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Original poster

Anyone injured tailbone?

59 replies

Fellontheground · 22/05/2023 11:44

I was out on a forest walk about six weeks ago and slipped on some decking. I went right down on my bum and while it didn’t hurt at the time I’m in quite a bit of discomfort now. When I stand after sitting for a while it’s really sore. Any advice? What could I have done? It’s literally my tailbone. Will I need an X-ray? Seems so ridiculous it so sore :-(

OP posts:
GalileoHumpkins · 22/05/2023 11:47

My mum did, it was weeks before it felt better. She got a doughnut cushion which helped a lot when she was sitting.
She didn't have an x-ray but she did see the doctor.

UnadulteratedCat · 22/05/2023 11:49

I slipped in the park and landed on my bum. Was a bit sore straight off. But was agony a couple of days later and lasted weeks. About 3/4 weeks all up then one day….fine.

I never went to dr as the wait for appointment was three weeks anyway. I took paracetamol and ibuprofen and even some diclofenac i had for my shoulder. It all helped but time and finding a good bum cushion was all i could really do.

Good luck.

FrozenGhost · 22/05/2023 11:50

Similar thing happened to me, it was sore for about three months.

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Bitterestpil · 22/05/2023 11:55

It happened to me! Look up youtube exercises for injured tailbones this may help, it certainly helped me. Good luck.

Pandapooks · 22/05/2023 21:05

I fell down some stairs and landed heavily on my tailbone, it was excruciating. An xray confirmed I'd cracked the bone but there was nothing to do but wait it out. I was told to move as much as possible which was actually quite a bit as it was so bloody sore to sit! Good cushion, lying probably more comfortable than sitting to begin with. It was a good 4 to 6 weeks before it felt anywhere near better and sitting for prolonged periods could cause pain for months after (sorry) When the bone was healed I did have some physio as I was a bit seized up. That really helped. Get well soon!

Original poster
Fellontheground · 22/05/2023 21:48

Thanks so much everyone. I guess I will have to sit it out (or not!).

OP posts:
Wallywobbles · 22/05/2023 22:11

Go and get an X-ray. Make sure they do a seated side view. Mine is fucked but because it happened so long ago it's not clicking back into place. Bloody agony. And it's going to be hideous as I get older.

It's an injury commonly caused by anal sex apparently. Another reason to dislike it in my book.

Kyse23 · 22/05/2023 22:20

Yep, I fell rollerblading down concrete steps Blush

Pretty sure that's also why i ended up with a herniated disc too

Niceseasidetown · 22/05/2023 22:25

Few times rollerskating. The pain is nauseating and does last a long time. It's constant. Just keep moving as much as you can. Don't be too static that's not God for your back. I wouldn't be too worried at this point. It is unbelievably sore.

Primulabrandyb · 22/05/2023 22:42

Yes, I broke minding by landing hard on my bottom skiing. It now sticks out at a 90 degree angle towards the back like a little tail.

PocketfulOfMiracles · 22/05/2023 23:07

I broke mine some years ago being stupid on a kids wavy slide. Landed right on it.
what made it worse was I was on holiday, 2 kids in a cramped corsa and four hours from home. Thankfully the very nice nurse at the local A&E gave me lots of drugs because getting back was pure agony.

I couldn’t sit or stand comfortably for about six months. I recall standing in the Drs waiting room for a follow up a week later and almost passing out with the pain of it. It affected me so badly I don’t do anything that could involve landing on my back, so I won’t skate or walk on ice in winter.

it’s a horrible, agonising injury and there is absolutely bugger all that can be done for it. You have my sympathy.

peachgreen · 22/05/2023 23:09

Yes, it was awful. I cracked mine but there’s nothing they can do, at least not for the way I had hurt mine. It was SO uncomfortable and there was no way to escape the pain. It did ease after a few weeks thankfully but even now, 15 years on I get discomfort if I sit in the same position for too long.

PerryMenno · 22/05/2023 23:11

I had similar the middle of last year - confirmed broken via xray. I was properly incapacitated for a couple of months and it's still achy after prolonged sitting on a hard surface.

TitoMojito · 22/05/2023 23:12

Rollerblades for me too, about 17 years ago now. Still hurts on occasion but it's not debilitating.

Smidge001 · 22/05/2023 23:18

I don't think there's anything they can do so it's pointless getting an xray. I had the same problem and truly sympathise. Don't want to disappoint you, but for me it took well over a year to get better. More like 2. But other posters have said weeks and months sounds more typical, so fingers crossed.

