Bruised coccyx bone after bad fall - question

by Sarah Jane
(England)

Hi, your article is very informative, thanks for sharing!
I had a bad fall on the edge of tiled stairs and bruised my coxxyc bone. At first my G.P. was convinced I had fractured it however after the results came back from an x-ray it appears there is no fracture. This happened 5 weeks ago now and I am still in a lot of discomfort and still on medication etc.

But worst of all, since I fell I have an almighty constant urge to urinate. It started off mild but now (it's 2.30am) it has got so bad it keeps me awake at night with a feeling of pressure in my lower tummy. There is no burning sensation when i do pee and although my body is telling me I need to pee when I get up to go, either a tiny drop comes or nothing at all but the pressure (almost tickley) sensation is still here?! Please can you shed some light on whether you've heard of this before associated with a bad fall causing a badly bruised coccyx bone?

I'm only 28 and have never ever suffered with anything like this extremely annoying condition. Iv one child and even at my full term of pregnancy I never had this pressure sensation or urge to urinate so strongly.

It's so bad tonight that if my G.P. was open I'd get in my car and drive to the surgery now!! I feel like screaming it's that irritating!
Can't see any other reason or cause for this condition, other than the fall I had and the trauma it's caused.

Please help, appreciate any advice.

Hello Sarah Jane
Firstly, a question, then two suggestions.

When you do pee, do you have a normal stream? Can you empty your bladder? Or is it ALWAYS a trickle? If not the nerve supply to the sphincter that enables the bladder to open has been damaged. Then you will get an infection, if you can't void the bladder. Start the Kegel exercises at this site.

I recommend you go off all the meds, and hope this is just a side-effect of the painkillers. Instead use ice (see our newsletter #24), it's more effective anyway.

Immediately get one of those rings, or make one for yourself, or a kid's swimtube. You must get the pressure off the coccyx for at least a month, perhaps three.

Can you get a copy of the X-ray? Take a picture with your digi camera and attach it to this page. If it's been displaced forwards, it needs to be repositioned.

I would see a chiropractor to evaluate your pelvis. You probably upset the sacroiliac joint at the same time. A fall on the sacrum/coccyx does that, and that hopefully is the cause of your nerve troubles.

If you can't void your bladder, you should see a urologist.

I hope this has contributed.

Dr B



Go off all the medication, it's just possible that it's