While hiking in Iceland last week, I decided to slide down the snow on my rear end. This worked really well until just a few feet before the end. For some reason, I suddenly took a turn to the right. I hammered my tail bone on some rocks. Emphasis on hammered. It hurts like hell and looks worse. Oh well, it was only an 8 mile walk out.

Fortunately, the bone is not broken. I am concerned, however, with flying across the Atlantic. The flight back from Iceland was about 1/3 the length of the flight to Johannesburg. It damn near killed me.

Does anyone have any recommendation on how to make such an injury tolerable on the long flight?

Thanks.

Hi Larry.....basically, you are screwed. Past that - Use one of those neck pillow things you can get in the airport on your arse instead of your neck. Take one of your dear significant others anti-inflammatories, and take a pain med or two with some strong ETOH to potentiate the effect. This is going to leave a mark. B

Well, you can always stand for 5 hours with a very tall Scotch in your hand.

Larry,

One of the inflatable donuts used for hemorrhoids might make it bearable.

Larry, it's like your first day in prison! :-)

Business class where you can put the seat down into a flat bed.

Larry,
I cracked my tail bone several years ago.The only help to be had was a hemorrhoid pillow. Just a side note, it was achy for a couple of years.
Good luck!!

What everyone above said about the donut pillow. Next time be more careful! You're not 18 anymore!

the hemorrhoid donut is the only thing that might help and sit on it with the pillow at bit more behind you than would be normal.

Actually, a device is made for this situation. It is basically a square "pillow" with a half circle cut out of one side. The area with the cut out goes right under the affected area. I got one today.

I already have business class.

I am afraid of pain killers.

The flight back from Iceland damn near killed me. I am not looking forward to this.

Tramadol

Well, if you don't want pain killers try some Advil. It will still help.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Actually, a device is made for this situation. It is basically a square "pillow" with a half circle cut out of one side. The area with the cut out goes right under the affected area. I got one today.

I already have business class.

I am afraid of pain killers.

The flight back from Iceland damn near killed me. I am not looking forward to this.

Gonna hurt for over a month. Got any upcoming hunts you need me to proxy in for you?

Cheers
Jim

I was going to say the inflatable pillow so you can get it set the best you can. But the guys beat me too it.

You know that many of the airports have the spa massage going on - so maybe that would help. There is always the Motrin and gin route too.

Years ago I came half the way around the world with some help from a medic and then from BA. When I landed in Houston I went straight to my doctors office. He examined me and then two guys walked in with a wheelchair. I said whatis this. They said we are here to take you to the hospital which was 1/4 mile away in the ambulance. After I had come literally more than half around the world lol. You know how it is.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Actually, a device is made for this situation. It is basically a square "pillow" with a half circle cut out of one side. The area with the cut out goes right under the affected area. I got one today.

I already have business class.

I am afraid of pain killers.

The flight back from Iceland damn near killed me. I am not looking forward to this.

Gonna hurt for over a month. Got any upcoming hunts you need me to proxy in for you?

Cheers
Jim

I appreciate the sacrifice you would make on my behalf Jim. You are a true friend!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Actually, a device is made for this situation. It is basically a square "pillow" with a half circle cut out of one side. The area with the cut out goes right under the affected area. I got one today.

I already have business class.

I am afraid of pain killers.

The flight back from Iceland damn near killed me. I am not looking forward to this.

We could give it a couple of more days and ask Jared from Subway fame his advice....

Sorry....

Jeff

Tylenol PM or Tylenol with codeine or several gins.
Did the same thing in Hungary a few years back and had sit on a Lufthansa flight in coach...

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Actually, a device is made for this situation. It is basically a square "pillow" with a half circle cut out of one side. The area with the cut out goes right under the affected area. I got one today.

I already have business class.

I am afraid of pain killers.

The flight back from Iceland damn near killed me. I am not looking forward to this.

We could give it a couple of more days and ask Jared from Subway fame his advice....

Sorry....

Jeff

Damn it Jeff. You made me start laughing . Now it really hurts.

Another thought......If the pain gets to bad, and you are completely adverse to pain meds - just use that phrase made famous by pregnant women everywhere.....I WANT MY EPIDURAL!!
You cannot piss and your bladder my explode but your coccyx won't hurt.

Pain meds, sleeping pills, and ask the flight attendant for a bulkhead seat to keep the foot elevated.
Cal

You could consider a fluoroscopic guided paravertebral injection of the coccyx with a mixture of lidocaine, Sarapin, and corticosteroid. Painful to get done but effective for pain relief 75% of the time.

I hope you are not staying at Metombo camp.
The road up there will kill you.

That is a good point, I would far less worried about the plane ride than I would bouncing around in a Cruiser.

Don't be a cry baby.Just take a couple of aspirin.

Busted my coccyx several years ago and it hurt like hell for 2 1/2 years. Don't know any solution.....Scotch, perhaps.

Despite others, I would really, really recommend against mixing sleeping meds, narcotics, and alcohol. Especially several hours away from EMS help, like in mid flight...

Dr. Easter has the one practical option, but not too many folks will do it on the medical side...

The cushion, plenty of NSAIDS (like Motrin) and hydrate... Stay away from the booze on the plane while using high dose Ibuprofen unless acute renal failure and kidney stones sound fun.

Honestly, a tailbone contusion or fracture is unpleasant but not life threatening... some of the options that the peanut gallery have offered are potentially so...

Perhaps a cushion like this one made to pad a toilet seat would help. It is 4" thick.

Ziplocks with ice and ice it periodically all the way home.
Plenty of ice on the plane

Really am sorry you hurt your bum, take drugs, don't mix with alcohol, get the pillow, have a massage (good luck with that), yada, yada.

Were you hunting in Iceland and if so, what'd you kill?

Larry:

If the pain is excruciatingly unbearable Tramadol would work as a kick-start med then follow it up every 8-10 hours (depending on pain level) with 500mg Naproxen.

I feel your pain... Cracked my tailbone, then 8mo. later on flight to & from Zim I thought I was gonna scream.. I ended up with a few extra pillows and formed like a seat cushion with ample room for the tailbone..

I got bucked off the caballo del diablo in Argentina toward the end of May. I landed on a hard packed road directly on the middle of my back. It still hurts like hell. Chiropractors haven't been helpful (duh!). I'm afraid to see the real deal.

You might have to stand up the whole way....especially if they know your going hunting. Bastards

Larry

Does it look anything like this;



What I did. Cry and after a week or two the pain eventually went away. Good Luck

Carl Frederik

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Frederik Nagell:
Larry

Does it look anything like this;



What I did. Cry and after a week or two the pain eventually went away. Good Luck

Carl Frederik

Worse. A lot worse actually.

quote:

Originally posted by Cazador humilde:
Really am sorry you hurt your bum, take drugs, don't mix with alcohol, get the pillow, have a massage (good luck with that), yada, yada.

Were you hunting in Iceland and if so, what'd you kill?

No hunting this trip. Just hiking and sight seeing. Fascinating place.

You guys are making my ass hurt now... and my eyes!

Forest Gump... LOl!

Have Jeff apply some every few hours, he is after all a trained medical professional.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Have Jeff apply some every few hours, he is after all a trained medical professional.

I will have him respond to that one Mike. Lol

It is feeling a bit better today . It was a week ago today that i got the injury .