sacrococcygeal structure.

If there is a contusion of the lower back, hematomas, vascular hemorrhages, excision of muscles and fat layer, deformation of the vertebrae are possible in this area. And the symptoms of even a simple bruise are very painful. Some of them are directly pain in the area of ​​the damaged area, while others relate to the work of various organs and systems.

  • constant pain, even unbearable, when walking or trying to change position, also when laughing, sneezing, coughing;
  • change in gait, limitation of mobility of the hip joints;
  • pain radiating to the lower extremities and of unclear localization;
  • hematomas, bruises and swelling.

If the coccygeal region is injured, the general condition may worsen, headaches, nausea appear as a sign of a brain concussion.
As a rule, victims are in no hurry to go to medical institutions, hoping for self-healing.

Coccyx injuries themselves are not life-threatening, but long-term consequences and symptoms are very frightening:

  • Soreness during natural defecation, constipation;
  • Disorder of the functioning of internal organs due to disruption of their connection with the spinal cord;
  • Post-traumatic chronic pain in the area of ​​the sacral plexus, called coccygodynia, and often accompanying glutalgia – muscular-tonic complex;
  • Loss of sensation in the intimate area;
  • Violation of the birth process in the female half of humanity;
  • Migraines and neurological disorders due to pressure on the spinal cord, which in turn can wedged into the brain space from impact;
  • callus, leg immobility.
  • Diagnosis and treatment

    The person who has received a bruise should be helped – lay him on his stomach and apply a cold compress to the injured area.

    There are a number of symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

    • fever;
    • loss of mobility;
    • clouding of consciousness;
    • intolerable pain.

    You should see a doctor after a bruised tailbone, at least to rule out a fracture.

    A traumatologist conducts an external examination, palpates the disturbing area, checks reflexes, range of motion and conditions for the most severe pain. Fracture of the coccyx occurs quite rarely, if it is suspected, a 2-projection x-ray is prescribed for it.

    The list of additional x-ray examinations depends on the severity of the injury. Among them:

    • myelogram – examination of the spinal cord;
    • densitometry – determination of vertebral fragility;
    • CT and MRI to rule out neoplasms.

    Any bruise of the coccyx is treated first of all by rest. Hot baths and uncomfortable activities should be avoided. It is very useful to get an orthopedic pillow. To prevent constipation and excessive straining during bowel movements, it is recommended to avoid firming products during the recovery period.

    If the treatment of an average bruise takes about half a month, then recovery from a fracture can take up to six months, and this is in the absence of displacement and complications.

    There is no specific treatment for the coccyx. Most of the time, the symptoms go away on their own.

    To relieve suffering, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are prescribed:

    • ointments, gels – if the skin is not damaged;
    • tablets;
    • suppositories, microclysters.

    It is important that the ointment and other medicines are prescribed by a specialist, taking into account the condition of the damaged part of the body.

    Cooling pads are necessary if soft tissue edema has formed, while bruising requires comfortable warming. Folk remedies also occupy not the last place when nursing a patient with a coccyx injury at home.

    Light physical activity, including recreational activities, is allowed after a week.

    In case of a fracture, bed rest is prolonged, a fixing corset, splint or plaster is placed, and analgesics in injections may be needed for pain relief. In the future, it is important to control the correct fusion of the coccyx sections.

    Treatment and observation of a bruise is carried out by a traumatologist, therapist, orthopedist. You may also need to contact a neurologist if damage to the spinal canal of the spine or nerve plexuses is suspected or detected.

    In case of non-specific complications, the patient is referred to other specialists: proctologist, urologist, gynecologist, etc.

    In exceptional situations, surgical intervention is necessary:

  • fragmentation and shearing;
    • extensive internal hemorrhage;
    • malunion after fracture.

    Methods of treatment of the coccyx in osteopathy

    Returning to the usual way of life after injury to the coccyx, the patient hopes that the pain has gone without a trace. But over time, he may find that some familiar movements are difficult for him. You turn a little or bend over – how unpleasant, to put it mildly, sensations remind you of age.

