Hi all. Was jogging with my dog on a paved trail and our snow had melted. However, I stepped on some leaves that had ice under them and I went straight on my backside. I had my hands in my pockets, so couldn't break my fall. The pain was intense and awful and I lay there for a few minutes. I got up and went home and called my pcp's nurse and she said it might be broken or just bruised, so no reason to x-ray. The pain is right in my butt checks (excuse the words) and it hurts a lot. No sign of any bruising outwardly. I have been on a low prednisone dose so was worried about my bones. I have a lot of muscle on my gluteal area as I work out quite a bit. This may be just a bruise inside. Any way I could have hurt the bones that are under the buttock tissue? It hurts to stand up or squat down and sitting is tough. I don't have pain with bowel movements. Using ice and ibuprofen. This happened Thursday afternoon and I taught my classes Friday (I am a p.e. teacher) because I wouldn't be sitting down much. Any ideas? It really hurts down the back of my legs.
Hi trci,
Two thoughts:
1. Such a fall on your buttocks will leave you bruised. The pain will take some time to dissipate, in my experience. You may have pulled some muscles as well. Nothing broken always sounds reassuring, but sprains, strains and bruises can take forever to feel better.
2. Walking with hands in pockets or hands full (stairs particularly) is a recipe for disaster.
We have all done it, but then we learn the hard way that having our hands free is important. I hope you feel better soon.
I once bruised my tail bone on a children's merry-go-round at a park...and it was months and months before the pain went away. NO FUN!
Hugs, Elaine
Like Elaine, your experience brought a bruised tail bone to mind. The buttocks pain you are experiencing may not be the result of injury to them but of momentary compression of the tail bone and the nerves serving them causing 'referred' pain. Barring catastrophic injury the only cure is time. On the other hand a chiropractor can make sure everything is as it's supposed to be.
Reminds me of a time long ago as a teen when I took a similar fall onto my backside off a skateboard and decided just to lay in the street for a few minutes. After a couple weeks everything was fine but kids are immortal and adults not so much.
It is hard to know what is going on and the thing that may help is knowing just how you fell. It could also be that you fell in such a way that your pelvis could have gotten cracked. I highly doubt it but just something to think about as the darn prednisone changes the game.
Also, you may have also bruised the sciatic nerve in the area where you fell. If you did, you may find that as time progresses the pain will become more localized and pretty miserable. Also, sciatic pain can radiate down the leg, inner knee area and down into the heel. Try looking up "sciatic nerve images" on some search engine. This may help you isolate just where the pain is. Do not hesitate to call doc and get an x-ray if things don't improve. Good luck. irish
Thank you for all for your ideas. Yes, I know hands in pockets is a no-no and I never do it-but did this time! I spent the weekend icing and resting and I believe I am better today! I think I just bruised everything down in my buttocks area because it responded to icing. I ski and skate and am super active year around and am thankful for the gluteal muscles as they protected my bones I am sure. Now my neck is cracking and stiff, no doubt from the sudden jolt when I landed. Icing rest and yes some exercise has helped!! Thanks to all and be careful out in the ice and snow!!