How long does it take to heal a coccyx injury?

If the coccyx is injured in a fall, the patient should first receive timely treatment, and then get enough rest after the fixation surgery, so that the bones can recover faster. It usually takes three months to heal, so during this time you need to provide good care and pay attention to your diet.

If the X-ray of the sacrum and coccyx confirms a coccyx fracture, the recovery process and time are the same as those of a general fracture, and it will take about three months to achieve clinical healing. The specific process is divided into three stages: 2-4 weeks after injury is the hematoma inflammation organization stage, 4-8 weeks is the original callus formation stage, during this period, the two ends of the fracture are initially connected through intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification. The bone plate shaping period is 8-12 weeks, but generally one month after the injury, the local pain will be significantly reduced.

1. How to recover quickly from a broken coccyx?

If the coccyx is injured by a fall and there is no fracture, conservative treatment is mainly used to avoid sitting for long periods of time. To protect the coccyx from squeezing and irritation, make a cushion with a hole at the coccyx and place it on a chair, sofa, or bed. You need to persist in the treatment for more than 1-2 months before you can sit back in a normal position. You can also take hot water sitz baths and physical therapy.

When sitting, to avoid direct force on the coccyx, you can alternate between sitting sideways and leaning forward. If it is an injury, you can apply cold compresses (such as using a cold pack or an ice pack wrapped in a towel) several times a day for 15-20 minutes each time in the first few days after the injury. If the pain is severe, you can take pain relievers such as ibuprofen. Eat a light diet, pay attention to nutrition, avoid spicy food, and eat more high-fiber foods (such as fruits and vegetables or fiber supplements) to soften stool and avoid constipation. If your condition does not improve after a period of self-care, it is best to see a doctor.

2. The role of the coccyx

The human spine can be divided into cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, coccygeal vertebrae, etc. according to their location. The coccyx is located below the sacrum and is composed of four (three to five) degenerate vertebrae that form the tail end of the spine. In addition to the ligaments between the sacrum and coccyx and other small ligaments attached to it, part of the gluteus maximus is also attached to it, which is why patients with coccygeal spondylosis sometimes feel discomfort in the buttocks.

3. Causes of coccyx pain

Coccyx pain usually occurs when sitting or after sitting for a long time. The degree of pain varies depending on the hardness of the chair or the length of time you sit. The patient will feel a tingling pain in the coccyx, and the area around the coccyx will feel more sensitive. It will feel very painful when gently squeezing the coccyx with the fingers. Sometimes the pain radiates down the legs. Some people also experience more tailbone pain during bowel movements and during menstruation in women. Because the patient often sits on the side where the coccyx does not hurt, problems with the pelvis soon arise, causing the pelvis to press on the nerves, causing numbness and pain in the back and feet, and the situation becomes worse day by day.