Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers | May 13, 2025 | Personal Injury
The tailbone is a small, triangular bone at the base of the spine. It’s not a body part that people regularly give much thought to, but it plays an essential role, supporting you when you sit and keeping your balance steady when you stand up. If it becomes damaged, those everyday movements can become practically unbearable.
Most often, a person’s tailbone is damaged in a fall that results in them landing on their rear end or lower back, such as slipping on ice, falling down stairs, or any sort of fall that occurs in the workplace. Regardless of how it happens, though, everyone experiences the effects of a broken tailbone differently; the symptoms can be immediate or creep in slowly.
With that in mind, you must come to recognize the symptoms of a broken tailbone, listed below, so you can react appropriately, receive adequate care, and consider consulting the best personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, if the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Persistent Pain
Pain isn’t an end-all, be-all sign that your tailbone is broken, but it’s typically the first and most obvious. When it won’t go away, you’re suffering from a condition called coccydynia. Most people will feel it when they sit down, especially on a hard surface, and doing things like standing up or leaning back can make it worse.
The pain itself is usually sharp and stabbing, but a less severe injury can feel like a dull, nagging ache. It can spread to the lower back and even the hip area; for some, it won’t stop even when they’re up and moving around.
Swelling And Bruising Around The Area
A broken tailbone often comes with visible signs, too. You might see swelling near the base of the spine, and the area might feel tender to the touch. The skin might even turn purple or blue if the impact causes a bruise to form. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but when it does, it can make sitting even more painful.
Numbness Or Tingling
Tailbone fractures can affect the nerves around the area and trigger tingling, numbness, and even burning sensations in the legs, lower back, or rear end. Nerve-related symptoms like these don’t always show up, and in some cases, they might come and go. Nevertheless, if they stick around, they could be a sign of nerve compression or another form of serious damage.
Difficulty With Basic Movements
Something as simple as climbing in and out of a car can become a major struggle when a person has a fractured tailbone. Any movement that shifts your weight, whether it is bending, twisting, or standing, can trigger a sharp pain. Many people catch themselves constantly moving around because they can’t find a position that offers any genuine relief from the discomfort.
Walking might not be too painful, but movements like squatting, lifting, and leaning forward can also cause a deep ache. The body reacts by trying to protect the injured area, which can cause the muscles in the lower back to tense up.
Pain During Bowel Movements Or Intercourse
Since the tailbone sits close to the area of the body responsible for these actions, any pressure that would normally arise from them can put added pressure on the injury and aggravate any swelling and inflammation. People sometimes avoid using the bathroom altogether because of the pain, and that can lead to more serious problems like constipation and infections.
Why It Matters From A Legal Standpoint
Many people don’t take the idea of a tailbone injury seriously until they experience it for themselves. It might not sound like a big deal compared to something like a brain injury or spinal trauma, but it can lead to hefty medical bills, missed time from work, and long, painful recoveries.
If another person’s negligence caused your injury, the law provides options for victims to pursue compensation for their financial losses and hold the responsible parties legally (and financially) accountable.
Contact our Indianapolis Personal Injury Lawyers from Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana, today.
We proudly serve Marion County and its surrounding areas.
Rob King & Associates, Trial Lawyers – Indianapolis Office
22 E Washington St #310
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 916-0000
