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Original poster

Broken/Fractured/bruised tailbone(coccyx)

53 replies

Shehz21 · 13/09/2020 20:00

Not sure whether it is broken, fractured or bruised after having fallen from our garden swing on the coccyx but it's day 5 and hurting more than the first few days. In such times, I didn't want to go to A&E and having read that there's nothing that can be done for even a broken coccyx, not even an xray, I did not want to waste NHS time and resources. I have tried to gather as much info as possible on it but the pain is intolerable today. I had to take codeine tablets to help manage the symptoms..
Can anyone who has personal experience with tailbone pain help me see the light at the end of the tunnel? Cannot sit or walk properly at all. Just lying down but how long will this go on?
Just hoping for some positive stories or words I guess. Thank youSmile

OP posts:
Coldhandscoldheart · 13/09/2020 20:01

I bruised mine mildly & fuck me it was sore. One of those things you don’t realise how often you use it til it’s hurting.
GP definitely. Physio might help. Ice packs & rest.

AmandaHoldensLips · 13/09/2020 20:03

Shit. That's really painful. I did mine by accidentally sitting on a mug. Please get it checked.

Scrumptiousbears · 13/09/2020 20:04

I slipped down some stairs on my arse and it hurt like hell. Went to hospital as I couldn't sit down without extreme pain. They didn't X-ray but said I'd more than likely fractured my coccyx and it would get batter in 3 weeks. In reality it took months and month. It's been 18months now and I still suffer.

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GroupSects · 13/09/2020 20:05

I fell down the stairs a few years ago and did the same, it was agony and I couldn’t get up from sitting down properly for weeks. Since it healed though it’s never bothered me since.

occa · 13/09/2020 20:06

I had a friend who broke his and had to have surgery after an abscess formed in the fracture site and pushed everything out of line. I think you should get it checked.

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 13/09/2020 20:07

I did this, I fell off my horse and landed on my arse on rocky ground. Hurt so much, but the following day was even worse and it just got more horrible each day. My job was a sit down job but I had to stand for the whole day, even that was agony. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen for about two weeks and it eased gradually. This is 20 years ago and I still get aches there now!

Bluntness100 · 13/09/2020 20:10

I slipped on ice and hit Mine. I actually went numb from the waist downforce a few seconds,. I’m not sure what I did but suspect it was broken, it was terribly painful for several weeks. It does just ease.

pinkbalconyrailing · 13/09/2020 20:14

I broke mine. bike accident.
for about a week it was painful sitting down and even worse going to the toilet.
sitting on a towel folded in a horseshoe shape helped.
nothing else could be done.

froggers1 · 13/09/2020 20:16

Definitely get it checked out. I dislocated mine and an MRI confirmed it. In the end I had it removed...very last resort!

whatwouldnigellado · 13/09/2020 20:18

Broke mine 5 years ago. Hurt more than anything ive ever done including childbirth. Hurt for about 5 weeks to a horrific degree and is still sore and easy to aggravate 5 years later.
Get it checked at a&e and buy a blow up ring cushion as that’s all that saved me

Belle1983 · 13/09/2020 20:18

I fell down the stairs 10 years ago, hurt really badly for a long time after.
Even now, if I'm sitting still on firm chairs (esp trains etc) I still get discomfort.

Maybe do a phone call just to check medical advice. I think you're right that there's little they can do, but it would put your mind at rest you've tried everything.

Veterinari · 13/09/2020 20:19

I've broken mine - honestly there's nothing a medic can do unless you develop weird complications. It's very painful - sitting can be almost and impossibility for the next week or two and the pain can take 6-8 weeks to totally subside.

