Is it normal to be in your pain after a fall down the stairs?

[croppedhimout]

I fell down a 3/4 steps only. Managed to grab onto the bannister before I went any further

I got up fine but since I wince at the pain in my tailbone (furthest down the back you can go before you reach the bum)

When I sit, I can't lean back. I have to perch forwards. I can lay down fine for bed but can't get up from my back to a sitting position, it makes me wince!

Is this normal or do I need to get checked? Can't really feel anything when walking etc

But I have to be careful not to put any pressure on that spot otherwise the pain is very bad

I've taken ibuprofen etc but hoping I don't need medical assistance as I don't have childcare in place

Bump

You've probably bruised it. Using a cushion to press against it as you sit down and stand up helps. It's probably going to be mega uncomfortable for a while though. I'd see a GP just to get the good painkillers personally.

@gamerchick thanks so much! Can I ask, what sort of pain killers do you think they'll give? I am sure I've read there's a stronger version of paracemtol?

I can't take codeine as it makes me sick (vomit)

If you landed on your coccyx you could
Have a sprain/ strain there.
Have you tried ice/heat/ ibuprofen.

You might have fractured your coccyx but there's not much that can be done about it I believe, just time to allow it to heal. A friend did similar recently and just had to wait for it to get better.

Thank you, yes I've tried ice pack, heat and also ibuprofen which I'm still keeping on top of but it doesn't touch the pain

When you say you can't feel anything when you're walking, does that mean that you actually can not feel anything or that you're not in pain while walking and only in pain when you sit down? I'm not understanding which applies here.

Sorry, I meant I'm not in pain when walking and can really feel the injured area until I do something like sit at an angle that presses on it, lay down and get up etc

I badly fractured my coccyx falling downstairs. Believe me, you'd bloody know if you'd fractured it!

I was prescribed naproxen, which didn't work for me, then dihydrocodeine which helped a bit. Yours sounds bruised, so OTC co-codamol should help.

You'll probably find it hurting more as the days go on. It will heal though. Maybe a spray or ibuprofen gel might help as well as painkillers. O don't know what the doctor would give you..I would just go for paramol OTC stuff. But docs might give you something else.

I bruised mine falling down the stairs. I found that I did a little wriggle when I put the handbrake on in the car. Soon stopped that.
Don't get constipated as that will add to your woes.

See if you can get a cushion with a cutout for your coccyx, or a c-shaped cushion so that you can sit without putting pressure on the sore bit. I've bruised that area several times and it gets better over time, takes a couple of weeks though IME.

Sounds bruised to me. I did the same thing just before Christmas.

I am usually good with pain but I was surprised by how much it hurt going from sitting to standing. All you can go is rest and let it heal, unfortunately.

Obviously only you know your own body so if the pain gets too bad, do get yourself checked out.