The sacrum is a large and important bone in the human body. It is she who takes on the maximum load and helps a person move around, so a fracture of the sacrum is a very unpleasant diagnosis.
What is the sacrum
The sacrum is a large single bone, which is formed by the fusion of five vertebrae. Its shape is triangular. In the human body, it is located upside down.
A he althy sacral region is very important for a normal human life. It is he who helps the body to move while in an upright position.
If you look at the sacrum, its front part will be smooth and arched. It clearly shows 4 lines along the bone. The inner part of the bone is rough.
Why can there be pain in the sacrum
Complaints from patients to doctors about the disturbing sacral region are very common. Doctors note that women most often experience pain in this place. The fact is that in the female body the sacrum is less developed than in the male, so it is more susceptible to various injuries and injuries. In addition, the bone experiences a greater load duringpregnancy and childbirth.
So why can the sacrum and tailbone still hurt?
- Osteochondrosis. The most common cause of pain in this area.
- Anomalies in bone development. True, this happens extremely rarely.
- Metabolism can also cause pain in this area.
- Infectious diseases.
- Tumors of various kinds.
- Expansion of the pelvic veins. Basically, such an ailment is recorded in females.
- Problems of a gynecological nature.
- Sacrum injury or fracture.
It is worth noting that women also often experience periodic pain in the sacrum during menstruation. Such painful sensations are not considered a manifestation of any disease, but it is worth making sure that these are really periodic pains.
Men can also feel pain in the sacrum. As a rule, they occur with prostatitis or adenoma.
How to recognize a fracture
Fracture of the sacrum has very clear signs. Knowing them, one can easily suspect a violation of the integrity of the bone, but the final diagnosis can only be made after an additional examination.
So, the main signs that a fracture has really occurred:
- sharp pain in the lower back;
- appearance of edema;
- large bruising with bruising;
- with a fracture, as a rule, it is impossible to sit down;
- pain goes to legs;
- frequent urge to urinate;
- pain duringdefecation.
It is worth noting that a fracture cannot be suspected if the patient identifies only one symptom. With such a serious injury, there are always several symptoms.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor sends the patient for an x-ray. How is an x-ray taken for a sacral fracture? We need several images in different projections to assess the extent of damage, as well as to exclude the presence of displacement.
Which doctor should I visit first
Of course, when the sacrum and tailbone hurts, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible. If there was a fracture, then you need to visit a traumatologist, and here there are no difficulties for patients. What if the cause of the pain is not an injury? Where should I run and to which doctor?
So, it is recommended that you first consult a neurologist, since most often patients experience pain due to osteochondrosis. After that, you should visit a urologist or gynecologist and take tests. If the analyzes are bad, then it is necessary to establish the cause. It's possible it's a tumor. Then you should make an appointment with a surgeon or an oncologist.
If this is still not a fracture, not a tumor, not a problem of gynecology or urology, but osteochondrosis, then you should do gymnastics daily, swim in the pool as often as possible and sign up for massage sessions. Also, doctors often prescribe physiotherapy. Attending their course significantly improves the patient's condition.
Fracture symptoms
The main symptoms, if there was a fracture of the sacrum,were listed above, however, in addition to swelling and pain, there are several more signs when the doctor may suspect a violation of the integrity of the bone.
Very often, the pain from a fracture is so severe that the person may experience nausea, vomiting, and an intense headache. With a very strong fracture, even detachment of the skin is possible, but this happens extremely rarely. A contusion of the sacrum, as a rule, hurts only on palpation and with sudden movements. A fracture is accompanied by very strong pains that make themselves felt even during breathing.
If the patient really had a fracture, then only a horizontal state will bring relief to him, while it will be easier for him to lie on his stomach or on his side, but not on his back.
In any case, if the patient has recently had an injury to the sacral region, then he needs to urgently consult a doctor. The fact is that sometimes a full-fledged fracture does not occur, and only a crack forms on the bone. It does not cause much trouble and usually heals on its own, but in the future, it is an improperly healed crack that can bring many he alth problems.
Diagnosis
First, it should be noted that the fracture of the sacrum is divided into two groups: open and closed.
Closed fracture involves only partial destruction of the bone. At the same time, the skin remains intact and there are no visible damage, except for swelling. Sometimes bruising and bruising may occur.
An open fracture is much more dangerous than a closed one. crackedthe bone damages the skin and tears it. From this point of view, open fractures have a worse effect on he alth. Damaged tissues are slowly restored, and due to the fact that a person has an open wound, it is possible to get blood poisoning in the absence of high-quality treatment.
After the doctor has determined which group the fracture belongs to, x-rays must be taken. How is an X-ray taken for a sacrum fracture? Usually this is a picture in two projections. For severe injuries, a CT scan is recommended.
After the diagnosis, the medical worker makes a conclusion, makes a diagnosis and can prescribe (if necessary) the necessary procedures.
Necessary treatment
Fractures take time to heal, especially if it is a sacral fracture. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor based on the nature of the injury.
If the fracture is closed, then the patient is assigned only rest and bed rest. It is necessary to sleep and lie only on a hard surface, which among physicians is called a shield. If the patient's bed allows, then you can put a simple piece of flat plywood. If this is not possible, then you should take care of buying a special couch. A soft roller should be placed under the broken sacrum.
If a patient has been diagnosed with a compression fracture, in this case, recovery can be expected only after the installation of special staples. Due to a compression fracture, the vertebra is compressed, and the victim feels unbearable pain.
If the fracture is mixed, then only surgery will help.
At any stage of healing, pain medications are prescribed to the patient. However, do not get carried away and take them too often. Their constant use minimizes the analgesic effect, and besides, some drugs like Ketanov negatively affect the heart muscle and stomach.
Recovery period
From the first post-injury patient is assigned strict bed rest. Compliance with it is especially important at the recovery stage, because few injuries are more dangerous than a fracture of the sacrum. How long does such an injury take to heal and what else can be done to help the patient?
First you need to think over a set of physical exercises. The patient should not overstrain, but light loads are simply necessary even so that the muscles do not atrophy after prolonged inactivity.
What else needs to be done for a speedy recovery?
- Eat fermented milk products. Kefir, cottage cheese, natural yoghurts are rich in calcium. Calcium helps bones heal faster. It is worth remembering that calcium is absorbed only with fat, so it is better not to get carried away with low-fat sour milk.
- When the patient gets better, it is advisable to enroll him in courses of restorative and therapeutic massage. If it is difficult for him to move, then you can call a massage therapist at home.
- To quickly relieve swelling, you can apply swabs that have been soaked in a decoction of calendula or chamomile. Such compresses are shown only whenclosed fractures.
Usually, patients fully recover within two or four months, but if recommendations are not followed, the recovery period may be extended.
Possible Complications
Some injuries are very insidious, such as a broken sacrum. The consequences can be serious. If the bone is severely crushed, fragments of the rectum or abdominal cavity may be damaged.
With untimely treatment, sometimes the spinal cord is damaged in patients, which is also very dangerous.
But most often, even after recovery, patients report neurological consequences, such as pain syndromes, numbness of the area or its poor mobility.
