Causes | Coccyx contusion

Causes

A contusion generally occurs when soft tissue (for example, subcutaneous fat tissue or muscles) is pressed directly against harder tissue structures (for example, bone or cartilage tissue) and compressed there. In addition, a contusion can be caused by displacements of different types of tissue against each other.Almost every contusion leads to the destruction of the smallest blood and/or lymph vessels. Blood and lymph fluid can then escape from the damaged vessels and seep into the intercellular spaces.

This phenomenon is the basis for the bruising that typically occurs in a contusion (technical term: haematoma). Depending on the extent of the forces acting on the body, superficial skin contusions, deeper-seated muscle contusions or bone contusions can occur. In the case of coccyx bruising, the affected patients have a bony contusion.

In most cases, the coccyx bruise is caused by a direct and violent force acting on the bony coccyx. Elderly people, in particular, suffer such damage to the coccyx by falling on their buttocks. In addition, powerful kicks against the buttocks are considered to be the most common cause of a coccyx contusion.

A further mechanism for the development of a coccyx contusion is the birth process. While the child’s head moves forward in the birth canal, enormous forces act on the surrounding structures. Although the bony pelvis is quite flexible and can expand during the birth process, the coccyx often cannot withstand these enormous forces.

For this reason, a coccyx contusion can occur during the birth process. Furthermore, even small forces that act on the bone over a longer period of time can lead to a coccyx contusion. A classic example of this is riding a bicycle.

Therapy

The therapy of the coccyx contusion can be done in different ways. The choice of the most appropriate treatment depends primarily on the extent of the injury and the degree of impairment of the individual patient. The basic principle of coccyx contusion therapy is based on alleviating the symptoms.

For this reason, the main aim is to combat the pain caused by the coccyx contusion. In this context, analgesics containing the active ingredients ibuprofen or paracetamol are particularly suitable. If the pain is very severe, stronger painkillers such as Novalgin can also be prescribed.

In addition, the treatment of coccyx contusion can be carried out with various local anaesthetics. These local anaesthetics can be injected into the affected area of the body. In this way, the pain caused by the coccyx bruise can be relieved directly on the coccyx and the surrounding tissue.

In addition, the local injection of drugs from the glucocorticoid group can help to inhibit inflammatory processes in the immediate vicinity of the coccyx. Other methods in the treatment of coccyx contusions are manual therapy and physiotherapy. Both treatment methods serve to mobilize or manipulate the coccyx and can usually be used by any osteopath or chiropractor.

A classic example of manual therapy or physiotherapy for coccyx contusion is acupuncture. In this procedure, specific acupuncture points that are said to have an influence on the coccyx are stimulated with thin needles. Acupuncture is used in the therapy of coccyx contusion, primarily for symptomatic treatment.

In particular, the severe pain that occurs when a coccyx bruise is present can be effectively relieved in this way. In addition, locally applied heat or cold cushions can have a soothing effect on the pain felt by the affected patients. In this context, the use of mud packs and/or hip baths play a decisive role.

Despite these treatment measures, the pain caused by the coccyx bruise can hardly be controlled, especially during sitting. For this reason, an attempt should be made not to apply too much force to the bony coccyx when sitting. A soft seat cushion, a soft seat ring open at the back or a special seat wedge can help to provide relief to the affected patient while sitting. In addition, the protection of the coccyx region ensures that the coccyx bruise heals much faster.