Broken coccyx (sp?)

[Boerseun]

So - I broke my coccyx the other day. Long story, but suffice it to say I was crying like a little baby for the best part of an hour. It hurts, dammit!

My friend is telling me a horror story of his mother who broke hers when she was in her late twenties, and it's still giving her hassles to this day. She's mid sixties now. She needs a special little cushion to sit on, etc. Apparently it never comes 100% right again!

So - to cut a long story short, is there any hope for a broken ass-bone? Give me good news here, the thing is driving me insane!

[Chacmool]

Come on, I think we'd all like to hear the long story of how you managed to break your coccyx.

Anyway, I'd suggest the obvious: avoid sitting for long periods of time, invest in one of those doughnut-shaped cushions, take some anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. ibuprofen) and get steroid injections.

If the pain persists, please go to the doctor (yes, I know you don't like to, but just do it!). He might even refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon. I'm afraid surgery will probably be your best option if the severe pain persists.

[hallenrm]

When the pain is very difficult to bear, try Rescue Remedy, you may find it in a Homeopathis store.

Believe me it works!!

[Jay-qu]

see a chiropractor, also there is probably some exercises you could do to strengthen the muscles around the bones so they get extra support

[ronthepon]

It would be best to say if we know when you broke your coccyx.

Just to let you know, I have been in contact with some people who have gotten through it and lived a happy life ever since.

[InfiniteNow]

Don't be overly macho, and do what it takes to let it heal.

I broke my toe throwing a roundhouse at someone's jaw, and I was too "macho" to tape it to my big toe. Now, my foot will never be right again, and I always have to "pop" the toe back into place.

See a good doctor, ask them for ways to maximize proper healing, and do it.


Hope your broke butt mountain shifts back into place very soon bro.

Cheers.

[Turtle]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

So - I broke my coccyx the other day. Long story, but suffice it to say I was crying like a little baby for the best part of an hour. It hurts, dammit!
...So - to cut a long story short, is there any hope for a broken ass-bone? Give me good news here, the thing is driving me insane!

You seem a tough individual accustomed to injury & pain from your knifemaking, road-tripping, & other daring pursuits, and now you have another opportunity to employ mind over matter in putting it out of your mind. That is the good news.
The indifferent news is that after 20 or 30 years it's likely some new accute pain will take the fore.

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by Boerseun

So - to cut a long story short, is there any hope for a broken ass-bone? Give me good news here, the thing is driving me insane!

I don’t have any personal or clinical experience with your injury, so can only offer an observation about sitting comfort based on my own experience.

For a couple of decades, I was a pretty serious sprinter and middle distance (400-1000 meter) runner. As you may have noticed, people who do this tend to develop enormous asses (gluteus maximus muscles).

When I wound up as a full-time programmer, sitting on my enormous ass for extended periods, I noticed that I seemed to have much less discomfort from it than my skinnier-assed colleagues.

As the years went by and my ass assumed more ordinary proportions and consistency, I started experiencing the usual collection of lower spine, pelvic, and leg pains. A month or 2 of speed training, and they seemed to lessen.

Though I’ve not studied it with scientific rigor, it’s clear to me that big, strong ass muscles help protect one’s bony posterior parts from the abuse modern life gives them. As the healing of your cracked coccyx bones will largely be a matter of chance and involuntary physiology, exercise to build up you glutes and surrounding muscles and tendons might be of long term help – not to mention providing a bit of vital top-end running speed for moments when you need to avoid getting kicked in them.

[C1ay]

See if any of you local office furniture stores have a kneeling chair and try it out. I had one for years and found it very comfortable.

[Boerseun]

Thanks for the input!

Seems allright when I sit in any one position. It's the moment I move to a different position when it hurts like hell. No gradual build-up of pain, just one moment nothing, the next moment there's a red-hot poker up my ass.

Funny enough, I didn't think lying down would hurt - but lying flat on my back without a pillow (my favourite sleeping position) seems to be off-limits now! Now I've gotta sleep on my side!

I think I should go and see some sort of quack.

Ouch.

Okay, Chacmool - since you've asked, I tripped over a cat. True's Bob. And there was a plank about 3/4 inch wide standing on its side which broke my fall - slap bang between the butt cheecks. Nett result: One airborne cat, and one broken coccyx. And that happened in Cape Town of all places, last Tuesday.

Bummer.