How to Tell if You Have a Broken Tail Bone

All broken bones are painful, but a broken tail bone is especially uncomfortable. It can make activities like sitting and walking excruciating, and they often take a long time to heal. So how do you know if you have a broken tail bone?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. If you think you might have a broken tail bone, it is best that you see your doctor immediately. Although a coccyx fracture is usually untreatable, a physician can confirm that it is broken and give you medication to manage the pain.

2. Try sitting down. If you experience a sharp pain once you put pressure on your back side, it is possible that you've broken your tail bone. Although it could be a simple bruise, a coccyx fracture is usually far more painful.

3. Does it hurt to take a bowel movement? Often, the muscles surrounding the tail bone are damaged when you break or fracture it, causing pain when you attempt to pass a bowel movement. Consult your doctor immediately if this is the case.

Tips & Warnings

• Sleep on your right or left side to ease the pain at night.
• Sit on a padded cushion or inflatable donut whenever you need to sit on a hard surface.
• It is never a good idea to trust your own self diagnosis. Make a doctor's appointment to confirm whether or not you've broken your tail bone.

[Suz61]

on 12/16/2007 My broken tail bone (1990) took probably 8 years to become painless...at least most of the time. Now and then, with the right provocation, the pain will return but it is always short-lived.