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I broke my tailbone way back in highschool. I didn't know it was broken because though I was in pain, it wasn't "unbearable" as I thought all bone-breaking pain was supposed to be. Though I suffered for years after that, unable to sit for long or in certain positions, it took me a long time to admit to myself that, yes, I had broken it.
I may have re-broken it with the birth of my first child. I had an epidural then, but I noticed being sore there all of a sudden again.
In fact, it was only within the last year or so that I bothered to check and was shocked to find that my tailbone had healed clear over to one side (can't remember which side now.)
Well, I fell tonight and broke it again.
I know they say there is nothing that you can do for a broken tailbone. But surely there are little things I can do to help and ease discomfort.
But I am also wondering, might I have a second chance to have my tailbone heal aligned properly? What might I do to help ensure that?
Also, what reprocussions could this have on my desire to have natural childbirth again? I don't want to feel my tailbone breaking as I give birth. I am scared now.
Anyone know about how long it takes for it to heal? It probably isn't a terribly bad break, but I can't know for sure.
Any advice, experiences, whatever would be much appreciated. Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Talk to your doctor about options, but unless you broke it in exactly the same place, in order to realign it, they'd probably have to break it again like with other bone fractures that aren't set properly.
Posts: 1214 | Registered: Aug 2005
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That sounds horrible. I don't know anything that could help, but you certainly have my sympathy. ((((Beverly))))
Posts: 1947 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Ouch. I did that when Emma was born-- I think. (It might have just been cracked or severely bruised or something.) They didn't listen to me when I told them it was not "that" that hurt, it was further back. I had to figure it out on my own. >_< Anyway, I sympathize. Sitting on a memory foam pillow helps.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I really admire you for sounding so calm. If I broke my tailbone I would be freaking out right about now! Hope it heals quick!
Posts: 870 | Registered: Mar 2005
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I've knocked my tailbone rather severely. I didn't tell anyone about it although it was difficult walking for the next few days or weeks (I forget which). Perhaps I cracked it, or something... I never even thought about that!
I hope yours heals quickly and that you can find ways to get around the pain, which I remember being quite bad. Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Bev, I'm so sorry to hear that! Lots of muscles anchor at that point, don't they? How well are you able to walk without being in pain?
Hopefully Theca will be able to give you some information (Sara would be good too, but this is probably something a GP would be better versed in than a pediatrician).
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Hey, it just so happens my ex-nurse, Melissa, broke her tailbone last year. Fell on a boat. Her little five year old was quite concerned and went around telling everyone, "Mommy broke her butt." I still tease her about that.
Melissa needed a week off work, the pain was so bad. Then she had significant pain for several weeks. It healed pretty well after that. I think she used a nice blow-up donut shaped chair pad to sit on. It seemed to really help the first week or two.
I'm not sure about the specifics on tailbone fracture outcomes, I'll do some checking. It won't be for a few hours, though, Rita's eyewall is two hours south of my parents house at the moment and I'm a little distracted.
Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I stayed in bed as long as I could let myself this morning. The pain is so much worse now than last night. Funny, right after falling, I had very little pain, and the pain slowly got worse and worse. Now I am wondering what on earth I am going to do about all the responsibilities I have this week. We have guests coming from out of town, a messy house that I'm going to be all embarrassed about if I can't get it clean, shopping to do, Pack Meeting to prepare for and carry out in a few days... and the list goes on, of course.
I know I need to get Porter's help, but I'm one of those silly independant people who hates asking for help. After I've asked for several things, I tend to get tired of asking and start doing stuff on my own. But I'm in enough pain right now that I think I might humble myself a little more today.
The funny thing is, if I sit on a *hard* chair and sit forward, I am totally fine. If I sit or lay on something soft, @#%$#& freakin' OUCH!
I checked last night, and my tailbone curves *way* to the left. I fell on my right side, probably pushing it further left. I don't even want to think abut trying to "set" it. Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Thanks, Trisha. Actually, my doctor lives in my neighborhood, but I feel like it is inappropriate for me to call her in any other capacity but in the office.
quote:Bev, I'm so sorry to hear that! Lots of muscles anchor at that point, don't they?
You know, that is my understanding as well. I've heard of people who have their tailbones removed entirely in hopes to overcome chronic pain. I've heard that quite often it doesn't help like they are hoping and causes more problems. I guess there is just no easy answer.
Sitting or standing still I'm OK. Walking hurts a lot more now than last night, and bending over is agony. A sudden shift to the side is far worse.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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I'm sorry! Seriously, though - you're pregnant with a broken tailbone? Ask Porter for help even though you hate it and don't worry about the housework - believe me, guests are going to understand! Take a break and get some rest. Healing is awful hard work if your body is exhausted.
posted
I went to an InstaCare doctor. It is soooo good to have family nearby! Porter took our boy to his gymnastics class, my mom-in-law took the other two to her house where my bro-in-law watched them, and she took me to the doctor.
