Bruised Tailbone
The tailbone (also known as the coccyx) is a group of 3-5 fused bones at the base of the spine. This is the remainder of a tail and has no real function in humans!
Symptoms of a Bruised Tailbone
- Pain at the very base of the spine, at the top of the buttocks.
- Bruising usually develops in moderate to severe cases.
- Pain when sitting.
- Walking may also be uncomfortable.
- Pain may develop higher up the back due to the sudden jolt when landing.
- Pain is occasionally felt on bowel movements.
Causes
The Coccyx can become bruised as a result of a fall onto the backside. An impact such as this compresses the soft tissue in between the coccyx and the surface which is landed on!
Occasionally the tailbone is actually fractured as the result of a fall. In this case, the symptoms described below are usually more marked than if it is simply bruised and so moderate to severe coccyx injuries should be checked by a Doctor.
Treatment
Treatment should involve:
- Rest.
- Ice.
- Anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed for you.
- Using a doughnut or ring cushion to ease pressure when seated.
- Rest is usually sufficient, although timescale's for healing vary greatly from a few days to several weeks.
- Surgery is considered in cases which do not resolve with conservative treatment. This is more common with a fracture than bruising.
