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Original poster

how long for a coccyx injury to heal?

57 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 21/12/2011 11:02

if anyone has ever broken or bruised their coccyx, please can you remember how long it took before you could do normal things again like drive?

i am panicking slightly, as its been around 3 weeks now and i still cannot sit to drive.
i still cant sit properly. i can lean on one hip or the other, or sit leant forward, but i cant sit back.

had a couple of GP appointments, never been suggested that i get an xray or anything.

just wondered from others how long i can expect to be incapacitated.
thanks

OP posts:
Canella · 21/12/2011 15:25

Thats exactly how I felt - I'd have tried anything. Its really limiting when you cant sit. But try to make sure its a registered therapist that treats you - there are some untrained generic therapists out there. If they're properly trained they should be registered with the Health Professions Council.
Hope you get some help.

Canella · 21/12/2011 15:27

That's in relation to physios.

TheSecondComing · 21/12/2011 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

musicposy · 21/12/2011 15:32

I was about 8 weeks, I'm afraid. I think you're expecting too much after only 3 weeks.

I fell ice skating a few years ago and smashed my coccyx into pieces. it was absolute agony for ages. I couldn't sit down or walk properly in any way shape or form for a good month and it was sore and uncomfortable for about another month after that. I sat on a rubber ring and had lots of squidgy cushions, plus industrial strength painkillers.

Hang in there - it will get better even though it feels at this stage as though it will be forever.

shoddyandolder · 21/12/2011 15:37

Thanks to all with the positive recovery stories. Just last night I said to dp I think this is forever!

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 21/12/2011 19:29

yes thanks everyone

just dreading having to explain at work though, my gp said today there would be a 50/50 chance of being pain free enough for my driving course.

ive booked in for a session of ultrasound and massage on Friday. The therapist has also said he would lend me a Tens machine.

OP posts:
hermioneweasley · 21/12/2011 19:35

I hate to be bearer of I'll timings, but I broke mine when I was about 16. Was on anti nflammatories for months. My mum managed to be me seen by a sports injury specialist who was a friend and the problem was nly solved when he reset my coccyx. It was not pleasant experience, but it did the trick

ReshapeWhileDamp · 05/01/2012 17:56

Oh, I do love MN. Smile I just sledged downstairs holding a very heavy DS1 Hmm and have badly bruised my coccyx. Sad About the fifth link I found on google was this thread!

I could kick myself. (well, I could if it didn't hurt so much to do so.) I was trying to extricate DS1 from a friend's bedroom at hometime. He was 'reluctant' so I carried him. Remember thinking as I headed down the v steep (Victorian) stairway that I shouldn't carry a heavy 3 yo on unfamiliar stairs and then my feet went out from under me. I'm in so much pain! I've got my bf cushion arranged under bum like a valley cushion (that you can hire after having an episiotomy). Not helping much. Iboprofen better than paracetomol? And given this thread's experience, is there any point in seeing a HCP?

Original poster
ThatVikRinA22 · 14/01/2012 01:07

oooo i just found your post reshape - i would see a HCP just so you can painkillers - the good stuff!
i was taking ibuprofen, paracetamol AND codeine....

6 weeks later for me and its much much better, though sitting for long periods still hurts - alot. driving still not great hence i never did get to my driving course...but am planning on going back to work in another week.
hurts though doesnt it....
time helps. and painkillers. good painkillers....

OP posts:
CalamityKate · 04/03/2013 16:09

Started a thread earlier about this!

Mines killing me after falling backwards while roller skating.

Totally identify with the "getting up after sitting" thing. Really nasty.

reado93 · 04/12/2014 21:42

I lived in England all my live I felled on stairs this week in agnoy taen the week off to recover from it

Poll4kisses · 30/05/2016 16:58

Hi I'm poll going to rest my tailbone ouch
Will chat later x

Jean62 · 28/01/2017 11:52

Hi I noticed your post was from 2012. Has you coccyx healed? I have suffered with mine for 18 months now and have had it internally manipulated under anaesthetic and had steroid injections into it but it's still there! I can't bear to think that I'll be like this for the rest of my life 😢

edukate · 05/03/2017 20:21

Hi i slipped on some water in my local restaurant a week ago and have been unable to sit for more than a minute since. Painkillers prescribed made me nauseous and i have a 40 minute drive to work 3 days a week - some of my work involves sitting which is agony.

