Is it bad if you hit your tailbone?

Is it bad if you hit your tailbone?

At the very bottom of your vertebrae is a pointy bone called the coccyx, also known as your tailbone. When it’s bruised, just sitting down can shoot a sharp pain right up your spine. An injury can bruise your coccyx, or even fracture it if the harm to the bone is severe.

How do you know if your tailbone is broken after a fall?

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?

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.

How do I know if my tailbone pain is serious?

What are the symptoms of tailbone pain (coccydynia)?

1. The symptoms of coccydynia include:
2. Achy or piercing pain in the tailbone.
3. More severe pain when changing from sitting to standing up.
4. More severe pain when sitting for long periods of time.
5. Pain during bowel movements.
6. Pain during sex.

How do you tell the difference between a bruised tailbone and a fracture?

bruised tailbone. X-rays can also reveal if the tailbone is broken or just bruised. A fracture will usually be visible on an X-ray. Although the treatment may be the same, the recovery time is longer for a fracture than for a bruise.

Can a broken tailbone heal itself?

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.

How do you know if you have sprained your tailbone?

Symptoms of a tailbone injury include:

1. Pain or tenderness in the lower back.
2. Pain on top of the buttocks area.
3. Pain or numbness with sitting.
4. Bruising and swelling around the base of the spine.

What causes pain when you hit Your tailbone?

Injuries to the tailbone (coccyx) can occur when you slip or fall and hit your tailbone. A tailbone injury causes pain when you sit, especially when you slump or sit on a hard seat.

What are the symptoms of a broken tailbone?

Most tailbone injuries lead to bruising and pain. Only in rare cases is there a fracture or broken bone. Tailbone injuries are often caused by backward falls onto a hard surface, such as a slippery floor or ice. Symptoms of a tailbone injury include: Pain or tenderness in the lower back.

What causes a bruised tailbone after a fall?

Causes of a bruised tailbone A tailbone injury often results from a fall. Ice skaters, gymnasts, and other athletes who jump and can land hard on their backsides are all at risk. Other trauma, such as vaginal childbirth, may also lead to a bruised coccyx.

How to take pressure off a tailbone injury?

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. Use a cushion or gel donut when sitting. The hole in the center will take pressure off your tailbone.