What do you do if you hit your tailbone hard?

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. Do not apply ice directly to the skin.

How can you tell if your coccyx is fractured?

The symptoms of a broken tailbone include:

  1. an almost constant dull pain in the very low back, just above the buttocks.
  2. pain that worsens when sitting and when standing up from a sitting position.
  3. swelling around the tailbone.
  4. pain that intensifies during a bowel movement.
  5. pain that intensifies during sexual intercourse.

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.

Is a broken coccyx serious?

Still, most tailbone fractures are not medical emergencies. Go to your healthcare provider for treatment. Seek emergency care if you have extreme pain, tingling, or weakness in one or both legs.

Can a fractured tailbone heal on its own?

A broken or bruised coccyx will usually heal on its own. Physical therapy, exercises, and a special cushion can all help ease the pain and speed recovery. See your doctor if pain is severe, or if you have trouble with bowel movements or urination. Surgery is needed in fewer than 10 percent of cases.

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 a coccyx injury?

The coccyx is part of the law back and is at the very bottom of the tailbone. An injury to the coccyx is usually brought on by trauma to the tailbone or the surrounding area [1], such as falling directly on it, or by traumatic injury to the surrounding structure in motor vehicle collisions.

Can a broken coccyx heal on its own?

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.

How to tell the difference between tailbone pain and coccyx pain?

The pain is usually aggravated by long continued rest like sitting and is better when the patient begins to walk around. The pain is felt in the coccyx region but it radiates to the legs and so it can be diagnosed and differentiated from tailbone pain.

What is subluxation of the coccyx?

Subluxation: When the bone moves from its anatomical location, it is called luxation or subluxation. When the slipping of the coccyx vertebrae is greater than 25%, it can present with symptoms similar to fracture of tailbone.