A bruised tailbone is no laughing matter. While many comedy shows depict people in prat-falls and falling on their bottoms, the injury from a fall can leave a person bruised and in pain, called coccydynia. Tailbones are injured in other, less common ways too, including during childbirth. There are ways to get relief from a bruised tailbone injury.
Rest and Ice
The ISK Institute for Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine notes that rest, ice, compression and elevation, or RICE, is the usual treatment for injuries like sprains and bruises. It's hard to elevate and compress the tailbone area, but rest and ice are essential, especially the first 24 to 48 hours after injury. The individual should rest the part of the body that is hurt, especially while the pain is still present. Ice should be used for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, four to eight times a day.
Warmth
Warm compresses give relief once the swelling is completely gone. A warm washcloth on the injured area should be used only after swelling has stopped, usually beyond the second day. This helps reabsorb the blood back into the body.
Do Not Massage
A bruised tailbone area should not be massaged. As tempting as a massage may feel, the rubbing is counterproductive to initial healing. Massaging a bruised area aggravates the injury.
Sitting
Sitting on a pillow ring, also called an inflatable donut, may help. The individual should alternate between sitting and standing as needed for comfort. The Cleveland Clinic notes that specialists called biomedical engineers measure and build customized cushions for personalized seating that promotes healing in the tailbone injury area.
Pain Relief
Advice from a medical practitioner who understands the individual needs of a particular injury should be sought. Some doctors recommend over-the-counter non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, to help with swelling and pain for injury to the coccyx area, but each case needs to be evaluated individually.
