Danger of falling on the tailbone

Many people do not even think that the cause of aching lumbar pain may be a former fall on the tailbone on slippery surface. After all, as is usually happens: a person slipped, fell down, got up, shook snow off and ran his own way. The lower back discomfort in the next two or three days is still felt, but after rubbing analgesic gels and taking painkillers pain gradually ceases, and the person safely forgets this accident. It seems like there is no reason to visit the doctor, because there is nothing to worry about. But few years later a dull, aching pain occurs in the lumbar spine and sacrum, buttocks, and perineum. Subsequently, at an appointment with a neurologist, it turns out that falling on the tailbone did not pass without a trace.

What happens during the fall?

In order to understand the mechanism of injury, it is necessary to recall human anatomy. The tailbone is the outermost (lower) part of spine, and any violation or injury will adversely affect the work of the whole body and internal organs. A tailbone injury may even affect the spinal cord and brain functioning, which are anatomically inseparately incorporated, and the spinal cord, as it is known, is located in the spinal channel. Therefore, the appearance of pronounced headaches after a fall is, unfortunately, not a rare phenomenon. This is due to the change of the spinal cord position and secondary brain effects. In some cases, the cervical vertebrae damage and spinal cord wedging of the occipital area are possible as well.

In addition, against the background of the ignored tailbone injury, degenerative-dystrophic changes in the sacrococcygeal joint develop with time, and the autoimmune processes due to the last intervertebral disc injury (“popping out”) are triggered. This, by the way, explains in some cases the appearance of herniated intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine after 5-7 years after the injury.

How to keep self from such serious consequences and protect self from possible falls on a “bum”? First of all, you need to pay attention to your shoes – girls and women need to stop wearing high heels on icy spots. When buying winter shoes, pay attention to the sole – it should be grooved, but not smooth. You can use special preventive rubber nozzles with anti-slip spikes – ice-boots (ice-drifts).

Movement while walking should be careful and the steps are not wide. There is no need to rush, it is better to leave the house 10 minutes earlier. Watch your step, so as not to stumble. If you are not safe and slipped, try to group and fall on your side. You can avoid serious damage this way.

But remember, the best prevention of winter injuries is caution and wariness!