Injury to the Tailbone (Coccyx)
Current as of: March 2, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Injury to the Tailbone (Coccyx)Topic OverviewInjuries to the tailbone (coccyx) can occur when you slip or fall and hit your tailbone (impact injury). The most common symptom of a tailbone injury is pain when you sit, especially if you slump or sit on a hard seat. Straining to have a bowel movement also can be very painful. Home treatment often eases pain. You have an increased chance of developing an infection when the skin over your tailbone is cut, scraped, or punctured after an injury. Occasionally a spinal injury can occur at the same time as a tailbone injury. This type of injury is serious and requires immediate medical care. Signs of a spinal injury may include loss of bowel or bladder control, weakness in the legs, or tingling or numbness in the buttocks, genital area, or legs. Related InformationCreditsCurrent as of: March 2, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Current as of: March 2, 2020 Author: Healthwise Staff Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
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