We went on a river rafting trip yesterday and dh and a few of his friends went cliff-jumping into a deep area. Dh tilted back on one of the jumps and has a real pain in his rear now. I know that a few of you have had issues with tailbone pain before but my search isn't pulling anything up. I'd prefer not to drop $50 on a clinic visit if they're just going to tell him to rest and buy a donut pillow. Is there anything else we can do to relieve his discomfort?

By Debbie on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 03:23 pm:

I bruised my tailbone in middle school, fell while roller skating. They didn't do anything. I hate to tell your dh, it took a long time for the pain to fully go away. I just rested, tried not to sit too long at a time, and took tylenol.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 03:43 pm:

For the moment, ice for 20 minutes every hour today and, if possible, tomorrow, anti-inflammatories (sorry, Tylenol is NOT an anti-inflammatory)(Aspirin, Motrin, I think Aleve - and all should be taken WITH food), a donut pillow or put two pillows almost side by side. If he sits at work, it is worth investing in a donut pillow. If it is still hurting badly by Wednesday, I would definitely call the clinic. I have to say, if it is a fracture there is not much they can do, but sometimes getting a Medpak (steroids, starting with 7 pills and decreasing one pill per day) or a steroid shot will dramatically reduce the inflammation and pain for a significant period of time.

By Crystal915 on Sunday, August 12, 2007 - 10:03 pm:

It's one of those painful things that just takes a while to heal. I've bruised my tailbone, and my mom broke hers, the treatment was the same, rest and Motrin.