Im wondering if there is anything which can be done to prevent later complications, dont want to just wait for it to heal when i could be taking action to prevent things in the future!

allegretto · 05/03/2017 20:24

Jean - I fractured my coccyx giving birth and was convinced it would never get better. It did but it took about 3 years.

RandomMess · 05/03/2017 20:29

educate - you can ring around some osteopaths and see if any of them are experienced in manipulating it.

There are 2 ways - internally & externally - just so you are aware!!! Fortunately external manipulation was enough to vastly improve things for me, I agree though about 3 years until it was pretty much better. Still can't bear it having any pressure applied at the very end though.

HellonHeels · 05/03/2017 20:38

Agree with Random My DP is an osteopath and says they can treat but also warned it might need an invasive appoach (my friend had similar injury after rollerblade fall). Huge sympathy to all sufferers.

edukate · 05/03/2017 20:52

Thanks RM and HH - i think i will contact an osteopath tomorrow, i have a 4 hour flight to marakesh in a couple of weeks and just dont know if i can bear sitting for that long. I dont really want to take more time off work but was in so much pain last thurs just had to leave, and then was struggling on the drive home! I work in a school but im aware i really have to think long term - god only knows if its broken/dislocated or just bruised - theres no bruising on the outside but if i can enable it to heal normally and quickly then thats the way i will go!

RandomMess · 05/03/2017 20:57

I whacked mine so hard osteopath was sure I broke it and I managed to give myself whiplash as well!!!

How I ever drove home after the incident I'll never know....

Hope it helps Flowers

flutterby77 · 06/03/2017 02:07

I broke mine in childbirth too. I'm 5 years on and sometimes still get a little pain.

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 06/03/2017 22:17

Jeepers! I was so lucky!

I got thrown off a horse in july. I landed on my back but fairly flat. I went to A&E because I was worried about my back higher up. They xrayed it - my higher back was fine but I had fractured and displaced my coccyx ( it now points to the right apparently...)

I was in pain for 5 days and discomfort for another 10, then I was fine. It didn't actually hurt sitting down oddly enough - I think because I landed fairly flat.

If I'd landed in a sitting position it could have hurt much more. Ive heard about people bumping down the stairs in a sitting position and being in agony for months!

I was back riding at six weeks after - I have been so lucky that I feel a bit embarrassed Blush.

I do wonder though if my coccyx still points to the right? Do you think that ligaments and stuff pull it back into place eventually? Or will I have a wonky arse forever?

edukate · 06/03/2017 23:29

I was convinced it was getting a bit better then I tried to stand up after sitting for ten mins, BIG mistake!! Osteopath is an hours drive away but he said not to drive til it's easier to sit. Feel like an old woman. I was told they wouldn't X-ray my coccyx as too hard to visualise- god I hope mines not wonky Apocalyptic, will I be mincing around like jack sparrow forever more!!!

Apocalyptichorsewoman · 07/03/2017 05:35

Oh God - I really feel for you! That amount of ongoing pain is terrible. I got an X-ray cos of nature of fall and I was actually getting more pain slightly higher up in my lower back.

I had the walk of the drunken sailor - it felt like someone had nailed a block of wood between the top of my buttocks and I had to do a funny legged walk to walk around it.

When I got home I looked up how they move displaced coccyx back into place and I fainted Blush

I hope you feel better soon and can take some reasonable pain relief. Flowers

murphys · 07/03/2017 06:05

I am not going to lie to you. I fell ice skating more than a year ago and landed on my coccyx. It was bruised for a few weeks, but the area stayed swollen for months. I don't know if it is that or the fact that I lost weight since, but it sticks out something terrible now. I battle with it some days if I am sitting on a hard surface, and if on a long car journey I have to readjust myself quite often. I also cannot lie in the bath like I used to as it rubs on the bottom of the bath.

I wasn't offered the ultra sound. I wonder if its too late now...

edukate · 07/03/2017 08:05

Judging by the number of you poor ladies who are still suffering ages after the fall methinks I'm going to have to go through the eye-watering 'invasive' process of, erm..... re-positioning, sooner rather than later! I feel a claim coming on if only to compensate me for the loss of dignity during the above!!!