on your back with a pillow under your knees.on your side with a pillow between your knees.To lessen the pain of a broken or bruised tailbone, consider sleeping: Keep your feet flat on the floor, using a book or other support if your legs don’t reach. Sit with your back against the chair, and avoid slouching. Proper posture when sitting can also help. Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor. These include your stomach muscles and those of the pelvic floor. Your doctor or physical therapist can give you exercises to strengthen the muscles around the coccyx. Rehabilitation will include physical therapy, home exercises, and possibly a special cushion for sitting. A broken or fractured tailbone can take up to 12 weeks to heal. Children recover faster than adults, and young adults recover faster than older ones.Īverage recovery time for a bruised tailbone is up to four weeks. Recovery time from a bruised or broken tailbone depends on your age and the severity of the injury. those with spicules (sharp-pointed, new bone growth) on the coccyx.those with hyper-mobility (too much freedom of motion) of the coccyx.The best outcomes occur for two types of cases: Surgery can involve total removal of the coccyx (coccygectomy), or removal of only one or more of the segments. Surgery isn’t often used, but may be necessary for people who don’t respond to therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended for the pain associated with a bruised or broken coccyx. Here are some cushions available to purchase.Ĭircular (doughnut) cushions are not advised as they place extra pressure on the coccyx. They’re available online or at stores without a prescription. These are specially designed cushions that support the buttocks, but have a cut-out section to relieve pressure on the coccyx. Your therapist may also guide you in proper posture for sitting. They may use massage or alternating hot and cold compresses to lessen the pain. Physical therapy and the use of special cushions are the most common and effective forms of treatment.Ī physical therapist can help you to learn exercises that stretch the ligaments and strengthen the muscles supporting the lower spine. Broken tailbone picturesĪ broken or bruised tailbone is usually treated without surgery. Although the treatment may be the same, the recovery time is longer for a fracture than for a bruise. A fracture will usually be visible on an X-ray. X-rays can also reveal if the tailbone is broken or just bruised. Comparing the angle of the coccyx in the two positions helps your doctor determine the degree of motion. X-rays are done in both standing and sitting positions. Too much more or too much less, can be a sign of a problem. The normal range of motion is about 13 degrees. By moving it, they can tell if there’s too much or too little mobility in the coccyx. In a rectal examination your doctor grasps the coccyx between the forefinger and thumb. They’ll also look for other possible causes of the pain, such as a tumor, an ingrown hair cyst, or pelvic muscle spasms. They may be able to detect a pointy growth of new bone, known as a bone spicule, which could be the source of the pain. To find out, your doctor will feel the soft tissue around your coccyx and the lower spine ( sacrum). It’s important to know if something other than a traumatic injury is causing the pain. Your doctor will use a physical exam and X-rays to diagnose your tailbone pain. You’re also at greater risk if you have osteopenia (bone deterioration).Ĭar accidents are a common cause of injury to the coccyx. Women are five times more likely to have tailbone pain than men, especially during and after pregnancy. The tailbone attaches to the large gluteus maximus muscle, as well as several other muscles and ligaments. A break or injury to the coccyx can be very painful, especially when you sit down. When you sit down, part of your upper body weight rests on your coccyx. The human coccyx is curved under, but the degree of curvature varies from person to person. Except for the first segment, the vertebrae are usually fused together. This short grouping of bones ends in a soft point. Depending on the person, the tailbone is made up of between three and five vertebrae. The tailbone, or coccyx, is a group of small bones forming the lower end of your spine. A broken or injured tailbone can cause pain that occurs when in certain positions, including when sitting or having a bowel movement.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |