How to tell if you have a BROKEN TAILBONE (FRACTURED COCCYX)

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By TailboneDoctor, eHow Member

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From: www.TailboneDoctor.com

By: Patrick Foye, M.D., Director of the Coccyx Pain Service at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, N.J. (www.TailboneDoctor.com)

A TAILBONE FRACTURE(BROKEN COCCYX) is one cause of TAILBONE PAIN. If you are having tailbone pain (coccyx pain, also called coccydynia), you may want to know whether or not you actually have a tailbone fracture (a coccyx that is broken, chipped, cracked, or shattered). Some people may incorrectly believe that it is pointless to determine if the tailbone is fractured because they incorrectly believe that there is no treatment available. In my medical career as a physician who has treated at least hundreds of patients with tailbone pain, I would disagree. In actuality, making a correct diagnosis can help everyone (such as the patient, physician, family, employer, insurance companies and others) to understand why the patient is having so much pain. Identifying the fracture can also help everyone understand why the tailbone pain may persist for longer than it might if the tailbone had only been bruised or sprained. Documenting the tailbone fracture can also have legal implications if the patient needs to prove that their coccyx was significantly injured during an accident at work or elsewhere. Documenting the fractured tailbone can also help reassure the patient and others that the tailbone pain is due to a "real" and substantial injury (and that these symptoms are not just "all in the patient's head"). Also, there are treatments available for tailbone pain and tailbone fractures. The steps below can help you and your doctor tell whether or not a fracture is the cause of your sore or aching tailbone (painful coccyx, coccyx bone pain, etc.).

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A physician
Medical imaging studies (such as x-rays, MRI, or CT scan)

Step 1

Clarify if there was any trauma to the tailbone region. Tailbone fractures sometimes occur due to blunt force causing injury at that location. Common examples include falling on the tailbone (landing on the coccyx) and similar injuries. Make a note of when the tailbone injury occurred and how it happened.
Step 2

See a physician. Tell the doctor about your tailbone symptoms. Ask the doctor to perform a careful physical examination that should specifically include checking to see if the pain is really coming from the tailbone are not. The doctor should know where the tailbone is and ideally should be able to tell you if that is your most tender spot or not.
Step 3

Understand that relying solely on the symptoms and physical exam will rarely ever be able to confirm whether the tailbone is fractured. Some injuries cause lots of tailbone pain and the coccyx region clearly shows that the overlying skin is bruised, but there may be no fracture at all. Other tailbone injuries may hurt less and have less visible bruising, but may indeed have a tailbone fracture. Thus, medical imaging studies are almost always needed to make a confident diagnosis of tailbone fracture.
Step 4

Ask the doctor what medical imaging studies could confirm whether the tailbone is fractured or not. Ask the doctor if they will give you a prescription (radiology orders) to have the tests done. Usually, the tests would be tailbone x-rays or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), but CT scans (CAT scans, or computerized tomography scans) may also occasionally be needed.
Step 5

Web Search for Tailbone Doctor

If your doctor is not experienced at evaluating tailbone pain, or is not compassionate about your tailbone symptoms, or is not aware of non-surgical treatments to offer you, then seek a second opinion from a physician with more expertise in this area. By searching on the Internet, you can probably find a physician who offers specialized care for patients with tailbone problems. Sometimes you may need to travel to reach such a specialist, but it may be worthwhile if you can get the answers, treatment and relief that you deserve.

Comments

claypot86 said

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on 10/4/2008 I fell on my coccyx in aug 08 and i am in agony.i went to the hospital 2 weeks after the incident as i was on holiday at the time and they said theres no point in an x-ray but from the examination they believed it was broken.They could only offer me 2 weeks of morphine to ease the pain and 2 months on it feels worse than ever!!!
i am very cautious when it comes to my coccyx as unlike any other 'normal' woman mine actually curves outwards instead of under (i understand a males coccyx is straight)I find it is most painful when trying to stand and not actually when i am sat although it is uncomfortable....i feel like gravity is trying to pull my coccyx to the floor and the burning sensation is unreal.Last year i saw a specialist about my low coccyx who said i could have course of steroid which they can only offer 3month max or it to be operated on which is a 50-50 chance of success....i am

alisonwhite0 said

on 7/14/2008 I am pretty sure my tailbone is fractured based on the evidence that I can move my tailbone from the outside around. There is little pain but it has been at least three months since it was injured and is still quite mobile. I am planning on getting an x-ray but I am slightly opposed to having fingers jammed in my rectum. What are my options?