Is My Tailbone Bruised or Broken?

You may have bruised or broken your tailbone if you suddenly experience intense pain in the lower back area or on top of the buttocks after a backward fall on a hard surface. It may be painful to move your legs or sit down, which can interfere with everyday life and getting adequate sleep. However, you don’t have to shoulder this pain alone.
If you suspect you have broken or bruised your tailbone, an orthopedic spine specialist at NJ Spine & Orthopedic can examine the area and create a treatment plan for you and your needs. Then, we can give you a course of treatment to ease swelling, pain, and discomfort while waiting for it to heal. Our Concierge Team can collect your medical records, coordinate your appointment, and answer any questions you may have.


What Are the Ways the Tailbone Can Be Bruised or Broken?

Traumatic injury is often the most common way an individual can injure their tailbone. For example, playing contact sports or slip-and-fall accidents are ways that a tailbone can be bruised or broken. Repetitive activities like cycling or rowing can also strain the tailbone, causing it to be injured.

Ligaments and muscles around the tailbone can be stretched and strained during childbirth, causing pain in that area or, in rare cases, causing the tailbone to break. If the pain doesn’t disappear in a few months, you’ll have to consider treatment options to help heal the tailbone. In addition, you may need physical therapy if the symptoms don’t get better.

The Symptoms of a Bruised or Broken Tailbone

Symptoms of a bruised or broken tailbone will often be immediately apparent after a traumatic impact on that region. Symptoms may include:

  • Tenderness and pain in the lower back
  • Pain on top of the buttocks area
  • Numbness or pain while sitting
  • Bruising and swelling at the base of the spine.

Although injury to the tailbone is not an emergency, you may still want to visit a medical professional. They can X-ray the region to see if the tailbone is bruised or broken and can give you a treatment plan to heal faster and relieve pain and discomfort. However, you should get treatment as soon as possible if you experience the following symptoms:

  • When the injury is not healing as expected
  • You experience a sudden increase in pain or swelling
  • Sudden numbness, tingling, or weakness in one or both legs
  • When constipation is an issue over time
  • You cannot control your bowel or bladder

If you have any of these symptoms, you must see a doctor. There may have been ligaments or muscles that were damaged when the tailbone was injured.

Reach Out for a Consultation From the Spine Experts at NJ Spine & Orthopedic

If you are experiencing intense pain resulting from a hard backward or seated fall, consult our NJ Spine & Orthopedic bone health specialists. We can perform examinations and imaging scans to diagnose the problem. Then, we can come up with a treatment plan to relieve your pain and put you on the road to recovery. We will be here with you every step of the way during treatment to make sure you get the help you need and deserve. 

Our skilled doctors specialize in bone health and pain management. If you’re experiencing bone pain but don’t know what can be causing it, call our offices at (866) 553-0612 or complete our contact form. You don’t have to deal with tailbone pain alone – we can make sure you can go back to daily life without discomfort or other symptoms.

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