    Professionals or sports enthusiasts notice a decrease in the flexibility and mobility of the lumbar region, more frequent “grabbing” of the back. Yes, and the posture does not look good.

    Massage and therapeutic exercises bring temporary relief, while osteopathy is aimed not so much at the symptomatology of an injury, but at a full recovery of a person. And analgesic effects come as a natural result of treatment – when nothing hurts and does not disturb.

    Who needs osteopathic help in case of coccyx injury and when?

    • For fresh coccyx injuries. First you need to wait for the completion of the acute phase of pain, the healing of fractures or cracks. The osteopath examines the affected areas, assesses the extent of the violation. Timely restoration of the coccygeal structure will help to avoid further complications.
    • For chronic pain. The patient may not be aware of the injury, may not remember the bruise, or may not attach any importance to it, but the osteopath will certainly check the condition of the sacral area. In addition, he examines the whole body for disorders caused by the pathology of the coccyx.
    • Pregnant. The woman’s body is changing, and the load on the pelvis is increasing. In the 2nd-3rd trimester, a visit to the osteopathic clinic is a wonderful opportunity to alleviate the condition and give birth without complications and interventions. The osteopath will gently and carefully eliminate injuries of the coccyx and prepare the pelvic bones for the birth process. It is especially important to undergo treatment for women with a history of coccyx injuries.
    • After childbirth. Carrying and giving birth to a child is not easy for every female body. During childbirth, the coccyx can shift, and then over the years this leads to various health troubles, especially if repeated births are superimposed.
    • Newborn baby. It happens that anomalies are congenital. Damage occurs in the womb or at birth.

    In his work, the doctor uses all the available results of tests and examinations.

    If there are doubts about the diagnosis, fear of an inflammatory or malignant process, he will additionally direct an X-ray of a certain area.

    Osteopathic treatment causes pain and dysfunction in the body, neurological problems. But few people realize that these are all the consequences of a harmless bruise during a fall!

    If a twisted coccyx compresses the nerve endings, puts pressure on the intestines, or displaces parts of the spine, the doctor will first of all eliminate the cause of these problems.

    In response to a specific complaint, the osteopath looks for deep damage, the root cause.

    According to osteoscience, the lower vertebral process is an important element in a single structure consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The doctor pays enough attention to the sacro-pelvic region, adjusting its synchronization with the skull.

    Important participants in this interaction are bodily diaphragms:

    • pelvic;
    • sterno-abdominal;
    • subclavian;
    • submandibular;
    • head.

    With a sharp bruise, reflex spasms of the whole body occur, and he cannot get out of this state on his own.

    The osteopath not only corrects injuries directly in the area of ​​the sacrum, but also eliminates the damage caused by them to the general condition of the patient. If something interferes with the free circulation of CSF between the pelvis and head, stagnation occurs, which provokes:

    • reduced immunity;
    • pain in the head, neck;
    • osteochondrosis;
    • inflammatory processes;
    • exacerbation of chronic diseases;
    • numbness and cramps in the legs, etc.

    Clamps of the spinal and cervical region disrupt the blood supply to the brain, the consequences of which are oxygen starvation and intracranial pressure.

    And the causes of a wide variety of diseases are in the once bruised coccyx! The patient may not notice for years that he is breathing shallowly, and only after osteopathic treatment he understands the difference.

    The osteopractician, as it were, tunes the body’s strings. Working through them from one end, he checks the sound, including the neighboring strings throughout their entire length.

    Other rehabilitation directions Osteopathy Clinic

    Osteopathic treatment does not imply instant healing, although the first sessions often bring relief.

    It is not at all necessary to continue to endure pain while the injury is still making itself felt. Homeopathic preparations have a good restorative and analgesic effect: external ointments, substances for oral administration, lotions. A competent homeopath selects treatment individually for each patient.

