How to recognize a crack in the tailbone and what NOT to do

A crack in the tailbone can appear for a number of reasons, even during quiet walks in the fresh air, especially in winter. It is an awkward movement and even a relatively light fall on the heel can lead to injury to the tailbone and nearby soft tissues.

Based on statistical data, coccyx injuries are often suffered by women, children and the elderly. Children often fall, women have a unique anatomical structure of the pelvis, and in old people the density of bone tissue decreases, due to which even mild bruises can lead to serious injuries.

Anatomy

Anatomical structure of the coccyx
The coccyx is the lower part of the spinal column. It consists of fused vertebrae in the amount of three to five pieces. Because of the club-like shape of the bone joints, it was given this name. The base of the coccyx faces upward, and its upper part is directed forward and downward. On the side is the first, largest vertebra of the coccyx. It has several transverse spinous processes. From above, on both sides, the coccygeal horns extend from it, connecting to the sacral region. They, together with other vertebrae, form the sacrococcygeal joint.

The mobility of this area is mostly expressed in women. During labor, the lower spine bends backward, thereby widening the birth canal. In medicine, it is believed that the coccyx is a rudiment that has lost its main purpose in the evolutionary process. Therefore, it is also called a vestigial tail. But, despite this, the coccygeal area has important functional significance. Muscular and ligamentous apparatuses are attached to it, which take part in the work of remote areas of the large intestine, as well as some organs of the human genitourinary system. Also attached to the rudimentary tail section are bundles of muscle tissue belonging to the gluteus maximus muscle, which serves to extend the femoral section of the lower extremities. In addition, it is involved in distributing the load on the pelvic floor and is the most important support point when bending backwards, at this moment the main load is transferred precisely to the lower spinal region.

Its anatomical features make the coccyx one of the most injury-prone areas of the spinal column, especially in the cold season. Most often, when falling on the tailbone, punctures, fractures and bruises occur, accompanied by cracks in its vertebrae. Dislocations often occur; most often such injuries occur in young children.

Kinds

Coccyx crack
Bruise of the buttocks, often leads to injuries to the coccygeal area. All damage to this location is presented:

• Stretching of the ligamentous apparatus.
• Rupture of the coccygeal ligamentous apparatus.
• Bruises.
• Dislocations.
• Subluxations.
• Fractures of the lower spine.
• And a combination of all the above damages.

One of the most unpleasant injuries is a crack in the rudimentary tail process. It is quite difficult to identify it on your own, so you need to go to a specialist, since only he will be able to determine the cause of algia and the patient’s symptoms by conducting a full diagnostic examination.

What can trigger an injury? What symptoms does it present? What diagnostics can help a specialist make a diagnosis? The answers to these questions are very important not only for making a diagnosis, but also for further treatment and rehabilitation.

ethnoscience

Fans of alternative treatment methods recommend that patients with a cracked tailbone lubricate the skin located above the tailbone area with iodine 2-3 times a week in the evening. After this, the sacral area should be wrapped up and go to bed. After 1.5-2 months of such procedures, the pain goes away.

Lotions on the tailbone made from Vishnevsky's ointment have proven themselves to be effective. She needs to generously lubricate the sponge or rag, apply it to the problem area and cover it with cellophane on top. It will take 3-5 days to reduce swelling and eliminate discomfort.

To get rid of pain after bruises, it is recommended to use a tincture prepared from the following mixture:

• 300 ml medical alcohol,
• 10 Analgin tablets, crushed to powder,
• 10 ml camphor alcohol,
• 10 ml iodine.

The tincture is prepared for 3 weeks in a dark place. After a few days of rubbing it into the problem area, the pain goes away.

If, according to the advice of traditional healers, you use resin ointment, the crack will heal faster. To prepare the remedy you need to take:

• 20 g resin,
• medium-sized onion, pre-chopped in a meat grinder,
• 50 g olive oil,
• 15 g of copper sulfate.

These components must be mixed and heated in a saucepan over low heat. Warm ointment is applied to the tailbone area. It may cause a slight burning sensation.

