Could I have broken my coccyx?

[Pawslikepaddington]

I think it may be just bruised, but three weeks ago I fell whilst snowboarding (repeatedly), all my other sprains and bruises are long gone, but my coccyx is still absolutely excruciating. I cannot sit with my back straight-I have to sit at a 45 degree (forward) angle so my weight is over the top of my thighs, and cannot then stand up/sit down properly. Not much pain when walking, but loads when sitting or sleeping (I keep waking up, and struggle to change positions), but it isn't to the point where I feel I am going to vomit or anything (unless I sit upright).

Don't know how to get xrays done with dd in tow!

You don't XR for a fractured coccyx. It's a clinical diagnosis, and unless the broken bit is poking into your rectum there's very little to do for it bar painkillers and keep moving.

Should I go to the doctors? It just isn't easing at all (and I'm guessing a bruised one does a bit?) so don't know what to do with it-especially as I'm going back next week-if it is bruised I'm not too bothered about falling, but would worry if it was broken IYSWIM

"there's very little to do for it bar painkillers and keep moving"

Holds for broken/bruised/lightly sauteed.

If you have blood in your poo, or develop pain in your tummy then head for an opinion, but otherwise there's not much you can do - like breaking a rib, you can't really put a cast on your arse-bone.

It will be sore for a few more weeks if it is broken, and if you go snowboarding again you will probably fall on it again and it will hurt a great deal. And possibly displace the fragment if it is broken.

Personally, I'd learn to ski or just not go.

He he-have bought a bum protector, so hopefully that will cushion it a bit-will teach me to fall forwards next time!!

Await with interest the thread in 10 days time - "I have broken both my wrists - how do I wipe my (painful) bottom?".

This happened to a friend of mine. VERY understanding DH.

I broke mine years ago - bloody hurts! You have my sympathy - I used frozen peas for hours. I fell down the stairs, so not even glamourously snowboarding.

If broken you can't do anything, as already mentioned. Will forever be looking for comfy, cushioned seating though and avoiding 'crunches' and sit ups for the rest of your life.

I managed to break a bit off of mine and has moved! Doesn't give me too much trouble though on the whole unless sit on wooden seats for ages. Try sitting back too - more on sacrum. It's the middle bit that makes it sore.

I slipped down the stairs on tuesday morning. Bloody hurts and I still can't sit down properly. My mum is a nurse and said what every one else has been saying, painkillers and ibruprofen.

i did moine a year ago.
it felt like i had a suasage up my bum and it took abour 3 months before i could sit int he car for longer than 20mins without twisitng to one side.
i sent the first week lying down or standing up- not sitting at all.

Drs said the only way to diagnose is to put a finger up your buma nd wiggle it.
if they feel grating - it's broken.
if not then just bruised.

but treatment is the same if there's no bloody poo/inabilaity to wee or poo,
so i delcined the finger test

it was when i went sheet white and my teeth started clenhing and chattering that he agreed not to do it.

My advise to you is not to do the baording- sorry.
I couldn't have even travelled far enough to get toe anywhere to ski/snowboard IYSWIM.

maybe it is jsut bruised- as you can actually sit down... or maybe your pain threashold is higher than mine.

It is just bruised I think-one of my friends plays ice hockey and he knows painful injuries pretty well and he thinks it may be bruised too (although didn't do oop's diagnosis!)! Bruxeur-I mean this in the nicest way possible but I enjoy snowboarding, it relaxes me, and as long as I'm not doing ridiculous jumps and wear proper protective gear I don't think I should stop just because I could break my arm. I also cycle to school with dd, in traffic, as do most families at school and that is easily as dangerous if not more so, yet I am not seen as being a reckless mum for that.

Message withdrawn

PLP - chill, I'm not trying to stop you from snowboarding - I was just joking re the next thing you're likely to break if you only fall forwards.

You should ski instead, much more interesting and varied injuries.

I#d agree re for bruising- as if it was anywhere near as painful as mine- there is no way on god's earth that you would contemplate the possiility of falling on it again for about 6 months.

i felt physically sick with pain

it's ok now tho' [phew]