    If osteopathic methods are gentle and suitable even for expectant mothers and newborns, then manual therapy involves a harder effect.

    The manual doctor sets the coccygeal bone using the rebound technique, preheating the lower spine. Reduction can be carried out through the anus.

    Kinesio taping is a treatment by applying special tapes to a bruise. They reduce pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

    If there was a fracture of the coccyx, kinesiotape will be useful after passing the general treatment course.

    How to protect the coccyx?

    Instead of treating a bruise, it is better to try to avoid situations where injury could occur or soften the force of the blow. It is worth taking care of comfortable non-slip shoes for winter and not going down how many slopes and icy steps.

    When skating or rollerblading, you need to redistribute the center of gravity so that when you fall, you group and fall on your side or forward.

    And general physical development, activity, healthy nutrition and good sleep will help maintain balance, agility and plasticity.

    Coccyx injuries – causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

    Who among us has not experienced falls during icy conditions! This is the most common opportunity to fall back hard and earn a coccyx bruise. Feels like pain can even respond in the head.
    What can we say about infantile landings on a “soft spot”, when the baby is just learning to walk!

    It would seem nothing tragic, he got up and went on, but sometimes the pain syndrome from a bruise does not let go for several days, disrupting his usual way of life. Or, even worse, dangerous injuries occur when a medical emergency and osteopathic correction are required.

    Physiology of the coccyx

    The coccyx is the lowest part of the spine, completing it. It belongs to the rudiments, that is, it does not perform any vital functions, but has been preserved in the human body, combining about four vertebral links. They grow together by adolescence (sometimes much later), and in girls, the one on top remains mobile. Nature thought this moment to facilitate the birth process.

    Can the coccyx be called an extra appendage? Not at all. It is joined by ligaments, tendons and muscle fibers, including the anal sphincter, intestines, and pelvic floor.

    From above, the coccyx is attached to the larger bone of the sacrum, through the holes in which the pelvic nerve fibers pass.

    The merit of the coccyx in the functioning of the body is difficult to overestimate. Thanks to him, a person can move freely, sit down, get up, bend over, cope with physiological needs. This element also supports the spinal column and protects it.

    Coccyx injury: basic concepts

    Most often, a serious injury to the coccyx is caused by a sharp fall – in winter or during training – or with strong blows, accidents, when other injuries are superimposed on the bruise. Riding on a hard seat over potholes and stones can also disrupt the coccyx structure, only this happens gradually.

    Women injure the coccyx in difficult childbirth, especially if the baby is large. Pregnancy itself is a factor that thins the bones, so that the risk of a fracture or crack increases. There is a deformed coccyx in infants.

    Injuries of the coccyx are classified depending on the type of disorders:

    • contusion of the coccyx itself and nearby soft tissues, internal and external;
    • dislocation and subluxation, anterior and posterior;
    • offset with a bend – forward, to the side, with displacement of the vertebrae in different directions;
    • fractures, like any other bone structure, subdivided into closed, open, displaced, splinter;
    • injuries, sprains, torn ligaments of the sacrococcygeal structure.

    If there is a contusion of the lower back, hematomas, vascular hemorrhages, excision of muscles and fat layer, deformation of the vertebrae are possible in this area. And the symptoms of even a simple bruise are very painful. Some of them are directly pain in the area of ​​the damaged area, while others relate to the work of various organs and systems.

    • pain, up to unbearable, on an ongoing basis, when walking or trying to change position, also when laughing, sneezing, coughing;
    • change in gait, limitation of mobility of the hip joints;
    • pain radiating to the lower extremities and of unclear localization;
    • hematomas, bruises and swelling.

    If the coccygeal region is injured, the general condition may worsen, headaches, nausea appear as a sign of a brain concussion.
    As a rule, victims are in no hurry to go to medical institutions, hoping for self-healing.