Peculiarities

If discomfort and pain in the tailbone appear as a result of ailments affecting the internal organs, then in this case the therapy will be specific and different from the treatment of a crack in this area of ​​the spine. Often, anal fissure due to hemorrhoids can manifest as pain in the rudimentary caudal region. As a result, after the disease is cured, the pain will completely disappear.

Pain in the tailbone can also be the result of an injury that causes cracks in this area. Such injuries can be caused by intense cycling, long walking, or a blow or fall on the buttocks. As a result, the injury may not necessarily end in a crack.

Traumatologists often diagnose displacement, fractures, bruises and dislocations; sometimes there are serious injuries that combine all of the above diagnoses together. Pain during injury does not always appear immediately; it can appear later, spreading both along the spine and being concentrated in the area of ​​its tail. In medicine, all ailments that are associated with damage to the lower spine are called coccygodonia.

Prevention

To minimize the likelihood of bruising or cracking bones, it is recommended:

• exclude canned and fatty foods from the daily menu;
• regularly perform physical exercises to strengthen the muscles of the pelvis, back, legs;
• take medications that contain vitamin D;
• exercise caution when riding a bicycle or horseback;
• refrain from engaging in hazardous sports.

If discomfort occurs in the tailbone area, you should immediately consult a doctor. In patients diagnosed with osteoporosis, fractures or cracks of the coccyx may occur with minimal impact on this area: without a strong blow.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a crack in the coccyx are so pronounced that it cannot be ignored. It is presented:

• Severe pain. in the lower spine, in the coccyx and sacrum.
• Swelling and hematoma.
• Pain when walking and its intensification when sitting, bending forward, standing up, defecation and tension of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Deterioration in general health.

I would like to note that similar symptoms can be observed with other injuries to the lower spine, so you will not be able to understand how severe the injury you received; you need to consult a specialist.

It is very important that the injury is diagnosed correctly, since the symptoms of a fracture are similar to a dislocation and a bruise. Only if the traumatologist makes a diagnosis in time can the patient hope for the absence of complications. At the first symptoms that appear after injury, you must visit a doctor and undergo a full examination, after which the correct therapy will be selected.

Consequences and complications

If you feel pain in the coccygeal area, you should consult a traumatologist. Even minor cracks without compliance and treatment can become fractures. The condition may worsen with physical activity, sitting, or pushing on the toilet.

Fissures are the cause of coccydynia and severe pain in the anorectal area. Pain occurs when the inflammatory process activates in the place where the coccygeal bone is cracked. With the development of coccydynia, blood vessels spasm, sweating increases, and the skin turns pale. The patient's nervousness increases and a depressive state develops.

Among the complications of coccygeal fissure are the following:

• osteomyelitis is an infectious bone lesion; antibiotic therapy is prescribed for its treatment; this complication can even lead to disability,
• numbness, paresis, paralysis of the legs,
• development of spastic or functional constipation due to disruption of the large intestine,
• the appearance of problems with the functioning of the bladder sphincter,
• poor posture due to load redistribution,
• prolapse of internal organs as a result of weakening of the pelvic floor muscles.

Any injuries to the tailbone can cause delayed consequences. If treatment is refused and the need for rehabilitation is ignored, patients may suffer from pain for the rest of their lives. The most common cause of their appearance is subluxation of the appendix, which occurs due to weakened muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the pelvic area.

Diagnostics

X-ray image of a crack in the coccyx
Only if the problem is correctly diagnosed, the necessary therapy can be selected to treat the damage. A patient who contacts a traumatologist with complaints of algia in the rudimentary caudal spine undergoes the following diagnosis:

• The patient is examined and the site of injury is palpated.
• A rectal examination is then performed to determine the severity of the injury.
• It is also mandatory to undergo radiography in three projections.

To obtain the necessary data, the doctor examines the x-ray, and if there is not enough information to make a diagnosis, the patient is prescribed additional diagnostic methods presented:

• MRI.
• Sphincterometry.
• Ballonography.

As a result of a complete diagnosis, taking into account the symptoms of the disease, the doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment procedures.

