Tailbone (coccyx) injury

[Gideon van der Berg]

Can anyone with personal experiece in this help me with some advice.

 

I sustained a coccyx injury and has been resting for 4 months now but still not recovered to get back on my bike. As i understand it is the cushion between the little bones.

 

I have the option to let it be removed by surgeon. What is the recovery proses for something like this? Any advice will be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Gideon

[Pulse]

Hi Gideon

I subluxed my coccyx end of last year. I started cycling a bit from April, and as long as I don't sit up it is acceptable. Runnibg causes no issues. I still have a significant amount if pain every day when I sit/drive, and can no longer sleep on mu back.

 

To be honest, I didn't really think much of it when it originally happended; and can't believe how much of an issue its become. I don't feel like it will ever heal up properly

 

Sorry, I don't have more positive feedback, but would like to follow whatever option you take from here

[Guest]

Have you seen a chiropractor?

[Vetseun]

Can anyone with personal experiece in this help me with some advice.

I sustained a coccyx injury and has been resting for 4 months now but still not recovered to get back on my bike. As i understand it is the cushion between the little bones.

I have the option to let it be removed by surgeon. What is the recovery proses for something like this? Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks

Gideon

No experience but.... strongs Bud

[Spoke101]

damaged mine a few years ago and ended up changing my bike setup so that when seated my hips were rotated forwards more, almost like a TT position. This took the pressure off my coccyx and I could ride, full recovery was about a year.

[Sitting slip]

not really much you can do to a bone down there as it might  have hair line fractures. best is to get all fluid in the cushioning removed to get rid of the inflammation, a little scrub off if you like. 

[Gideon van der Berg]

Thanks for the reply. I will keep you in the loop with my way forward. Very frustrated but just need to keep positive

[Gideon van der Berg]

No have not seen a chiropractor...do you think i must consider? What do you think of a surgeon removing it?

[Gideon van der Berg]

Thanks will check my bike setup...must say i have pain even when running. At the moment i cant do much without any pain.

[TrekGirl]

Hi Gideon

 

I sustained a coccyx injury in 2006. I then had about 3 cortisone injections in my coccyx after which my surgeon told me if the 3rd one didn't work, I would need to consider removal. No matter how I adjusted my setup there was ALWAYS pain and with spending more and more time on my bike it would just get worse. After unbearable pain in the saddle every single time I would ride, I decided I couldn't bear it anymore and took the bold decision of having my coccyx removed in November 2015. My surgeon told me that I would roughly be out of action for 6 months.

 

I'm not going to lie, I was a bit skeptical as I have heard a few horror stories. But one thing I can say, despite the pain after the operation (which lasted about 2 weeks), It's the best decision I have ever made. I also didn't get an infection as this surgery is apparently high risk for infection as you can understand why. But if you take the necessary hygiene precautions I believe you'll be fine. If I had the guts sooner I would have had it removed instead of waiting so long. I was able and blessed to already do the Cape Town Cycle Tour that very next year (just over 3 months later) without experiencing any pain whatsoever.

 

However, we are all different and therefore react differently to surgery. It is a personal choice you have to make but from my experience, I haven't looked back ever since and don't regret making the decision to remove my coccyx.

 

I hope it helps...good luck!

[Gideon van der Berg]

Hi Jackson

 

Thanks for the reply. I am giving it another 2 months and is not better i am going your way. It is very frustrated. I heard it is very important to get the a surgeon with some experience in this...

 

Thanks again

Gideon

[V12man]

Hi Jackson

 

Thanks for the reply. I am giving it another 2 months and is not better i am going your way. It is very frustrated. I heard it is very important to get the a surgeon with some experience in this...

 

Thanks again

Gideon

I am not going to add much to what has already been said - BUT - you can consider having a pain specialist see if they can give you some relief with a long term anesthetic - have a chat to your GP about if he knows one local to you - they are generally Anesthetists - pretty sure they could give you some relief for long enough to see if it will recover (which is a long process normally).

 

If you can't find one locally then drop me a pm and I will ask around for you.

[Letum911]

I shattered mine during primary school (backflip gone wrong!!), the ex ray's were something to behold, splinters everywhere!! I don't recall much regarding the reason we didn't go the surgical route. But I spent about 3 months without spending much time sitting and would rather stand or lie on my stomach, the next few months a donut cushion was my best friend. It took me about a year to recover and about 2-3 years for the injury to completely heal up. I did however see the physio on a weekly basis to aid in the recovery. Speed up 14 years to today and I have no negative effects, no pain or discomfort regardless of the activity.

[Jewbacca]

I shattered mine during primary school (backflip gone wrong!!), the ex ray's were something to behold, splinters everywhere!! I don't recall much regarding the reason we didn't go the surgical route. But I spent about 3 months without spending much time sitting and would rather stand or lie on my stomach, the next few months a donut cushion was my best friend. It took me about a year to recover and about 2-3 years for the injury to completely heal up. I did however see the physio on a weekly basis to aid in the recovery. Speed up 14 years to today and I have no negative effects, no pain or discomfort regardless of the activity.

Primary school 14 years ago?....... you youngsters still heal fast!

[Letum911]

Primary school 14 years ago?....... you youngsters still heal fast!

Haha yah, we still bounce and don't just splat and spread. This happened in std 5 (aged 13), turned 27 this year... So the "splatting" age is on its way unfortunately...