    Coccyx injuries themselves are not life-threatening, but the long-term consequences and symptoms are very frightening:

    • Tumor neoplasms, fistulas, cysts, abscesses, complicated hematoma at the site of injury;
    • Soreness during natural defecation, constipation;
    • Disorder of the functioning of internal organs due to disruption of their connection with the spinal cord;
    • Post-traumatic chronic pain in the area of ​​the sacral plexus, called coccygodynia, and often accompanying glutalgia – muscular-tonic complex;
    • Loss of sensation in the intimate area;
    • Violation of the birth process in the female half of humanity;
    • Migraines and neurological disorders due to pressure on the spinal cord, which in turn can wedged into the brain space from impact;
    • callus, leg immobility.

    Diagnosis and treatment

    The person who has received a bruise should be helped – lay him on his stomach and apply a cold compress to the injured area.

    There are a number of symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

    • fever;
    • loss of mobility;
    • clouding of consciousness;
    • intolerable pain.

    You should see a doctor after a bruised tailbone at least to rule out a fracture.

    A traumatologist conducts an external examination, palpates the disturbing area, checks reflexes, range of motion and conditions for the most severe pain. Fracture of the coccyx occurs quite rarely, if it is suspected, a 2-projection x-ray is prescribed for it.

    The list of additional x-ray examinations depends on the severity of the injury. Among them:

    • myelogram – examination of the spinal cord;
    • densitometry – determination of vertebral fragility;
    • CT and MRI to rule out neoplasms.

    Any bruise of the coccyx is treated first of all by rest. Hot baths and uncomfortable activities should be avoided. It is very useful to get an orthopedic pillow. To prevent constipation and excessive straining during bowel movements, it is recommended to avoid firming products during the recovery period.

    If the treatment of an average bruise takes about half a month, then recovery from a fracture can take up to six months, and this is in the absence of displacement and complications.

    There is no specific treatment for the coccyx. Most of the time, the symptoms go away on their own.

    To relieve suffering, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs are prescribed:

    • ointments, gels – if the skin is not damaged;
    • tablets;
    • suppositories, microclysters.

    It is important that the ointment and other medicines are prescribed by a specialist, taking into account the condition of the damaged part of the body.

    Cooling pads are needed if soft tissue edema has developed, while bruising requires comfortable warming. Folk remedies also occupy not the last place when nursing a patient with a coccyx injury at home.

    Light physical activity, including recreational activities, is allowed after a week.

    In case of a fracture, bed rest is prolonged, a fixing corset, splint or plaster is placed, and analgesics in injections may be needed for pain relief. In the future, it is important to control the correct fusion of the coccyx sections.

    Treatment and observation of a bruise is carried out by a traumatologist, therapist, orthopedist. You may also need to contact a neurologist if damage to the spinal canal of the spine or nerve plexuses is suspected or detected.

    In case of non-specific complications, the patient is referred to other specialists: proctologist, urologist, gynecologist, etc.

    In exceptional situations, surgical intervention is necessary:

  • fragmentation and shearing;
    • extensive internal hemorrhage;
    • malunion after fracture.

    Coccyx treatment methods in osteopathy

    Returning to the usual way of life after a coccyx injury, the patient hopes that the pain has gone without a trace. But over time, he may find that some familiar movements are difficult for him. You turn a little or bend over – how unpleasant, to put it mildly, sensations remind you of age.

    Professionals or sports enthusiasts notice a decrease in the flexibility and mobility of the lumbar region, more frequent “grabbing” of the back. Yes, and the posture does not look good.

    Massage and therapeutic exercises bring temporary relief, while osteopathy is aimed not so much at the symptoms of injury, but at the full recovery of a person. And analgesic effects come as a natural result of treatment – when nothing hurts and does not disturb.

    Who needs osteopathic help in case of coccyx injury and when?

