A tailbone injury, also known as a coccyx injury, is incredibly painful and generally leads to significant discomfort. This type of injury is most often caused by a fall on a hard surface. It can occur when you fall onto the tailbone in a seated position.
The tailbone is at the bottom of the vertebral column and consists of a bony triangular structure made up of 3 to 5 bones held by joints and ligaments. Women seem to be more susceptible to coccyx injures due to the fact that the female pelvis is broader, exposing more of the tailbone.
When you injure your tailbone, you may experience bruising, dislocation or a fracture. Coccyx injuries take a long time to heal. According to WebMD.com, some of the symptoms of a tailbone injury include the following:
- Extreme pain in the tailbone area
- Tenderness
- Visible bruise
- Pain is worse when sitting for prolonged periods
- Direct pressure in the tailbone area causes pain
- Painful bowel movements
If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical treatment. A doctor will be able to diagnose the cause of your pain and decide if there are more serious problems. The treatment for a tailbone injury ranges from self care at home to surgery. Usually, your doctor will prescribe medication to help manage the pain. When there is continued pain, a local anesthetic will be injected into the coccyx. On rare occasions, the coccyx will have to be surgically removed.
A tailbone injury can lead to prolonged periods of pain and can affect your ability to work. If you find yourself in a situation where you are suffering from a tailbone injury that resulted from someone else’s negligence, such as in a slip and fall accident, you may be able to hold that person accountable. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers at 800-350-8888 for a free legal consultation.
