Jill Kolodner | October 26, 2023 | Personal Injury

Symptoms of a Broken Tailbone

If you have broken your tailbone in a car accident or other incident, you could be experiencing many kinds of pain or other sensations. In some cases, victims of tailbone injuries have very little pain or debilitating symptoms. In other cases, however, the pain and disability are overwhelming.

Regardless of the degree of the break, it is important for all victims of broken tailbones to seek immediate medical care to address the fracture. Failure to do so can lead to serious medical problems that last years or even a lifetime. 

What Are the Potential Symptoms of a Broken Tailbone?

The tailbone is located at the base of the spine and is made up of three to five different sections. The location and complex makeup of the tailbone make diagnosing a break somewhat complicated. 

In most cases, tailbone injuries involve bruising or pulled ligaments near the tailbone rather than fractures. 

But when fractures do occur, it’s important to recognize the symptoms, which include:

  • A near-constant aching pain just above the buttocks in the lower back
  • Pain that increases when sitting or standing from a position of sitting
  • Inflammation and swelling near the tailbone
  • Pain at the tailbone that increases during bowel movements
  • Pain at the tailbone that increases during sexual intercourse
  • Uncharacteristic bowel movements

Numbness, pins and needles, or tingling in the leg is also a symptom of a broken tailbone, especially when accompanied by other symptoms on the list above. 

Diagnosing a Broken Tailbone

At the end of the day, only a doctor can officially diagnose a broken tailbone. The procedure begins by reviewing a patient’s medical history and considering the event that caused the injury. 

Next, the physician will conduct a physical evaluation, including a rectal exam. Doing so will provide the doctor with more information to help make a diagnosis. During this examination and after taking a thorough medical history, the doctor might find the cause of the symptoms to be something other than a broken tailbone, which is common.

Tools doctors use to help them diagnose broken tailbones include:

  • Their own hands
  • X-rays
  • MRIs

Consultations with other physicians also help doctors come to a proper diagnosis.

Common Causes of Broken Tailbones

Most tailbone breaks come about due to blunt-force trauma. 

So, any context in which the tailbone is exposed to this type of trauma can cause a fracture, such as:

Excessive pressure that leads to crushing injuries can also cause a broken tailbone. In rare cases, tailbone fractures may come about due to causes not related to blunt-force trauma or force, such as fractures caused by medical conditions that weaken the bones.

What Compensation Can You Seek for a Broken Tailbone?

If you have been in an accident or other incident that caused you to suffer a broken tailbone, you can potentially seek damages to cover your losses. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation to see how they can help. 

The damages you may be entitled to could cover the medical costs you have incurred and will incur over the years, as well as the income you have missed out on because of your injury. 

But there’s more. You can also seek non-economic damages, which are meant to compensate for intangible losses. Common intangible losses include pain and suffering, permanent disability, and paralysis. 

Contact The Baltimore Personal Injury Law Firm Of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help

For more information contact the Baltimore personal injury law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.

WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144

WGK Personal Injury Lawyer – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
(410) 970-3080