So I fell down the stairs yesterday a.m. and have either bruised or fractured my tailbone. From other answers I read it sounds like going to the doctor is pointless other than better pain meds, is that the popular opinion? The doctor is my last resort so I am wondering if finding out that it is fractured would do anything for me other than a big hospital bill.
2007-03-05 05:19:48 · 1 answers · asked by KD 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
I fell on my tailbone during a karate class. It felt like it was broken to me because it got very swollen right away. I went to the doctor and (sorry) as you suspected - they just gave me pain medication, and instructed me to sit on a doughnut. (Walgreens.com has a variety - There's one where the hole is in the back of the pillow so you don't have to sit in the center.) The pain eventually got better, but months later I didn't think I should still be having problems with it. I went to a chiropracter and they did an X-ray. It showed that my tailbone was now bent to the left (very gross)...they tried to fix it, but I don't really think they did anything. It took over a year to heal...and still it acts up sometimes. I think ice was a lot better for mine than heat...and motrin ....but other than that I think you just have to be paitent.
2007-03-05 07:14:41 · answer #1 · answered by aguardiente_blkr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I broke my tailbone and the only thing the doctor can do is prescribe some pain meds. I did a lot of standing for the first few weeks. One thing that helped was a foam ring pillow but it takes a long time to heal. I used ice packs to reduce the swelling but it still felt like I was sitting on a football.
2007-03-05 07:33:42 · answer #2 · answered by missingora 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't suppose making sure you didn't misalign your sppine would be a bad thing but if you are comfortable with not going then I would suggest getting a "donut pillow" from a medical supply store.. (just call one and ask if they have them on-hand) the ones we have here are blow-up and look like a huge doughnut. you should sit on it with your tailbone in the center of the hole, it takes the pressure off of the tailbone and allows it to heal. I'd imagine 2-3 Advil or Motrin would help with the pain too.. :o)
Hope your hind end feels better soon!
2007-03-05 05:30:06 · answer #3 · answered by jawja_punkinpie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isn't much you can do besides sit on a donut until it heals. When I broke my tailbone I just had to sit on the stupid donut until it healed and nothing really helped. They just told me to be careful and let it heal so going to the doctor is not the best idea unless you like to hear sit on a donut until it heals!
2007-03-07 09:33:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