Treatment

Treatment of a patient with a crack in the lower spine should begin with first aid. The victim should be laid on his stomach or side so that he does not come into contact with the surface with the damaged tailbone. A cold compress should be applied to the injury site, painkillers should be given and taken to the hospital.

At the medical institution, the patient is prescribed complete bed rest. He needs to lie either on his stomach or on his back all the time, remembering to roll over, in order to avoid the formation of bedsores. If the patient wants to lie on his back, a special soft circle should be placed under the tailbone.

To facilitate bowel movements, a laxative is prescribed or enemas are given to avoid the crack turning into a fracture. After using these drugs, the load on the pelvic floor muscles becomes less, which means that the crack will heal faster. To recover faster, the victim needs to include calcium-rich foods in his diet. Also, vegetables, fruits, herbs and nuts are not placed in it. Traumatologists also advise eating foods rich in silicon, which, in turn, help absorb calcium. Radishes, broccoli and currants are rich in silicon.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory ointments are prescribed as medications for the first time. It is also necessary to take into account that if there is damage to the epidermis in the coccygeal region, then the ointment cannot be used. Painkillers prescribed for this type of injury are ketorolac, diclofenac, meloxicam and ketoprofen. If they do not have the desired effect, novocaine blockades of the damaged area can be used.

With properly selected therapy, all symptoms characteristic of the disease will disappear within two months. If the patient seeks help later, the consequences of the injury can be very sad.

How to treat

If symptoms of a coccyx crack occur, patients should remain in bed. The duration of such restrictions is at least 10 days.

Patients are recommended to use anti-inflammatory drugs with an analgesic effect. If severe pain occurs, Tramadol is prescribed.

Medicines

When the first signs of a coccyx crack occur, the following anti-inflammatory drugs with an anesthetic effect are used:

• "Ketoprofen";
• "Meloxicam";
• "Diclofenac".

To eliminate the main symptoms of illness, novocaine blockades can be performed. Such procedures are performed at intervals of 1 time every 3 days. To facilitate the process of bowel movement, drugs with a mild laxative effect can be used. In some cases, it is worth resorting to the use of enemas. This helps reduce the load on the sphincter and muscles located in the pelvic floor (which prevents further divergence of the fissure).

Ointments

Local anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to reduce swelling and pain. This category of drugs includes:

• Diclofenac ointment;
• "Fastum gel".

Is surgery necessary?

In the majority of patients with a violation of the integrity of the coccygeal part, there is no need for surgical intervention. Such patients are treated with conservative methods. Provided you seek medical help in a timely manner, the affected tissues recover on their own. Surgical intervention may be required only in the case of a fracture in which the segments of the coccygeal bone begin to heal incorrectly.

Nutrition

If a coccyx crack occurs after a fall, you should adhere to a strict diet. Proper nutrition stimulates more active restoration processes in bone tissue.

According to traumatologists, it is recommended to add to the patient’s menu:

• foods that contain large amounts of calcium. These include cottage cheese, butter, kefir, cheese;
• vegetables and fruits rich in silicon (broccoli, cauliflower, beans, peas, persimmons);
• nuts;
• a sufficient amount of freshwater and sea fish;
• greenery;
• bran bread made from wholemeal flour.

If a patient has been diagnosed with a crack in the coccyx, his diet should contain the maximum amount of minerals, vitamins, and micronutrients. It is recommended to drink enough liquid. This reduces the likelihood of constipation and normalizes intestinal functions.

ethnoscience

Before using folk remedies for a tailbone injury, you should consult a doctor. Many patients note that lotions based on Vishnevsky ointment help relieve pain. If your tailbone is cracked, you need to generously soak a small piece of bandage with this medicine. The lotions are applied to the sore spot. Then the problem area of ​​the body is covered with cellophane from above. To reduce swelling and relieve discomfort, such lotions should be done for at least 5 days. As part of the complex treatment of coccyx injury, you can also use an alcohol tincture, which contains the following components:

• 10 Analgin tablets, which are pre-ground to a powder;
• 0.3 l of medical alcohol;
• iodine (10 ml);
• 1 tablespoon of camphor alcohol.

