Broken Tailbone Fractured

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

by Dr. Foye… www.TailboneDoctor.com

Introduction

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.).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need

Steps

Step One

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 Two

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 Three

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 Four

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 Five

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.

Overall Tips & Warnings

  • For more information on Tailbone pain, please see TailboneDoctor’s other articles on eHow, or go to www.TailboneDoctor.com
  • WARNING: This information is intended to be educational and is NOT to be considered as medical advice. This information is NOT a substitute for direct medical care from a physician who evaluates you in person.
  • WARNING: coccyx pain can sometimes be due to very serious underlying medical conditions, so it is important to seek in-person evaluation by a medical professional.
  • WARNING: Many physicians and other health providers have little or no experience in evaluating or treating tailbone pain or coccyx injuries. If you are not satisfied with the first physician you see, then seek medical attention from a specialist with experience in treating tailbone pain.
  RELATED WEBSITES AND WEB-PAGES:

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Doctor / Physician

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Free Review Article at eMedicine

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Publications

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Information

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Dr. Foye

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Injections

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New Jersey (NJ)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New York (NY)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) New York City (NYC)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Pennsylvania (PA)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Connecticut (CT)

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Images, Xrays, MRI & Photos

Dr. Foye’s Listing on Spine Universe

Information on Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) Relief

eMedicine article on Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain)

Testimonials from Patients with Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain)

Dr. Foye’s Faculty Profile at New Jersey Medical School

Tailbone Pain (Coccyx Pain) images on Flickr


Dr. Foye’s “How to” articles on Tailbone Pain:
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How to tell if you have a DISLOCATED TAILBONE (COCCYX DISLOCATION)

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

How to tell if you have TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYX PAIN)

How to describe TAILBONE PAIN (COCCYX PAIN)

How to Pick a COCCYX CUSHION (TAILBONE CUSHION) for Coccyx Pain (Tailbone Pain)

How to know if your MRI included the TAILBONE (COCCYX MRI)

How to Cope with TAILBONE PAIN DURING PREGNANCY

How to SIT with TAILBONE PAIN

How to Decide about Tailbone Removal (Coccyx Removal Surgery, Coccygectomy) for Tailbone Pain

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 Patrick Foye, M.D.,
Director of the Coccyx Pain Center,
PM&R at Rutgers
New Jersey Medical School,
90 Bergen St,
DOC Suite 3100,
Newark, New Jersey,
USA, 07103For an appointment, call:
973-972-2802
TAILBONE PAIN


 Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013.
Patrick Foye, M.D.
www.TailboneDoctor.com
and
www.Tailbone.info
and
www.TailbonePain.net

 

Disclaimer:
This web site is for
general informational purposes only.The information should not be
considered as medical advice.The information is not a substitute for appropriate in-person care
by a physician
with expertise in evaluating
and treating tailbone pain.This website
is not meant to represent
official views
of any university,
medical school,
hospital, etc.
 

 

Effective July 2013:
New Jersey Medical School is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.