What to Do for a Broken Tailbone
Your tailbone, medically known as the coccyx, is the bone at the very end of your spinal column, between your buttocks. A broken tailbone may occur when you fall backward and land on your backside. Pain from a broken tailbone is excruciating, and sitting puts added pressure on the injured area. Broken tailbones, which are rare, can take four to six weeks to heal. Bruising is a more common tailbone injury that heals in only a week or two.
Diagnosis and Medications
See your doctor if you have fallen and experience pain in your tailbone region. Activities such as roller skating, ice skating and skateboarding may all lead to a tailbone injury. Your doctor will likely x-ray the area to confirm a possible break. He may order a prescription pain reliever if your pain is severe, or he may advise you to take an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and pain. Your doctor may recommend a stool softener to prevent constipation. Straining when using the bathroom will further aggravate the discomfort of a broken tailbone. Drink plenty of fluids and increase your intake of fiber as you heal to avoid constipation. A broken tailbone usually does not need a cast or other immobilization method to heal, according to Aurora Health Care.
Self-Care
Sitting puts extra pressure on a painful, inflamed tailbone. Sit on a pillow or purchase an inflatable ring from your local drugstore. The pillow or ring will cushion your tailbone area and alleviates pressure.
Lie face down on a bed or couch and apply a cloth-wrapped ice pack to your tailbone area. Do not apply ice packs to bare skin. Leave the ice pack on for 20 to 30 minutes to reduce swelling and inflammation. Sit in a warm-water bath on an inflatable cushion or use a sitz bath to soothe your muscles and reduce pain.
Tailbone Recovery and Injury Prevention
The pain of your broken tailbone should resolve itself within four to six weeks with improvement each day, according to the University of Michigan Health System. You should not have any lasting painful effects from a broken tailbone. If you do, see your doctor; the pain may be radiating from a different area of your body, and you may be feeling referred pain in your tailbone area.
Be careful when walking, especially in high heels--unsteady footwear makes you more liable to fall and injure yourself. Do not run in slippery areas, such as near a pool or on ice, and wear shoes that are slip resistant.
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