bruised coccyx

If you have an injury, if you feel pain and bruising in the coccyx.

If you want to get acquainted with the causes of injury and contusion of tailbone.

If you want to learn how to treat and relieve bruised coccyx.

Read more:

The coccyx is a part of the skeletal system of the human body. Often you do not notice the presence of this area unless it is damaged. Despite the small size of the coccyx, which is also called the tailbone, this bone has many functions in the body.

Among the functions of this bone, the following can be mentioned:

• Help maintain the correct position of the spine
• Establish stability in the lower part of the spine
• And surrounding structures
• Strengthen ligaments and tendons
• Balanced distribution of pressure in the pelvis

 

 

In the following, we will get acquainted with the anatomy of this area, which is necessary for a better understanding of Coccyx bone injuries.

 

Coccyx bone anatomy

The lowest part of the human spine consists of three small vertebrae that are connected to each other. This structure forms a tail at the end of the spine.

The front of this bone is sunken and hollow and the back is slightly convex and has a protrusion.

The integral bone of the coccyx connects to the sacrum from above. There is a joint at the junction. The coccyx is attached to the gluteal maximus and coccygeal muscles.

One of the important ligaments that attach to this bone is the sacrococcygeal ligament, which connects the coccyx to the sacrum from above.

The range of motion between the coccyx and the sacrum is very limited.

 

What are the symptoms of bruising in the coccyx?

Pain is the most common symptom when the coccyx bones are damaged.

Pain usually occurs when a lot of pressure is applied to the coccyx.

Most people say that they have a lot of pain when sitting.

This pain is also slightly reduced by bending forward.

Other possible symptoms of this condition include:

• Progressive pain
• Weakness of legs
• Urinary and fecal problems
• numbness and Tingling

 

What are the causes of pain and bruising in the coccyx?

The coccyx has a very small range of motion. If a blow or pressure is applied to it, causing the bone to move more than its range of motion, it can cause injury. The injury causes local inflammation and pain.

Ligaments also attach to the coccyx, Inflammation or stretching of these ligaments may be accompanied by pain.

Infection of the coccyx can also cause pain.

 

Causes of discomfort and pain and problems with the coccyx

The causes of discomfort, pain and problems with coccyx are as follows:

• partial dislocation and bone fractures:

Doctors believe that the main cause of bone pain is associated with anterior and sometimes posterior partial dislocations of the coccyx.

These problems, that is, partial dislocation of the coccygeal bone, are caused by an impact, and according to statistics, this high-pressure impact is usually caused by a fall with the hip.

When you hit the ground with your hips, the pressure is transferred directly to the coccyx.

It is often said that a history of trauma does not necessarily coincide with the onset of pain.

This means that many patients with coccygeal pain and discomfort report this trauma months or even years ago.

 

• Stress and actions that put pressure on the coccyx can also be associated with acute coccygeal pain.

These actions are as follows:

• Sit on a flat surface for a long time
• horse riding

 

• Trigger points:

Trigger points are said to be involved in the perception of pain and discomfort in the event of spasm and contractions of the anal levator muscle.

Direct blows to the pelvis during difficult natural childbirth, and large fetuses may damage the coccyx.

In addition to the severe blows of small and frequent traumas that, for example, during long journeys from constant jolts and slippery pathways to the spine may predispose people to recurrent injuries of the coccyx.

 

• Obesity:

Obesity causes an increase in the incidence of coccygeal pain. It is said that the reason for this increase in prevalence is probably a decrease in pelvic rotation.

Normal people, while sitting, rotate the pelvis, causing the pressures on the coccyx to be reduced. However, in obese people, this pelvic rotation does not occur and high pressures are applied directly to the tailbone without adjustment.

 

• Infections:

coccyx bone infection is rare but can be present and can be a cause of injury and pain in that area.

 

• Tumors:

Tumors are uncommon in the area of ​​the coccyx, but  they can put pressure on the bone and cause pain and discomfort in this area.

 

• Idiopathic coccygeal pain:

When doctors use the term idiopathic, they actually want to describe pain whose underlying cause is unknown.

