Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: April 22, 2026
Our tailbone rests at the base of the spine, and it’s composed of three to five vertebrae fused together. It’s pretty well protected, but landing hard on your butt can overload the area and lead to a bruised or fractured tailbone. In many instances, bruised and even fractured tailbones can heal without surgical intervention, but you’ll still want to be aware of the symptoms that suggest you should seek a professional evaluation for your tailbone injury. In today’s blog, we explore what symptoms warrant a professional examination after a tailbone injury.
Red Flag Symptoms After A Tailbone Injury
If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms after suffering acute trauma to the tailbone region, consider setting up an appointment with your primary care physician or a spine specialist to ensure your injuries are properly documented and a personalized treatment program can be developed.
- Intense Pain – You’re going to be in some discomfort regardless of whether you’re dealing with a tailbone bruise or a fracture, but if pain is intense or debilitating, head in for a checkup.
- Pain That Persists Or Worsens – With most injuries, pain is most intense at the moment of injury, and then symptoms tend to improve a little as the hours and days pass. This is typical for tailbone bruises and fractures, but that’s not always the case. If your pain levels remain consistent, or if discomfort seems to be worsening as time passes, head in for an evaluation.
- Numbness – Conversely, if pain isn’t present and instead you’re dealing with numbness or tingling sensations in or around the tailbone area, you’ll want to connect with a professional. This could be a sign of nerve damage or compression, and your doctor will want to learn more about the specifics of the injury before recommending a clear course of care.
- Extreme Challenges Sleeping Or Sitting – Sitting is going to be a little uncomfortable no matter how you slice it, but if sitting or sleeping is presenting extreme challenges, sync up with a physician. They may be able to provide you with assistive devices or prescription medication to manage discomfort that intensifies when you try to get off your feet.
- Bladder/Bowel Issues – Finally, if your tailbone issue has led to challenges in the bathroom, you’ll need to seek out medical attention. If you’re finding it difficult to hold or release your bladder, or you’re struggling with bowel movements, additional care is warranted. There could be nerve damage at play that needs to be addressed to ensure bathroom issues don’t continue to persist.
If you’re dealing with any of the above symptoms after a tailbone injury, connect with a medical professional in your area. Also, know that you don’t need to be experiencing any of these symptoms in order to feel justified seeking out medical care for tailbone trauma. If you simply want to learn more about your injuries or the best way to manage them given your unique work or activity demands, reach out to a doctor.
Contact a Twin Cities Spine Surgeon
In the greater Twin Cities area, we hope you’ll choose Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute to be that physician. For more information on how we can assist with tailbone injuries or other problems with your neck and spine, reach out to our team today at (651) 430-3800.
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