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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

i fell down stairs on my backside...now i cant sit down!

28 replies

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/12/2011 17:21

hi,

i fell down stairs this morning, i slipped off a step near the top and bumped down about half way....

i could hardly move and felt sick with pain. Ive been sent home from work because driving was so painful i arrived in tears.

im taking ibuprofen but its not touching the pain.

any advice please?

OP posts:

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Fluffycloudland77 · 04/12/2011 17:37

Go to A & E and get yourself checked over.

SantasNutellaFairy · 04/12/2011 17:41

Get to and e. My friend fell over a bottle when drunk a few weeks ago and has broken her coccyx. She couldn't sit either.

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/12/2011 17:50

cant go to a & e today, but ill go tomorrow if i still cannot sit. if it needs xray there is no xray dpt over weekend anyway - we only have a minor injuries dpt not a proper a &e.

i told dh i may have broken it but he just laughed at me, and said not to be stupid, that i will have just bruised myself.

god i hope its just bruised. what do they do for coccyx injuries anyway?

OP posts:

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 04/12/2011 17:53

painkillers and you have to stay off it

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 04/12/2011 17:54

and you may well have broken it, so your DH shouldn't be laughing. Treatment for broken and bruised will be similar I think.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 04/12/2011 17:54

lie flat on your stomach on sofa as much as possible just now

OrmIrian · 04/12/2011 17:56

Coccyx! Probably bruised. Ow ow owowowowo!

I did this about 7 years ago and boy did it hurt ?

Not wishing to worry you but I still get pain in that area from time to time.

SantasNutellaFairy · 04/12/2011 17:57

seriously- get down there for first thing. At least they can give you stronger painkillers.

belgo · 04/12/2011 18:00

Yes very painful. Effect on my pelvic floor was similar to giving birth. And like Ormirian, I still get pain every now again when I am sitting down.

You really have to rest, take painkillers and see a doctor asap. And hopefully your dh will stop laughing

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/12/2011 18:00

thanks, i will go in the morning.

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aStarOverMangerways · 04/12/2011 18:01

i did exactly that about 10 years ago and it still flares up now. all the muscles around my coccyx go into spasm and i am basically immobilised. in fact i've got an mri booked this month because it's been so bad lately.

so tell your dh to stop laughing and give you a lift to A&E! and yes, lie or stand in the meantime - don't sit.

AnyoneforTurps · 04/12/2011 18:12

You don't need an xray if it's definitely a coccyx injury - we don't xray the coccyx because the only treatment is painkillers whether or not you have a fracture, and we try to avoid xrays to the pelvic area of women (to avoid zapping the reproductive organs). However, if you're in that much pain, it's worth getting a doctor to prod you to make sure it is just the coccyx that's injured and not other parts of the spine or pelvis.

If it's any satisfaction - your DH is wrong, you may well have broken it, but I'm afraid the only treatment is time, painkillers and a rubber ring to sit on!

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/12/2011 22:09

defo coccyx...

just told dh he might be wrong and he has stormed off to bed. great support.

OP posts:

SolidGoldVampireBat · 04/12/2011 22:13

You have mullered your coccyx. You have my deepest sympathy as I did mine years ago (and have had aggro from it at intervals ever since). See a doctor, you might want heftier painkillers than can be got over the counter.

aStarOverMangerways · 04/12/2011 22:15

Yes, co-codamol helped with mine (and were rather enjoyable, although I probably shouldn't say that as you're a policewoman ).

RandomMess · 04/12/2011 22:20

Did mine 2 years ago, took a year to get much better, only hurts a lot if I try and roll over it - doing sit ups etc.

Get thee to an osteopath aswell. It is probably misaligned and getting back to the correct position will help.

I don't think there is anyother treatment, time and painkillers is it.

I can still remember crying as I had to get myself in the car to drive home as it was so excrutiating!

SingingSands · 04/12/2011 22:22

You have my utmost sympathy! I did exactly the same, 2 years ago, slipped down the stairs at 2am when I got up to get a drink of water. It was so sore I felt exactly like I was in labour - couldn't let DH touch me at all to help me and spent all night sobbing, hanging over the back of the sofa!

I managed to get some co-codamol tablets and they really helped in the first few days.

It was 2 years ago but I still have the occasional twinge, and it really knackered my pelvic floor - for about 6 months I couldn't do any floor exercises because it was too painful!

You poor thing, hope you can get some decent painkillers soon.

RandomMess · 04/12/2011 22:27

Oh yes I'd forgotten about the pain of you know "bowl movements"

RandomMess · 04/12/2011 22:28

"bowel" even!

droves · 04/12/2011 22:36

Ouch , I did my coccyx when I was 8 month pg with dd3 ,( slipped and fell in bath onto a tap ) .

Couldn't sit for a week.

You need rubber ring , painkillers , and lots of tlc .

Go to a&e ....they have the good stuff ( strong pills )

ThatVikRinA22 · 04/12/2011 22:56

thanks guys, will go and try to track down some decent pain killers - one thing i am not is a baby with pain but this had me in tears. (and ive had natural labour and a foot tattoo! this trumped them i have to say!)

i had come home from work and it was about 4am, i had left my coat on because it was cold in the house at that time and i decided to take it off and hang it up - i was trying to get it off as i walked down stairs and my feet just went from under me - it was bizarre really and i ve no idea how it happened, but i was very tired.

im going to stay up a while, im laid on my side on the sofa. bruising has come out now....nice shade of purple!

OP posts:

droves · 04/12/2011 23:59

Get some arnica from boots , gel is soothing and helps bruising and swelling to go fast. Sleep with pillow between legs to ease pressure whilst lying on side .

If all else fails put ice down your Knicks and numb it , or borrow a tens machine.

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perfumedlife · 05/12/2011 01:27

I did this many years ago, on ice and the pain got worse over days. Turns out the fall had pushed a hair inwards at the coccyx and it developed into a pilonidal absess, which poisoned my system. Had to have emergency surgery to drain it and then pack it for weeks by hand. Was worse than childbirth. IF you feel it start to swell in to a lump, have the hottest bath you can manage, with lots of salt in, to clean it. Sometimes thats enough to stop it developing.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 05/12/2011 03:06

Yes ice is really helpful, I hurt my coccyx having DD and the icepacks in the hospital really helped..you can use frozen peas

ThatVikRinA22 · 05/12/2011 12:08

cheers

if there isnt much the hospital can do seemed pointless going, am waiting for a call back from my GP.

meant to be at work tonight but i dont think thats going to happen...

hoping for some strong painkillers.

which helps more do you think? ice or heat? im wondering whether to go for hot water bottle of frozen peas....?

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