The luxation of the coccyx (Os coccygeum) is a rare displacement of the ossified lowest vertebrae in the direction of the sacrum. There are many causes of this painful event, but it is often caused by falls. Coccyx dislocation can be treated well without surgery.
What is a coccyx dislocation?
The coccyx consists of three to five fused vertebrae at the end of the spine. It is connected to the sacrum by the sacrococcygeal joint. A dislocation of this connection is found in dislocation. The coccyx dislocation has to be distinguished from the coccyx fracture and the coccyx bruise. For comprehensive guide to cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, please visit growtheology.com.
In a bruise, vertebrae are neither broken nor displaced. However, a fracture can involve displacement of the joint towards the sacrum. All three events initially cause similar discomfort and pain. A precise diagnosis is a prerequisite for the right therapy and the success of the treatment.
Causes
The diagnostician may find a coccygeal dislocation after an uncontrolled fall with an impact on the lower back or pelvis. In such an event, extremely high forces suddenly act on the lower part of the spine, which it cannot cushion. As a result, joints are suddenly displaced from their normal position, which immediately triggers severe pain.
Displacement of the lower vertebrae can also be present in victims of car accidents. Permanent poor posture, such as lying or sitting for a long time, can also result in a gradual dislocation of vertebrae and joints. Bad posture has an unfavorable effect on the function of the ligaments and tendons that are supposed to stabilize the position of the coccyx.
If these holding mechanisms change over a long period of time, joint connections can shift. The result is increasing pain, including nerve inflammation.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
The displacement of the joints causes severe pain, which can also radiate into the legs. Walking and especially sitting is hardly possible or only if the weight is very carefully shifted to the less affected side of the pelvis. Coughing, laughing, or sneezing also causes pain.
The reason for this is that many tendons and muscles attach to the coccyx. These have an important stabilizing function. If the coccyx dislocation was caused by sudden violence, a corresponding hematoma on the skin is often a visible external sign. This ” bruise ” is an indicator of tissue being bruised with bleeding and can be helpful in localizing the dislocation.
However, a visible hematoma is not always a sign of joint displacement. Depending on the degree of the dislocation, the pain can radiate into the buttocks. If nerves have been pinched, a tingling sensation can occur that feels similar to extremities that have ‘fallen asleep’. Only a detailed examination shows whether it is a dislocation, a fracture or a bruise. The latter usually does not require any treatment.
Diagnosis & course of disease
An X-ray can provide a reliable diagnosis that can rule out a fracture. In most cases it will be prompted. If the findings are uncertain, further examinations such as ultrasound examinations, examinations using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging can be used. An experienced doctor can feel a coccyx dislocation with a finger.
The course of the disease depends on the degree of dislocation and the constitution of the patient. But primarily from the diagnosis. If the levering out of the joint is not recognized because the coccyx dislocation is not the focus of the practitioner, the disease can take a long time with consequential damage.
Once the displacement is corrected, patients are usually quickly pain free. Depending on what caused the joint displacement, the patient can ensure that such an event does not occur again so quickly with appropriate training.
Complications
A dislocation of the stone leg causes severe pain that can radiate into the legs. The pain usually occurs when walking and sitting as well as when coughing, laughing or sneezing. If nerves are pinched, sensory disturbances and an unpleasant tingling sensation can occur. Arms or legs that “fall asleep” are typical, which usually cause severe discomfort in those affected.
If the displacement of the joint is not recognized, a chronic disease with consequential damage can develop. Over time, for example, joint wear and tear and joint damage occur, which lead to further restriction of movement. Last but not least, chronic pain also puts a strain on the psyche – depression can develop. When treating a coccyx dislocation, the main risks come from the prescribed painkillers.
If taken over a long period of time, this is always associated with side effects and can also lead to long-term effects such as heart and liver damage or chronic gastrointestinal diseases. If physiotherapy is necessary, it can lead to sore muscles, tension or bruising, for example. Greater complications arise when the patient is mistreated for a long period of time. When the proctologist corrects the dislocation, complications are unlikely.