The hospital won't X-ray you because the radiation exposure is a risk and regardless of whether you've broken it or not your treatment won't change - ice and pain relief and time. There's not really anything else to be done unfortunately Thanks

Original poster
Shehz21 · 13/09/2020 20:19

Thank you everyone for the replies! Misery really does appreciate companyBlush

Unfortunately I think even by doing to the GP or A&E, it won't change much such as @Scrumptiousbears situation where they will only advise about recovery time.
Just getting a bit hopeful reading about some of the PPs whose pain just eased over time.

@pinkbalconyrailing ouch that sounds like it was quite bad! How long did it take for you to recover as yours sounds more serious than mine!

@occa omg that is really scary! I hope mine isn't as bad...Sad

OP posts:
cheapskatemum · 13/09/2020 20:21

I managed to fall backwards off a step whilst holding DS4 when he was a baby. Bum hit concrete first. Didn’t hurt at the time - that would be the adrenaline - & I jumped straight back up again. It hurt for about 18 months - 2 years after though, particularly when sitting on anything hard (church pews in particular). Did eventually stop & has been fine ever since. Hope you feel better soon, OP.

Original poster
Shehz21 · 13/09/2020 20:23

@Veterinari That's what I thought.. such a weird place to get so much pain from and this is actually worse than childbirth for me, the same as @whatwouldnigellado

@froggers1 Omg froggers how was the healing process? I really hope that mine isn't anywhere as bad...Sad

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 13/09/2020 20:24

I either broke or dislocated mine during my first (horrendous) birth.
Agony at the time, but no treatment. Over twenty years later it still hurts at times.
DC2 hurt theirs more recently, coming off a horse. The dr at A&E did examine them to make sure there was no serious injury, so it might be worth getting yours checked.

Original poster
Shehz21 · 13/09/2020 20:25

@cheapskatemum Thank you and glad to hear you are better now.. 18 months to 2 years seems like an eternity to me right now.. I hope mine heals in the generic 6-8 weeksSad

OP posts:
isthismylifenow · 13/09/2020 20:25

I have injured mine, twice.

I am not going to lie here OP, it takes a long time. First time it was painful for about a year. I couldn't even lie in the bath.

I fell again about this time last year and injured it again. I'm still battling. I had an xrsy that didn't pick anything up and said refer mri which I didn't want to do (not in UK so I would have to pay for it).. They gave me a course of anti inflams which did help. The pain level varies depending on what I have been doing but I can't sit for too long. I just live with it now.

I did go to a chiro for a fair few sessions but it didn't do much to help.

I'm sorry this isn't a more positive post.

Pinkychilla · 13/09/2020 20:25

I did this after falling down some stairs and went to an osteopath which did ease it and help along with sitting on a coccyx cushion

PurpleFrames · 13/09/2020 20:27

Defo seek medical attention- I didn't and my fracture healed uneven causing scar tissue which pushed it even more Out if wack and even more pain.

Pinkychilla · 13/09/2020 20:27

I did this and went to a osteopath which did help

TheBigFatMermaid · 13/09/2020 20:29

I broke mine many years ago. I had physio, some kind of light/heat treatment, which helped for a while. Then I had DD1.

I finally had it removed when she was 2 years old. Best thing ever.

KilljoysDutch · 13/09/2020 20:30

I buggered mine slipping on ice and landing on my butt. I've never known pain like it literally screamed at DH for lifting my leg to take my shoe off. It healed up quickly but I've had pain in that area of my back when walking ever since.

LemonySippet · 13/09/2020 20:30

I fell down the stairs at Easter last year and did mine, i didn't get it seen as I was staying with the PILs and no one suggested its and I didn't like to make a fuss. I'm sure I broke it, it took several months until I could sit comfortably and it still hurts now if I sit on a hard chair.

I'm doubtful they would do anything but I do wish I'd got it checked, at least to shut DH up who always pulls a face when I say "I'm sure I broke it", the wanker.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 13/09/2020 20:32

I bruised mine mucking about at school when I was 11 , I fell on a radiator . I dont remember too much about the pain at the time but I'm 45 now and lower back pain has been a regular feature since then !