Fractured coccyx

kateleary

 Has anyone literally broken his/her butt? I slipped on some icy snow and fell right on my tailbone. Ouch! Remarkably, riding my bike on the trainer in aero is more comfortable than sitting on the couch or lying on the bed, since the tailbone doesn't contact the bike seat. Doc said to continue doing whatever I can do comfortably, so I am continuing to train. Question is: How long before it feels 100%? I've been told anywhere from weeks to years. 

KatLA

I'm so sorry to hear that. Sounds very painful and I don't have any advice but just wanted to express my sympathy. I've definitely injured mine before but have never broken. Good luck!

mtlarson

Hi Kate,

Sorry to hear about your fall. I did fracture my tailbone when I was a competitive figure skater in high school (25 years ago). I remember carrying around a pillow to sit on for at least a week. I also remember taking Tylenol (Motrin was only available by rx back then). I recall it took several weeks before I could sit without pain.

Follow the Docs advise and do what you can do.

Feel better soon.
Mary

Brenda Ross

Never fractured, but bruised a number of times from tobaganning. Took weeks to feel better, hence the reason I do not tobaggan anymore.

rmiller

RE: Motrin/Tylenol - definitely ask your doctor about whether it is a good idea to take NSAID's, and if so, if there are specifics. Reason I say that is because I've read recently from multiple places that NSAID's actually interfere with bone deposition during fracture healing.

http://www.arthritis.org/research/funded-research/research-update/research-update-mj2007/nsaids-fracture-healing/

However, this cite indicates that the animal studies (used in the study above) don't apply to humans:
http://www.jfponline.com/Pages.asp?AID=9246

This supports the cite above:
http://orthopedics.about.com/b/2012/05/22/nsaid-medications-safe-for-healing-fractures.htm

So, maybe on second thought - it is not as alarming as I was led to believe ~6 months ago. Still, couldn't hurt to ask. Perhaps someone in the medical industry who knows about this stuff will stumble in here and give us more information.

[Deleted User]

I slipped some ice in 2007/8 and had this injury, and I went to PT for a while (that was the most bizarre PT ever) and it helped. Five years later and I still feel it, though not as bad as it was. It really only bothers me sitting for long periods of time. The advice above helps, though it just seems that the more time passes, the better it gets. I used an inflatable donut instead of a pillow.