All the above ingredients are combined, the product is infused in a dark place for three weeks. The duration of treatment for a tailbone injury with this drug is 4-5 days. A small amount of alcohol tincture is rubbed into the problem area twice a day. For a fall victim, you can prepare a resin-based ointment. To do this you will need the following components:

• 2 tablespoons resin;
• 1 small onion, pre-chopped using a meat grinder;
• 50 ml linseed oil;
• 10 grams of copper sulfate.

All components of the ointment are thoroughly mixed in a separate container. After this, the pan with the product is heated over low heat. A small amount of warm ointment should be applied to the sore spot. In some cases, when using the product, a slight burning sensation occurs. Comfrey is also used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. The medicinal plant activates the process of bone tissue restoration. If you have an injury to the coccygeal area, you should use this simple recipe:

1. 1 cup of comfrey leaves is combined with sunflower oil in a 1:1 ratio.
2. The product is brought to a boil over low heat.
3. After 30 minutes, remove the dishes from the gas stove.
4. The resulting mass is cooled and filtered.
5. Add ¼ cup beeswax to hot oil.
6. The resulting mass must be thoroughly stirred until completely dissolved.

The cooled ointment is applied to the injured area twice a day for 30 minutes. At the same time, a bandage is applied on top. Excess product is removed with a cotton swab after completion of the procedure. Fir oil is also endowed with pronounced analgesic properties. This product contains quite a lot of phytoncides that reduce the local inflammatory process. If there is an injury to the lower spine, 2 drops of fir oil are diluted with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. The resulting mixture is applied to the affected area twice a day. It is worth taking note of the recipe below:

1. 250 ml of freshly squeezed black radish juice is combined with 0.2 liters of buckwheat honey of liquid consistency.
2. Add 0.1 l of medical alcohol.
3. The resulting mixture is whipped until smooth. It is rubbed into the injured area three times a day.

There are also drugs with analgesic properties intended for oral administration. When preparing arnica infusion at home, 10 grams of medicinal herb flowers are poured into 0.25 liters of boiling water. The product is kept in a water bath for 15 minutes, cooled, and filtered through a sieve. It is recommended to take 10 ml of medicinal infusion twice a day.

Rehabilitation

After the main symptoms of the disease are eliminated, the therapeutic methods do not end, but simply change from therapeutic to rehabilitation. They are presented:

• Hirudotherapy.
• Massage treatments.
• Therapeutic exercises.
• Physiotherapy.

If you consult a doctor in time and receive appropriate treatment, you will be able to get rid of the unpleasant consequences, but if you contact a doctor untimely, you will not be able to avoid complications.

Forecast

The coccyx is part of the spinal column, so the appearance of cracks in it that were not treated in time will certainly lead to serious consequences. The most common complication of this injury is post-traumatic genesis, which, even with minor loads on the spine, causes severe pain, leading to depression and anxiety.

The peculiarity of such consequences is that they can appear when a person has already forgotten about the injury and will not associate pain and other discomfort with it. Osteomyelitis of the damaged area of ​​the spine can be a complication of the disease, which in most cases leads to disability.

To avoid consequences, you should not delay treatment and if pain appears in the sacrococcygeal region after an injury, you should immediately contact a specialist.
Thus, you can not only get back on your feet faster, but also avoid dangerous complications. Share:

What are the causes of a coccyx fracture?

• Falling on the buttocks, especially from a height (skating).
• A direct strong blow to the tailbone area during an accident.
• The passage of a large fetus through the birth canal during childbirth.
• Predisposing factors Frequent shaking in transport or on any hard seats (bicycle).
• Lack of calcium and bone fragility.
• Incompetent muscular system.
• Sports activities.

Attention! Be careful when using all kinds of ice cubes, cheesecakes, etc. Never use a plastic ice skate with a smooth surface for skating down an icy mountain. As for cheesecakes, it has long been known that they are also very traumatic, and especially many cases of contact with medical institutions are associated with them.