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Suggest Remedy For Pain In Coccyx After An Injury

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Posted on Tue, 1 Dec 2015
Question: I fell hard on my back five days ago landing on a metal bar on the floor. It took awhile to be able to stand and since have experienced a great deal of pain in the coccyx area with swelling and bruising. I did not seek medical help. Yesterday and today have noticed tingling and numbness mostly in my right arm and leg. Is there anything I can do beyond icing for 2 days and the moist heat I'm using now. Is the numbness common in this type of injury? Thank you.
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Answered by Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Visit an orthopedician; Get xrays done

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query in Healthcaremagic.com.
This is Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta answering your query.

I understand your concern.
First of all, due to trauma to lower back area and coccyx, tingling and numbness in arm is very unlikely. Probably you had injured your arm also in the process and hence you are having tingling. Or otherwise, this can occur in diabetics, alcoholics or chronic smokers.
The numbness in leg can occur following trauma to lower back, it can be because of nerve entrapment too and in this case, medical attention is required.
You need to get an Xray done of your Lumbosacral spine and coccyx and visit an orthopedician.
Avoid applying moist heat as in acute trauma, heat is not useful. But do continue with ice compression. You can take mild painkillers as and when required. Complete bed rest should be another important thing to follow. Avoid smoking and alcohol if any.

So to brief it up, yes tingling and numbness is possible after such trauma in lower limb, but rarely it happens in upper limb. You should get the investigations done as advised and visit an orthopedician for further management. Also follow the rest as advised.

Hope I have answered your question.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 906 Questions

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Suggest Remedy For Pain In Coccyx After An Injury

Brief Answer: Visit an orthopedician; Get xrays done Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for posting your query in Healthcaremagic.com. This is Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta answering your query. I understand your concern. First of all, due to trauma to lower back area and coccyx, tingling and numbness in arm is very unlikely. Probably you had injured your arm also in the process and hence you are having tingling. Or otherwise, this can occur in diabetics, alcoholics or chronic smokers. The numbness in leg can occur following trauma to lower back, it can be because of nerve entrapment too and in this case, medical attention is required. You need to get an Xray done of your Lumbosacral spine and coccyx and visit an orthopedician. Avoid applying moist heat as in acute trauma, heat is not useful. But do continue with ice compression. You can take mild painkillers as and when required. Complete bed rest should be another important thing to follow. Avoid smoking and alcohol if any. So to brief it up, yes tingling and numbness is possible after such trauma in lower limb, but rarely it happens in upper limb. You should get the investigations done as advised and visit an orthopedician for further management. Also follow the rest as advised. Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help. Regards.