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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 13, 2015 7:58:10 GMT
10 days ago my feet went out from under me on the stairs, and I came down HARD on my booty. I got ice on the area right away, and after looking up info on a bruised or broken tailbone, figured there was no point going to the doctor over it, I just need to let it heal.
I'm sitting on a boppy we have left over from when the grandkids were little, that helps some. It says to lean forward when I do sit, which does help the tailbone pain, but then my other injury to my back starts to hurt too much. So I've spent a lot of time lying down
Walking is fine, although I've found if I do too much standing or walking I get sore by the end of the day. I used pain pills the first couple days, now I'm just trying to avoid doing anything that makes it hurt. The advice I read said it will heal faster that way.
Do you think it's worth it to buy one of those donut cushions, or is the boppy just as good?
Any other advice from peas who btdt?
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,078
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Sept 13, 2015 8:03:41 GMT
I think you should see a doctor. There are an awful lot of things that can go wrong quickly with low back injuries.
You may need physical therapy, too.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 13, 2015 8:36:01 GMT
I think you should see a doctor. There are an awful lot of things that can go wrong quickly with low back injuries. You may need physical therapy, too. I'm starting to think you're right. When it first happened, while I of course was shook up and in pain, it was NOTHING like the time my ex broke my vertebrae almost 3 years ago. ( wow, how could it be that long?). No comparison, that time I couldn't move from the waist down and the pain was agonizing. This time I was shaky, but could move around fine. I popped a Vicodin, iced up, and read everything I could about tailbone injuries. I learned: They generally just need to heal. Make sure you don't get constipated, BMs are painful Breaks don't always show up in X-rays, a digital rectal exam confirms. (Probably the biggest reason I'm avoiding the doctor) Healing is slow, but as long as you see improvement and don't get the warning signs listed no need to come in. But I'm not sure I'm really seeing improvement, although I CAN cough or sneeze without excruciating pain now, but sitting is still horrible, so I really can't drive. I'm running out of food, and need to go to the bank. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 2:06:06 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2015 11:05:40 GMT
My Mum did this last year and it was several months before the pain really went away, she did see the doctor who recommended
using an inflatable cushion to relieve the pressure
lying on her side as much as she could
alternating ice and heat on the area
Paracetamol for the pain or Tramadol if it got really bad (a last resort as it does cause constipation and that it turn makes the pain worse!)
I hope you heal quickly.
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Post by mikklynn on Sept 13, 2015 12:13:40 GMT
If you are still in that much pain 10 days later, you need to see a doctor.
DD fell on our icy sidewalk and cracked her tailbone. You are correct, there was not much they could do, other than prescribe pain meds. But, you need to rule out any other injury.
I hope you feel better soon!
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Sept 13, 2015 12:30:48 GMT
Due to your other back problems I'd see a dr. I either bruised or broke my tailbone when I was in high school, the dr said not much could be done and prescribed pain pills. Several years later I re-injured it  Honestly, it's been a pain in the butt, literally  It took years before I could sit through a full movie without discomfort. The severe pain shouldn't last more than a couple of days from what I can remember but don't be surprised if the discomfort continues for a long while after. ETA: I missed where you said it's been 10 days, yes please see a dr. You shouldn't still be in too much pain to sit. |
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Post by Patter on Sept 13, 2015 12:38:36 GMT
I would definitely see a doctor. My daughter was misdiagnosed with a tailbone injury. She was told she would be in pain for 6 months to a year. A year later, she was still in terrific pain. That's when we found out she was misdiangosed. She has now had 4 back surgeries between Oct. 2014-May 2015 due to this problem. Her final surgery included rods and screws in her back. Turns out she herniated a disc that then degenerated (L5-S1). Praying you feel better soon!
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Post by lancermom on Sept 13, 2015 13:11:35 GMT
Because if back problems I would go to MD. I fell like that too when I was nine months pregnant. A week later I was still in pain and in labor. I was so scared, but after deliver I found out DD was reason I was still in pain. She was pushing on bruised tailbone.
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Post by Woobster on Sept 13, 2015 13:32:22 GMT
I injured my tailbone in high school and it took months to heal. For me, the worst part of the pain was getting up after having been sitting down for a while (like in class). It can't hurt to get checked out, just to make sure there is no further injury going on.
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Post by Scrapbrat on Sept 13, 2015 13:38:03 GMT
Actually, you are right that there is nothing they can do for a fractured or broken tailbone. Yep, I've been there. However, what a doctor can do is give you good pain meds to get over the worst of it. It will take a LONG time to heal -- like months. I did get one of the special pillows and I would think a boppy would work if the hole is positioned correctly. Even with a pillow, though, I found I couldn't work at my desk for long periods without getting up frequently. And even now, six years later, that area still aches a bit now and then.
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Post by mzza111 on Sept 13, 2015 15:29:56 GMT
Years ago I fell in the street while rollerblading and injured my tailbone. The only relief I got was sitting on a donut or toilet seat. I went to the doctor and they said there was nothing that could be done. They gave me an RX for meds and sent me on my way. It took a long time but finally it healed.
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RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,398 
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Post by RosieKat on Sept 13, 2015 15:32:37 GMT
Memories of when we used to roller skate all the time...OUCH!
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Post by malibou on Sept 13, 2015 15:34:01 GMT
In my early 30s I fell while rollerblading and landed very hard on my butt. I called my bill who is a Dr., he said not much can be done, yada yada. A week later it still really hurt so he told me to go in to my Dr. My tailbone had moved and was tilting in an inwards way. He had to reach up into me and pull it back in place. I won't lie. The pain of that...oh yeah...pain. However, a couple of days later I could feel I was on the road to recovery.
