Treatment for painful broken or bruised coccyx

[gunsonaj]

I fell 3 days ago, landing on my tailbone.  The next day, the area was swollen... it is still swollen.
I was xray'd and advised that the coccyx was broken.  I was told to rest and take Tylenol 3 and Ibuprophen.  I was told not to use cool.cold compresses, but to have daily hot showers to alleviate the pain.

This has not been very effective. I am unable to work and in constant pain

I understand (from family members who have had a similar injury) that this injury can be very painful and that the pain can last a long time (years).

I would like to know what I can expect in regards to recovery time and if you can advise me of anything I can do to speed my recovery?  And what any additional treatments are if this continues to be a problem.

Thank you for your time and consideration
Janet

[Mattie296]

Or You Could Exercise Or Even Go Get A Heating Pad From A Store Near By.

[kbeth870]

I had my tailbone surgically removed in 8th grade after having living with a  severely broken tailbone for a year and a half. The pain just got to be so unbearable and continous (I was taking 8 ibuprofen a day- and still in a good amount of pain). The surgery was really painful- and it really is a last resort. But I am so so glad I did it. It took me about two weeks to recover from the surgery and while I have some pain here and there- its so less frequent and less intense than it ever has been. I was surprised to find that after a year of being almost completely pain free I started experiencing soreness again. I went to the Dr. and he told me that some of the bone had grown back- which is really rare and not supposed to happen. I was really bummed that the surgery wasn't 100 percent successful but still so HAPPY that I don't have tailbone pain like I did before. But truly, do physical therapy, and see if time will make a difference before jumping straight into surgery. Also, someone mentioned that they didn't want to get it removed because they thought it would leave the spine exposed. This has not been the case for me at all. My bone was broken so that any time I bumped it, it ricocheted movement in the entire area and I'd be in severe pain- now that doesn't happen. The tailbone serves no purpose. I have been impacted in no negative way by having it removed.

[chitowngal673]

Not sure if anyone had looked into this - but I was a figure skater for a number of years and repeatedly fell and bruised my tailbone for the better part of a decade.  I had zrays done numerous times - never found anything - but i always had pain sitting in movie theaters, airplanes, car rides etc. When i graduated college and got a desk job I was sitting ALL day and the pain was worsening over several months until finally it became unbearable. I couldnt sleep, sit, stand, nothing.  Touching it made me cry.  I went to my GP and she immediately sent me to a surgeon for having a pilonidal cyst, something i had never come across or even heard mentioned to me by other doctors.  I had it lanced that day and while it was the most painful thing imaginable it helped immediately.  I had surgery for it 6 weeks later. For those of you who arent getting answers or help from your doctors, this could be something for you to look into.

[LeftFielder]

Somebody mentioned the donut pillow earlier, I have heard of this as well.

[sassygirl09]

I fell down stairs 3 times within two weeks due to bad carpet, each time hurting my tailbone, first time was worst, this was a year and a half ago and I still Cant sit, I have to lay on my side on sofa and even sitting in bath hurts and if I lean back when sitting the pain shoots through me, if I sit on computer chair for ten minutes it hurts so much to stand up and all I have been given is pain killers that dont help

[BoricuaPrincess]

I fell down a flight of stairs at a friends house coming down from the upstairs bedroom...i didnt really feel much when it happened but later that night i could hardly move while i slept...i got exrayed just bruised really bad...still hurtsvon occasion. I have an inflatable donut that helps a bit...just waiting it out...hope it heals quickly!!!