When should you go to the doctor?
If pain occurs in the spinal area after a fall or accident, a doctor is needed. Using imaging methods and a palpation examination, it is clarified which complaints are present in the back or pelvic area. If movement is no longer problem-free, or if coughing or sneezing already causes pain in the back, there is a disorder that needs to be diagnosed and treated. Sensory disturbances, tingling on the skin or the feeling of limbs falling asleep are signs of an existing irregularity.
If symptoms persist unabated for several days or weeks or if they increase in intensity, a doctor’s visit is advisable. In the case of incorrect posture of the body, problems with the joints or discoloration of the skin, the cause must be clarified. Hematomas often form, causing the skin to turn blue. They are signs of an existing disorder that should be presented to a doctor.
If walking or sitting is limited or almost impossible, there is cause for concern. You should refrain from taking painkillers until you have consulted a doctor. If the person concerned can only shift their own weight very slowly from one side of the pelvis to the other, this is an indication of a health impairment that needs to be investigated.
Treatment & Therapy
An uncomplicated coccyx dislocation can be felt rectally with the index finger by an experienced doctor ( proctologist ) and rectified immediately. An operation is not required for this. The doctor inserts his index finger into the rectum and finds the location of the displaced vertebrae and joints. These can now be brought back into their original position with a targeted pull away from the sacrum.
To do this, the doctor grasps the coccyx with the index finger and thumb, with the thumb lying on the outside of the body. The patient feels immediate relief and lessening pain. If the pain persists for a longer period of time without finding another reason for it, it can be helpful to provide the patient with a few physiotherapy units after successful treatment.
Prevention
Accidents rarely happen with warning and even more rarely with intent, so that the prevention of events can only lie in the effort to avoid risk factors. And yet prevention is possible insofar as the muscles and tendons of the body are kept vital and efficient. First and foremost, this means strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the holding apparatus and staying flexible.
Sport and exercise, as well as natural foods with added vitamins and minerals are part of this. This keeps joints and vertebrae in place and not easily displaced. A well-trained body not only absorbs shocks and loads better, but also regenerates faster with fewer complications than an untrained one.
Aftercare
In the case of a coccyx dislocation, those affected usually only have a few and only very limited follow-up measures available, so that a doctor should be consulted early on in order to prevent the occurrence of other symptoms and complications. As a rule, it cannot heal on its own, so that the affected person always has to be treated by a doctor.
In most cases, the symptoms of a coccyx dislocation can be relieved with physiotherapy and physiotherapy. The person concerned can also repeat many of the exercises at home in order to speed up the treatment. Likewise, the person concerned should rest as much as possible and not carry out any heavy physical exertion or stressful activities in order not to unnecessarily burden the body.
In many cases, the help and support of one’s own family is also very important in order to make everyday life easier for the person concerned. A healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet can also have a positive effect on the course of the coccyx dislocation and accelerate healing.
You can do that yourself
Those affected should listen to the signals of their organism in everyday life. If disturbances or complaints occur, he should react accordingly. Do not take unnecessary risks. For this reason, excessive physical demands or heavy loads should be avoided. The limits of one’s own body must be taken into account when doing sports or carrying out professional activities. Regular breaks and periods of recovery are important for the body so that it can regenerate to a sufficient extent.
Physiotherapeutic exercises often help to improve mobility. In the case of tension or disorders of the muscular system, massages can help to alleviate the symptoms. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that the organism is adequately supplied with heat. Warming baths and a restful night’s sleep are particularly helpful in everyday life. Therefore, sleep hygiene should be checked and improved if necessary.
If there are sensory disturbances on the skin, the cause must be checked. If the blood circulation is disturbed, countermeasures must be taken immediately by changing the body position. Since severe pain often occurs with a coccyx dislocation, care must be taken to ensure that the medication is taken according to the regulations. In addition, using mental techniques can help to optimize pain perception.