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uksue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,500
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Sept 13, 2015 15:57:25 GMT
Here, the advice is to use ice the first 24 hrs ( to reduce inflammation) and heat afterwards. I would be seeing a DR for this site of injury. Hope it heals quickly fur you- one of my friends had a really nasty fall skiing 10 yrs ago, ignored the pain in her tail bone and is still paying for it .
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Post by miominmio on Sept 13, 2015 16:32:23 GMT
Here, the advice is to use ice the first 24 hrs ( to reduce inflammation) and heat afterwards. I would be seeing a DR for this site of injury. Hope it heals quickly fur you- one of my friends had a really nasty fall skiing 10 yrs ago, ignored the pain in her tail bone and is still paying for it .  Except it was my DH, not a friend. He's still in pain.... |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 13, 2015 17:13:09 GMT
been there, done that-- last July (2014) I hurt it when we were on vacation and it still, to this day, aches sometimes when I've been sitting too long on an uncomfortable chair. I would get the donut cushion; I never bought one, because I figured it would heal alot quicker than it did.
I never went to the doctor for mine but if I was you I might, because of your back issues- your doctor may be able to give you suggestions for how to sit / what to do to alleviate the tailbone pain without hurting your back.
eta: I find myself sometimes sitting on 'one cheek' or the other when it aches a lot. That helps.
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Post by gar on Sept 13, 2015 17:54:22 GMT
Healing is notoriously slow apparently - I hurt mine in December and it only hurts now after I've been sitting down for a while. I did the same as you and read up on it and decided not to go to the doctor but if I had other back problems I would go. Wishing you pain free.
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Post by birukitty on Sept 13, 2015 18:06:08 GMT
With something like this, especially with your back problems I personally would go to the doctor and get checked out. Why risk your future health if by chance it's something more than just a simple classic tailbone injury. Everyone is different, everyone's body is different, every injury is different. Why gamble on long time complications and pain just because you don't want to go to the doctor? It simply isn't worth it to me.
We aren't doctors. Well, most of us aren't. We can't diagnosis ourselves. That's the doctor's job. Yeah, it's probably a classic tail bone injury and he'll/she'll give you pain meds and a list of instructions. But there's also a chance it's not-that there's a complication like malibou who's tailbone had moved and was tilting inwards. So my advice is go to the doctor. If you don't have your health, you don't have anything.
And yeah, I've had a tailbone injury too. 2 years ago I was ice skating after not going for several years. I was doing okay, circling around the rink, and at one point I was just standing still talking to a friend when whoop, my feet went up out from under me and I landed flat on my butt! Hurt like hell-oh my gosh did it hurt! I just sat there feeling dazed and slowly got to my feet and made my way off the rink. I got inside, took off my skates, put on my shoes and went home. The next day I still hurt like hell so DH encouraged me to go to the ER to get checked out. They told me I should have come in yesterday. They took an X-ray, checked me out completely told me a fractured my tailbone and gave me pain meds, and a list of instructions-rest at home, a donut pillow, ect.
Debbie in MD.
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Post by lesserknownpea on Sept 13, 2015 22:18:02 GMT
I appreciate everyone who shared their story. They all sound so similar to mine!
I think I will call my doctor tomorrow morning, get it checked out, but I strongly suspect it will just be rest and heal. It's not bad at all as long as I don't sit or move around too much.
My biggest problem is driving. Even with the boppy it hurts.
I think I will go get the donut cushion. The boppy is pretty big to be hauling around.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 14, 2015 2:12:38 GMT
yeah, driving sucked for quite a while... I think I scrunched up a towel into a U shape to use in my car (to approximate the donut thing-a-ma-jig, since I didn't have one) and sort of sat leaning forward-- sat straight up-- a bit in the seat rather than relaxing against the seat back. Or, again, I did a lot of sitting resting on one butt cheek or the other, switching off from time to time. That seemed to help me.
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Post by bethquiroz on Sept 14, 2015 2:17:56 GMT
I fell down my stairs and did something to my tailbone a couple of years ago. Not sure if I broke it or if I bruised it - all I know is that it hurt like a mofo!!!!! The worst thing was that I'm a Zumba instructor and it was really tough to shake my booty when it hurt!!!!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Sept 14, 2015 2:24:17 GMT
I sat on a very sharp piece of metal (on a swing). If you have as much pain as I had, I would get the donut and foam to carry from room to room. My tailbone hurt something awful. Made me nauseous it was so painful!
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Sept 14, 2015 5:36:46 GMT
Mine took years to heal and 18 years later I still cannot sit on hard surfaces!!
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M in Carolina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,128
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Post by M in Carolina on Sept 14, 2015 8:53:25 GMT
I broke mine when I slipped off the back of my horse and landed in a sitting position on a stump after he ran off scared when a horse burst out from the woods and startled him.
I went to my pediatrician, but even though I was having a lot of pain and was really bruised, he didn't order an xray. I took almost a year to heal. Then in my 20s my doctors realized that I had broken my tailbone OFF and it had grown back pointed forward. I wouldn't have been able to have a vaginal birth because my tailbone was in the way--not that I could have children anyway, but my tailbone is really messed up.
I really wish I had gone to the ER after my accident. I have a lot of back problems, and the broken tailbone started it.
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Honestly, it's been a pain in the butt, literally 
It took years before I could sit through a full movie without discomfort. The severe pain shouldn't last more than a couple of days from what I can remember but don't be surprised if the discomfort continues for a long while after.
Except it was my DH, not a friend. He's still in pain....
Southern Side eyed Pea