    • For fresh coccyx injuries. First you need to wait for the completion of the acute phase of pain, the healing of fractures or cracks. The osteopath examines the affected areas, assesses the extent of the violation. Timely restoration of the coccygeal structure will help to avoid further complications.
    • For chronic pain. The patient may not be aware of the injury, may not remember the bruise, or may not attach any importance to it, but the osteopath will certainly check the condition of the sacral area. In addition, he examines the whole body for disorders caused by the pathology of the coccyx.
    • Pregnant. The woman’s body is changing, and the load on the pelvis is increasing. In the 2nd-3rd trimester, a visit to the osteopathic clinic is a wonderful opportunity to alleviate the condition and give birth without complications and interventions. The osteopath will gently and carefully eliminate injuries of the coccyx and prepare the pelvic bones for the birth process. It is especially important to undergo treatment for women with a history of coccyx injuries.
    • After childbirth. Carrying and giving birth to a child is not easy for every female body. During childbirth, the coccyx can shift, and then over the years this leads to various health troubles, especially if repeated births are superimposed.
    • Newborn baby. It happens that anomalies are congenital. Damage occurs in the womb or at birth.

    In his work, the doctor uses all the available results of tests and examinations.

    If there are doubts about the diagnosis, fear of an inflammatory or malignant process, he will additionally direct an X-ray of a certain area.

    Osteopathic treatment causes pain and dysfunction in the body, neurological problems. But few people realize that these are all the consequences of a harmless bruise during a fall!

    If the crooked coccyx compresses the nerve endings, puts pressure on the intestines, displaces parts of the spine, the doctor will first of all eliminate the cause of these problems.

    In response to a specific complaint, the osteopath looks for deep damage, the root cause.

    According to osteoscience, the lower vertebral process is an important element in a single structure consisting of the brain and spinal cord. The doctor pays enough attention to the sacro-pelvic region, adjusting its synchronization with the skull.

    Important participants in this interaction are bodily diaphragms:

    • pelvic;
    • sterno-abdominal;
    • subclavian;
    • submandibular;
    • head.

    With a sharp bruise, reflex spasms of the whole body occur, and he cannot get out of this state on his own.

    The osteopath not only corrects injuries directly in the area of ​​the sacrum, but also eliminates the damage caused by them to the general condition of the patient. If something interferes with the free circulation of CSF between the pelvis and head, stagnation occurs, which provokes:

    • reduced immunity;
    • pain in the head, neck;
    • osteochondrosis;
    • inflammatory processes;
    • exacerbation of chronic diseases;
    • numbness and cramps in the legs, etc.

    Clamps of the spinal and cervical region disrupt the blood supply to the brain, the consequences of which are oxygen starvation and intracranial pressure.

    And the causes of a wide variety of diseases are in the once bruised coccyx! The patient may not notice for years that he is breathing shallowly, and only after osteopathic treatment he understands the difference.

    The osteopractician, as it were, tunes the body’s strings. Working through them from one end, he checks the sound, including the neighboring strings throughout their entire length.

    Other rehabilitation directions Osteopathy Clinic

    Osteopathic treatment does not imply instant healing, although the first sessions often bring relief.

    It is not at all necessary to continue to endure pain while the injury is still making itself felt. Homeopathic preparations have a good restorative and analgesic effect: external ointments, substances for oral administration, lotions. A competent homeopath selects treatment individually for each patient.

    If osteopathic methods are gentle and suitable even for expectant mothers and newborns, then manual therapy involves a harder effect.

    The manual doctor sets the coccygeal bone using the rebound technique, preheating the lower spine. Reduction can be carried out through the anus.

    Kinesio taping is a treatment by applying special tapes to a bruise. They reduce pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

    If there was a fracture of the coccyx, kinesiotape will be useful after passing the general treatment course.

    How to protect the coccyx?

    Instead of treating a bruise, it is better to try to avoid situations where injury could occur or soften the force of the blow. It is worth taking care of comfortable non-slip shoes for winter and not going down how many slopes and icy steps.

    When skating or rollerblading, you need to redistribute the center of gravity so that when you fall, you group and fall on your side or forward.