Broken Tailbone Symptoms
Some people are living and working without even knowing that they have a broken tailbone. Symptoms can mimic those of a bruised tailbone, so many people do not bother seeing a doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Furthermore, some people think that there is nothing that can be done to treat a broken tailbone, so they do not bother to seek professional help, even if that is what they suspect.
Broken tailbone symptoms include significant pain in the area of the tailbone following a trauma to that region of the body. It is important to note that most falls and other trauma to the tailbone will result in a bruised – not broken - tailbone.
It takes a fairly significant trauma applied directly to the bone in order to cause a broken tailbone. Symptoms, as mentioned above, can be similar for both a bruised and broken tailbone. The only way to confirm that the tailbone is broken is by having imaging done.
Some feel that there is no point as most broken tailbone injuries will heal on their own. While it is true that fractures of the tailbone do usually heal without treatment, there are still some very valid reasons to seek a correct diagnosis.
First, while most fractures of the tailbone will heal on their own, there are treatment options available that can make the process far less painful. There may even be a treatment that will help to speed up the healing process.
Also, depending on how the injury was sustained, it may be important to correctly document the injuries for legal or insurance reasons.
Broken tailbone symptoms are fairly simple. If there is pain in the tailbone area, you may be suffering from a broken tailbone. As mentioned earlier, it takes a fairly significant trauma to result is such a break, so unless you have experienced such a trauma, there is no reason to suspect a broken tailbone.
If the pain is quite pronounced and seems to be lasting longer that what you’d expect with bruising, you should visit your doctor. Keep in mind that bruising may not be visible. Also, there could be visible bruising with a broken tailbone. You cannot rely on sight when trying to determine if there is a break.
Even your doctor will not be able to confirm a broken tailbone without the help of imaging such as with an x-ray or MRI.
Because these injuries are fairly rare and difficult to diagnose, you will want to seek the help of a doctor who is experienced with tailbone injuries. Some doctors may be unaware of broken tailbone symptoms. It is best to find someone who has experience in this area.
Unfortunately, there are no broken tailbone symptoms that can, on their own, provide a positive diagnosis. Still, if you suspect that you may have a broken tailbone it is a good idea to visit your doctor.
There may be treatment available, even if that treatment is only to help you deal with the pain. The sooner you visit your doctor, the sooner you could start feeling better.