Coccyx Injury

A coccyx injury can be a painful and debilitating experience to endure. The coccyx is the final vertebral segments of the spinal column and is commonly called the tailbone. The name is appropriate, since these vertebrae are the remains of what used to be a tail in our ancestors of long ago. Coccyx pain has a bad reputation as being stubborn, treatment resistant and long lasting. Injury to the coccyx might take time to resolve, but with appropriate medical treatment, the tailbone should heal good as new.

coccyx injury

Coccyx Injury / Bruises

A bruise to the tailbone can be a very painful event. The coccyx is sensitive and any jarring effect is likely to resonate throughout the spine. Bruising does not require medical care, but some home based remedies are recommended. Ice is great for the first 24 to 48 hours, followed by heat. OTC pain management is ok, if the pain is severe. Hydrotherapy is also a good choice for a bruised tailbone. Make sure to avoid aggravating the pain by sitting or lying on your back.

Coccyx Injury Fractures

A fracture to the coccyx is far more serious. While physicians usually do little or nothing for this injury, it is still recommended to get checked out if you suspect a fracture to have occurred. For serious vertebral fractures where pieces of bone have been moved from their respective proper anatomical locations, surgery (open reduction) might be necessary. The coccyx has a variable anatomy in each individual. In some people it is one solid piece of bone. In others it is segmented into 2, or more commonly, 3 pieces of bone. Remember that the coccyx can be fractured along the natural vertebral separations which will make the damage difficult to diagnose. This situation is often responsible for long term pain where no fracture was discovered, but exists nonetheless.

Recommendation on Coccyx Injury

During martial arts training, these types of spinal injuries are common. Judo and grappling arts are especially liable for causing many tailbone injuries among students. Luckily, during my training, I have never injured my tailbone to any real degree. It is one of the few areas of my body which has not been torn up during training�

I did injure my coccyx once as a child, in the bathtub, and I remember it hurting for a very long time. Maybe, I even fractured it, but never sought treatment, so I guess I will never know for sure. I do recall the pain lasting for almost a full year.

If you have injured your tailbone, it would be a good idea to get an imaging study done to make sure everything will heal on its own. After that, you must simply be patient. Try to avoid activities which will aggravate the injury. Most of all, do not get used to taking pain killers, and especially prescription pain relievers, since dependency can definitely occur before the injury fully heals.
Coccyx Injury to Back Pain Home 11/16/07 Revised 8/6/08