Glowlamp · 22/05/2023 23:28

My coccyx was displaced in childbirth. Instead of curving under it shifted in the other direction. It was not fun with a baby and toddler.
went to physio for a year and it didn’t really help, but I said it was better and they discharged me. Took matters into my own hands and went to an osteopath. It was better after one session but I went twice more to make sure best £150 I ever spent!
it was awful at the time, having to lie down or stand. I was breastfeeding too and then going back to work, torture sitting for any length of time. I really feel for you OP.

CamsPaisleyCuffs · 22/05/2023 23:30

First time was ice skating for me, flat on my arse, stuck my hand out behind me and broke my wrist at the same time. I was 40 😳

Second time was flying off a slide at soft play, again full force landing on my arse. Oh the pain!

Sitting down was bad, but trying to get off a chair was excruciating. I don't have any magic cures, but it does get better with time, though like PP if I stay in one position for too long it does start to niggle.

007DoubleOSeven · 22/05/2023 23:31

Go to the Dr's for pain relief if you need it. A decent physio can help too - see one with a background in treating women's pelvic snd coccyx injuries

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 23/05/2023 05:23

I broke mine when I was about 15, fell down some steep steps and hit every single one…. Confirmed by X-ray. Horrifically painful!!
3 or so weeks later I did exactly the same thing again!!!! Moved the original break and cracked it some more!!!!
Few years later I had a car accident and cracked a few vertebrae…. A week later had another and cracked them again!!! Couldn’t write it!!!!
Had back trouble ever since but use various pain killing gels and heat to help. Naproxen helps a lot but makes me really nauseous!!! I also have lupus though and it likes to make things worse!!! A wheat bag would be my recommendation, you can then kinda “mould” it around the sore area!! Hope it’s better soon!!

SinnerBoy · 23/05/2023 05:32

It should heal in 6-8 weeks....

I broke mine aged 14, when a lad at school kicked a stool away in a science class, as I was sitting down. It was excruciating.

I went to A&E two days later and they took some X-rays, confirmed it and gave me a prescription for a bottle of 100 paracetamol. (1984).

It didn't touch the pain, so my mam gave me some of her Co Codamols, which helped more.

Chocchops72 · 23/05/2023 05:56

DH fell on his, really badly. It was painful for months until he realised it wasn’t going to get better. He went to the Dr, has had x-rays and and MRI which showed it’s not broken but displaced badly. He had about 6 months of osteopathy but it did not work. This has been going on for 2 years now, he’s been almost brought to depression by it as it’s painful, restrictive and he can’t sit down except with his donut cushion! no one - not the GP, radiographer, osteopath, rheumatologist- could advise him what to do next.

by chance our youngest fell and broke his wrist really badly. Long story short but DH asked his orthopaedic surgeon about his coccyx and it turns out this guy is one of only two surgeons in France ( where we live) that treat this. DH made a rdv, was sent for a steroid injection (which didn’t work at all as the injury is now chronic) and will have surgery soon to remove the entire thing.

so if any of you are still in pain years later, maybe you need to follow it up? It’s easier here in France, idk how long the NHS would take to deal with something like this.

Original poster
Fellontheground · 23/05/2023 17:01

Thanks again everyone. So sorry that some of you are still in discomfort. It’s now been six weeks. Will see how it goes. It’s the pain standing up after sitting for too long… ouch. Have a hot water bottle against my bum. Not pleasant.

OP posts:
Barneysma2 · 23/05/2023 17:09

I slipped and fell down the stairs and landed on every step with my bum, with FORCE. When I landed at the bottom of the stairs I couldn't even move the pain was unreal. That was last year I think and even now it hurts to sit for too long. I had to get a donut ring, still use it now. I really do think I cracked my tail bone but I never got checked as read there is nothing they can do.

007DoubleOSeven · 23/05/2023 17:10

Fellontheground · 23/05/2023 17:01

Thanks again everyone. So sorry that some of you are still in discomfort. It’s now been six weeks. Will see how it goes. It’s the pain standing up after sitting for too long… ouch. Have a hot water bottle against my bum. Not pleasant.

The muscles seize up. Massage and movement helps.

SusanSHelit · 23/05/2023 17:14

Yes cracked mine slipping on ice years ago. Probably should have got it x rayed as its never been the same since. Echo pp in finding the right cushion makes the healing a bit more bearable and the pain is indeed nauseating.

Cold compression helped at first (sort of first 2/3 days) then I found heat far better than cold to ease very tense bum muscles!

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