It is not clear which parts of the coccyx or related tissues are damaged.

In many cases, the cause of the coccyx pain remains unknown, which is called the idiopathic pain group.

The cause of pain in these cases is not known. In these cases, the doctor tries to control the patient’s symptoms.

 

Sometimes there is a cyst called a pilonidal cyst near the bone and it can cause pain and discomfort in the area.

When examining a person with coccygeal pain, your doctor will usually look for pilonidal cysts as well. This complication is more common in men who are more hairy and may have hair breakage from prolonged sitting.

Initially, non-surgical treatments will be used in the early stages, and in recurrent and severe cases, and in cases of non-response to common treatments, surgical treatment will be used.

 

• Osteopenia:

When the bone is structurally weak, it is called osteopenic bone.

Conditions in which bone structure is weakened are more common in adults and the elderly and can predispose a person to damage to the coccyx during a fall.

 

Diagnosis of coccyx pain and contusion

Most cases are diagnosed based on a history and signs and symptoms that the person is informed by a physician, and following a clinical examination.

Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, your doctor may perform other special examinations to check for the possibility of accompanying injuries.

The use of radiology can also reveal the presence of a possible fracture or tumor in the area of ​​the coccyx.

CT scan and MRI can be used to diagnose a possible infection or tumor in this area. However, in very rare cases, an infection or tumor is the cause of discomfort and pain in the coccyx area. Usually, the results of these tests will be negative.

 

Treatment of pain and contusion of coccyx

Depending on the cause of the coccyx pain, the doctor will choose the appropriate treatment.

Therapeutic modalities are as follows:

• Medication:

Your doctor may prescribe a group of over-the-counter medications for a short period of time.

NSAIDs such as naproxen and ibuprofen can be mentioned, and that in cases where OTC medications are not enough to relieve symptoms, the doctor may use antiepileptics and antidepressants to help reduce pain in the coccygeal area. Sometimes doctors also go for medication injections.

These include corticosteroid injections. Some types of steroids are injected by a specialist around the affected areas around the coccyx. This injection reduces inflammation and reduces pain and swelling.

Local anesthetics may also be used to reduce pain in these areas, which are injected into the area around the coccyx.

• Physiotherapy:

By performing pelvic floor muscle relaxation techniques performed by a physiotherapist or physical therapist, you can alleviate the pain and discomfort of coccyx:

• deep breath
• Relax the muscles during urination or defecation

can relax the pelvic floor muscles and reduce pain.

• Treatment of coccygeal pain with exercise:

There are exercise therapies to reduce coccygeal pain. As a result of these exercises, the pelvic floor muscles are strengthened. The paraspinal muscles in the lumbar region are strengthened, and by doing special stretching exercises in the muscles around the pelvis, you can help reduce coccygeal bone pain.

• Use special tubes when sitting.
• Also, some of the procedures performed by physical therapists, known as coccyx placement, may also be required.
• Also, deep ultraviolet (DUV) lasers can reduce pain and inflammation in the area to some extent.

In the end, if the condition is such that the above treatments do not relieve the patient’s discomfort, coccygeal surgery is required. During bone surgery, the coccyx is completely removed from the body.

This method is said to be recommended only when other treatments have not been effective due to very high complications such as the possibility of fecal incontinence.

• recovery :

Depending on the underlying cause of the coccyx bone injury and pain, the length of recovery time is determined.

But in general, it takes about four weeks for the contusion to improve, if there is a bone and coccyx fracture, the recovery period will be eight to twelve weeks.

If you see a doctor following coccygeal pain and have received a treatment plan, you should tell your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• If you have pain that gets worse.
• If you have symptoms such as numbness in your back and legs.
• If you have urinary or fecal incontinence.

In short, bruised coccyx usually takes time to heal. If you use a donut-like pillow, it may be easier to recover.

You can also use painkillers to reduce pain and inflammation under a doctor’s supervision.

If you think you have only had a minor injury and have never sought treatment and now you have severe pain in the coccyx area that persists even after a few weeks, Be sure to see your doctor as you may have a forgotten fracture due to a previous injury.