Does anyone know about coccyx? I fell on 28th and still very painful

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really ... excruciatingly painful when I fell down five stairs - bumping down on my bum - for about 15 mins and then I was able to move around again.

Since then I've been managing with ibuprofen three times a day.

I was thinking it was just bruised and would ease off but Im now on the third day and it hasn't yet and the whole area is very tender and sore if I feel it. That said `i have been able to do stuff - like go to a couple of parties and the pain eases off when lying watching TV.

I guess my real question is if I had broken something, would it hurt more? and would they do anything about it, or just let it heal on its own?

If no action is best, then I'm very happy just waiting but I don't want to miss checking it out if that is what it needs.

Im sorry you are in so much pain OP, its likely to be very badly bruised and not broken, but even if it was broken there is nothing the hospital would do.

Alternate ibuprofen every 2 hours with paracetamol every 2 hours so that you have constant pain relief. Try hot and cold compresses too.

Im not a medic, but have done this to myself numerous times over the years, it hurts like hell and takes time to get better. Keep moving, staying still wont help either, just be gentle with yourself.

I broke mine 8 years ago and still find it painful to sit down for long periods, it really is a fucker to damage. Use a donut cushion if u can get hold of one, it saved me for the 6 months after

I fractured mine falling down the stairs. Nothing to be done apart from ibuprofen. Took months, maybe nearly a whole year to stop hurting entirely when sitting down.

I did this too, only I fell over after one too many glasses of wine!! Similar to yourself it was very sore but I was able to get out and about and work etc. I just kept on top of it with painkillers and as the above poster mentioned there’s nothing else to be done for it unfortunately! It did take around a month for the pain to heal completely from memory!

I sat too long on a hard window seat. Bruised mine. Took a year to recover. Very painful every time I stood up from seated.

Years later I went horse riding. Bruised it again on the saddle! Had to pad it for the rest of the holiday. (ST into pants on my tail bone) Didn’t take so long to heal that time.

Keep taking pain killers plus try ibuprofen gel rubbed externally onto it.

What exactly do you think will be done for a fractured coccyx? Nothing. So, fractured or bruised, just treat it the same.

Unfortunately there’s not really anything that can be done, apart from pain relief.

Several years ago, I performed a classic, legs up in the air comedy fall on an icy pavement. Embarrassing as hell and excruciating. After smiling at strangers and saying “oh, I’m fine”, I had to call my husband to collect me, I couldn’t walk. Took a good 6 months to completely stop hurting. My GP prescribed naproxen which helped a lot initially (with omeprazole because it can cause stomach issues without).
It’s just time, I’m afraid.

I bruised my coccyx a few years back falling on some slippery mud. It took ages to stop hurting probably close to a year. Particularly painful sitting on a hard surface. A coccyx cushion will be your friend!

I broke mine 10 years ago, and tbh, it was an absolute fucker to sit on for a good year afterwards. Any chair that was even slightly reclined would leave me in real pain. Cinema and theatre seats were the worst.
I'd say it was still causing me occasional discomfort when sitting for a good 5 years or so post injury.

I bruised mine falling onto concrete then fractured it 6 months later doing the same thing (I'm clumsy). Took maybe 12 - 18 months to get back to normal. Painkillers and a pile cushion helped!

I suspect that I broke mine falling off a horse about 20 years ago. It took years and years before it stopped regularly hurting when I sat down.

mine snapped during back to back labour

it took i think around a year to heal and I often sat on a doughnut cushion and still often painful for at least three years

I still occasionally get a sharp pain at the base of my spine (nearly 18 years later)

I did the same - fell on the stairs. I'd say it was getting on for a year before I could sit for a while without discomfort.

It’s a slow one to heal, unfortunately. I damaged mine both times I gave birth, and it was months of sitting very gingerly or suffering the consequences! Even now, decades on, I have to be careful how I sit down.

sorry it’s not better news, and hope you are feeling more comfortable soon.

My daughter fell and land on hers. It toom 6 weeks for her to recover .

The coccyx can be surgically removed if it's very badly broken/healed the wrong way and conservative treatment doesn't help. I fell hard skiing almost 20 years ago and my tailbone now points the wrong way, sticking out like a little tail. I'm looking into getting it removed as it has recently become very painful again, I can't even lay on my back without discomfort from it poking into the mattress.

Yes, I bruised mine through sitting on an unsuitable chair when I worked from home.

It took just over TWO years to become completely pain-free.

I also thoroughly recommend the coccyx cushion and will never sit in a computer chair without one now.

I bruised mine several years ago. It was pretty uncomfortable for about three weeks then suddenly felt better. I found that ibuprofen and sitting on a donut cushion really helped.

I hurt mine falling off a horse, and it was six months before I could put my socks on without being in agony, and two years before it stopped hurting altogether.

Wonderful and reassuring advice from you all – huge thanks ... yes, I will be seeking a donut/coccyx cushion and am alternating pain relief

Most importantly, it’s really helpful to know there isn’t anything else I can do except wait it out.

Ibuprofen gel a great tip – Ive got some in the cupboard and didn’t even think to use it!!

And I can see I’ll be taking a wee cushion to the cinema for a while.

I fell down the stairs 17 years ago landing on my bum on many stairs too. I had given birth 3 days before! Didn't go for any medical attention and spent a good few weeks doing night feeds standing up cos I couldn't sit comfortably. Still plays me up occasionally now if I'm sat in the car for long periods or sat uncomfortably eg in the cinema