How do you tell if I bruised or broken my tailbone?

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.

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.

Should you go to the ER for a broken tailbone?

When to go to the Emergency Room (ER) Still, most tailbone fractures are not medical emergencies. Go to your healthcare provider for treatment. Seek emergency care if you have extreme pain, tingling, or weakness in one or both legs.

How long does it take for a broken or bruised tailbone to heal?

A tailbone injury can be very painful and slow to heal. Healing time for an injured tailbone depends on the severity of the injury. If you have a fracture, healing can take between 8 to 12 weeks. If your tailbone injury is a bruise, healing takes about 4 weeks.

How do you sleep with a bruised tailbone?

To lessen the pain of a broken or bruised tailbone, consider sleeping:

  1. on a firm mattress.
  2. on your side with a pillow between your knees.
  3. on your back with a pillow under your knees.

Can a fractured tailbone heal on its own?

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 causes a painful tailbone with no injury?

There could be any number of causes for tailbone pain. Two common causes are trauma to the area and pregnancy/childbirth. In very rare cases, coccydynia may also be caused by an infection, a tumour, or a fracture. If you are experiencing: Sudden tailbone pain. Tailbone pain without an injury. Tailbone pain from sitting.

What are the symptoms of a fractured tailbone?

A hard fall on the bottom and the pain, bruising, and swelling that accompany it could be symptoms of a fractured tailbone. The tailbone, or the coccyx , refers to the very last segment of the spinal column that ends just above the buttocks.

How long does a bruised tailbone heal?

A tailbone injury can take a considerable amount of time to fully heal, the time duration all depends on how severe the injury is. If your tailbone is fractured it could take 8 to 12 weeks to heal. If your tailbone is bruised it generally takes about 4 weeks to heal.

What does a broken tailbone look like?

Bruising is also likely to occur in a coccyx injury. If bruising does occur, it is usually visible at the base of the spine and may be purple or red in color. The skin may also be puffy or swollen looking and feels tender when touched. As the tailbone heals, the bruising and swelling typically fade away.