Fractured Tailbone - help?

[erin23kate]

I apparently fractured my tailbone while delivering my son, who is now almost 4 months old. The pain is still here, and actually seems to be getting worse.

I went to see my midwife and OB, and they told me nothing can be done, aside from painkillers and soft pillows. My midwife also suggested that sometimes chiropractors can help, but that they could also do more damage if I don't go to a good one.

The pain on this is kicking my butt! Any suggestions?

[Morri]

I landed straight on my tailbone when I was barely pregnant thanks to a wet tile floor. The pain didn't start until I was in my 3rd trimester and I'm sure giving birth to my daughter didn't help. The pain finally *almost* went away when my daughter was 10 months or so, but I got pregnant with my son and the pain came back. Anyway, my son is 10 months old and I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the pain will never completely go away. Atleast not for awhile since I am not done having kids. Anyway, here's what I do to help with the pain.
When I'm at home I sit in a semi-reclined position somewhere soft as much as possible. When in a car I have a small travel pillow that I sit on. It doesn't help too much when I'm in the car for more than an hour or so though. At that point I start sitting on one foot if I'm not driving. The key is to not sit with pressure directly on your tailbone. When I give the kids a bath I sit on the toilet with the lid up. At restaurants I always opt for the booth if I can because they usually have softer seats.
The pain does get better over time. But it is easy to re-injure it. If I remember more tips I'll edit.

[XanaduMama]

I also fell and sprained my tailbone while 4-5mo pregnant with dd. I don't think it was broken, but it REALLY HURT. I found an awesome chiro who really helped so much--and she helped cure all my other aches and pains as well. I'd find someone who specializes in pregnancy, maybe--a Webster-trained practitioner, even if you aren't actually pregnant.

Maybe post over in Finding Your Tribe for some local recs?

[thixle]

subbing

My tailbone fractured during both births (almost 5 years and 1.5 years)-- I think bc they were both posterior. I stand a lot, lol.

I would love to re-break it and put it back in the right spot... you know, without it hurting

[jump mama jump!]

(oht) even if it gets better, it can get worse again ...even years later. I really messed mine up (maybe broke - i don't know, i never really got it checked out since i figured they wouldn't do much about it anyway and i was kind of in shock - not realizing how bad it actually was at the time)six or more years ago slipping on ice and falling on stone steps at college. The pain eventually did go away. Now, freaking 6 plus years later, it is back with a vengeance. Just from sitting too much too long in not so comfy chairs getting my baby to sleep (she falls asleep on the boppy on my lap and I have to hold her til she's sleeping deeply enough to put her down, and repeat many times per day/night). I need to get a new computer chair, and it's so bad I'm in massive pain after sitting in any wooden chairs for even short periods of time. Maybe I should try a chiro... an def get more comfy seating for our house.

[HeatherB]

So sorry! I broke my tailbone with my first HBAC. I had no idea why it hurt so much - or what hurt - but it was very hard to sit. Three years later, I was getting a prenatal massage and my therapist said, "Gee, your coccyx is crooked." And then I put the pieces together.

The pain DID go away for me, though the first few weeks were a bit of a challenge. The first days were the worst, though. I found that I could sit best if I sat on my knees, but all the way down, bum on feet, if that makes sense. In that way, both my perineal tear and my tailbone were protected, yet I was resting. Standing really was comfortable, too, and I had to make rotations of laying on one side, another, standing, sitting as well as I could, etc.

I imagine that ice and arnica would be good friends at this point, too!

[LaydieBugs]

I'm so sorry you're still hurting but I'm glad I'm not the only one with tailbone issues from labor ...

I'm much better off with osteopathic manipulations, than chiropractic. Osteopathic work seems better suited for such a tiny area anyway.

[miami mommy]

My tailbone fractured when I was delivering my son, too. My midwife gave me a tube of Traumeel lotion and it worked wonders. It felt mostly healed within a couple weeks.