Coccyx Injury? Here’s What You Should Know

Coccyx Injury? Here’s What You Should Know

The coccyx is the last part at the bottom of the spine, this bone is also known as the tailbone. It is located right after the sacrum and due to its shape and its anatomy, it can be a very delicate area in the way that any kind of hit to it can be particularly painful.

The role of this bone is to provide support to the pelvic floor since many muscles and tissues in this area are attached to it. The coccyx helps in bearing pressure and weight while carrying out different activities or movements such as sitting, walking, crouching, and others.

Due to its anatomy, an injury in this area could happen through the sprain of any of the ligaments linked to it. This can be a consequence of a bad movement, a direct hit, which can commonly occur by falling on the tailbone, also giving birth, or even riding a bike can be a cause of a coccyx sprain. Other than a sprain, fractures are also likely to happen if the tailbone has been hit. In some cases, a hematoma or a lump can appear. Injuries in the coccyx can make it very difficult or even impossible to do certain activities, especially sitting.

Usually, when the coccyx is injured pain can be very intense since there are many nerve endings around this area. It can also be accompanied by swelling and sometimes nearby zones can ache by reflex, for example, the lumbar area and the legs. 

For any kind of injury, including fractures, the treatment to follow is the same:

• In general, it is recommended to avoid applying pressure to this area during the recovery time. The patient must have as much rest as possible, this way, the tissue can go through an adequate healing process.
• Pain can notably increase when pressure is applied to the affected area like it happens while sitting. For this reason, the treatment for healing an injured tailbone includes sitting on a donut-shaped cushion, to avoid further irritating the affected area while also allowing a faster healing process.
• Taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine to reduce the discomfort. 
• Like any other swollen injury, applying ice to the affected area can help reduce this symptom. This can be done for around 15 minutes, from 3 to 4 times a day, and never with the ice directly on the skin.
• Additionally, constipation should be avoided, to do this, it is advised to have a diet rich in fiber like cereals, fruit, and vegetables. 

It could take around months to completely heal, but after a good recovery process, there should not be any more pain or any further complications.