What Happens If You Break Your Tailbone?

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.

Should you go to the doctor for a broken tailbone?

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.

How long does a broken tail take to heal?

A tailbone injury can be very painful and slow to heal. Healing time for an injured tailbone depends on the severity of the injury. If you have a fracture, healing can take

between 8 to 12 weeks

.

What is the fastest way to heal a sore tailbone?

1. Lean forward while sitting down.
2. Sit on a doughnut-shaped pillow or wedge (V-shaped) cushion.
3. Apply heat or ice to the affected area.
4. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.

Can a broken tailbone heal wrong?

Broken bones can occasionally heal in the wrong position

, forming a “malunion” or “malalignment” after treatment. These misaligned bones can cause further problems and pain in the body. Dr. Tom Miller talks to orthopedic surgeon Dr.

Is walking good for tailbone injury?

Sometimes, the pain can shoot all the way down your legs. Standing or

walking should relieve the pressure on your tailbone and ease discomfort

.

When should you go to the doctor for a broken tailbone?

See your doctor

if the pain is severe or lasts more than a few days

. Most of the time, tailbone pain isn’t serious. It can sometimes be a sign of an injury. In very rare cases, tailbone pain can be a sign of cancer.

Is a broken coccyx serious?

Tailbone injuries are

likely to cause pain, swelling, and bruising

. Sitting or having a bowel movement may be especially painful. Still, most tailbone fractures are not medical emergencies. Go to your healthcare provider for treatment.

Does tailbone pain get worse before it gets better?

Tailbone pain, a condition called coccydynia, is usually dull achy pain in or around the tailbone. But the

pain may become sharper or more intense after sitting

or standing for a long time, during sex, or with urination or a bowel movement.

Can a chiropractor help a sore tailbone?

Chiropractic care is shown to

effectively treat tailbone pain

for many patients. It is a safe and efficient method of treatment. It is noninvasive and doesn’t have the risks that are associated with surgery and medication.

How can you tell if a broken bone isn’t healing?

Symptoms of a fracture that is not healing normally include

tenderness, swelling, and an aching pain that may be felt deep within the affected bone

. Often, the bone isn’t strong enough to bear weight, and you may not be able to use the affected body part until the bone heals.

Can a healed fracture still hurt?

Chronic pain after the healing is complete

When you suffer a fracture,

it will eventually heal and recover to the point

that you no longer experience pain. Unfortunately, this does not happen for everyone. Some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have finished healing.

What happens if a fracture is left 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 should you not do if your tailbone hurts?

To prevent tailbone pain, people should

avoid prolonged sitting and high impact exercises

, such as running and jumping. High impact exercises may aggravate any inflammation and cause the pelvic and hip muscles to tighten further. Tailbone injuries will heal over time.

What can you do if you crack your tailbone?

1. Positioning. …
2. Ice. …
3. Heat. …
4. Medications. …
5. Physical and occupational therapy.

Can you permanently damage your tailbone?

If this motion is repeated many times, the muscles and ligaments around your coccyx can become strained and stretched.

Straining your muscles and ligaments can permanently damage them

. If this happens, your muscles will no longer be able to hold your coccyx in the correct position, causing pain and discomfort.