It is the doctor's opinion that since I didn't fall directly on my tailbone, I probably didn't actually break it. She also talked about how the tailbone often heals in a "flimsy" way, connected by fibrous tissue but still flexible--often causing pain. (My tailbone has never stopped bothering me after that fall in high school--but I have learned to work around it.)
Since I am pretty sure I broke my tailbone back then (bad enough that it is skewed way to the left) I think it is possible that I have one of these "incomplete" bone sets--and that possibly that fibrous tissue got torn and traumatized when I fell. That would explain the extreme pain if my tailbone is ever jostled to the side--it is bending slightly and pulling on traumatized tissue in the process.
Maybe it will heal faster than a break would. But this hurts far more than when I actually broke it all those years ago.
The baby has a good strong heartbeat and good movement, but I am to watch for any bleeding and immediately go in for a stress test in case the lil' one was damaged in some way. I feel confident that the baby is fine--but I will watch for any bad signs nonetheless.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Pooka, I am crossing my fingers and hoping that this coming Friday I will be feeling better.
*hopes*
KQ, maybe I should try that. Porter and I both sleep in memory foam pillows (and love them!) I am afraid, though, since sitting on soft chairs seems to cause me a lot of pain.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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I know. I discovered it by accident, trying to prop myself into a better position in the car on a road trip. It doesn't feel like a soft surface, especially if you put it on a hard chair. And it really can relieve some of the pressure.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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The odd thing people don't realize about soft surfaces is that they cause your muscles to have to engage in order to keep your bones in place. That's why sleeping on a very firm bed can actually be more restful than sleeping on a soft one. But the memory foam is suppose do combine give with immobility, so it could work.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I heard they have people sit in these kind of inner tube thingies in the hospital sometimes while their arse bone is mending.
Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Ack! I think I was in junior high school when a friend wanted to go roller skating (hmmm i'm dating myself here). Fool that I was I tried it and both my feet rolled away and I landed squarely on my bottom. I have always been convinced that I cracked or broke my tailbone. I couldn't sit comfortably for over a year and it twinged with some movements. That sucks. I hope you heal up quickly.
I second the pillow on a firm chair thing from KQ. That also worked for me. I will mention that it didn't give me any problems with childbirth later on, including one instance of back labour where my baby actually emerged posterior.
Of course I didn't reinjure it while pregnant but maybe you'll heal up in time. Here's hoping. ((beverly))
Posts: 251 | Registered: Apr 2005
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With the birth of my first baby, the doctor purposely broke my tail-bone. With each birth after, my tail-bone was broken. (Large family). The only long-term problem you will have is that (as with most injuries), it will hurt occasionally. Who knows, maybe you'll be able to predict the weather with your bottomus. Also, arthritis of the tail-bone.
Posts: 1 | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by beverly: I don't even want to think abut trying to "set" it.
I had a bone reset once, without any anesthetic. It's not as bad as you'd think. Of course, that was my thumb; a tailbone might hurt a lot worse.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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Ah, I assumed you knew for sure you had rebroken it. From what I saw there are certain types of fractures, if displaced, that need surgery. Most don't. Some sites suggested limitations on weight bearing activity. Some sites discussed corset use... I know nothing about that.
I do suggest you go to a medical supply store and try out the donut or ring pillow.
Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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No, Theaca, I don't really know whether or not I rebroke it, and they can't do X-rays on me with me being preggers. (They were going to, until I quickly explained my condition. ) I assumed I rebroke it because it hurts worse than when I did.
I am hesitant to purchase a donut cushion. I tried sitting on memory foam in the car today, and it just hurt worse than finding a position that "works" in the car chair and staying still. Since I am quite comfortable as long as the chair is hard or at least very firm, I think a donut cushion is probably unnecessary and might even be slightly less comfy.
It is good to know that I can sit with little-to-no discomfort, but moving around is still a big limitation.
Thanks for the kind words and advice. I am hoping that as the swelling goes down I will be feeling much better.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
donut cushions help. If possible (dunno if this would work for you) try to sit with your legs curled up to one side, so the pressure of sitting is transferred to the side of one of your thighs instead. This is my normal sitting position (I have a condition which is like having a permenantly broken tailbone) and I find it really helps.
Posts: 3493 | Registered: Jul 2001
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I don't know anything that could help, but you certainly have my sympathy. ((((Beverly))))
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I really admire you for sounding so calm.![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
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) I assumed I rebroke it because it hurts worse than when I did. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
