The tailbone is one of the most common places for a pressure sore to form. This page can’t tell you how serious your mother’s sore is. The first useful step is getting someone to look at it.
Why that spot. Pressure sores tend to form where skin covers bony areas with less tissue under the skin to pad the area, and the buttocks are one of them. The tailbone sits directly under the weight of anyone who spends long periods sitting or lying on their back.
What to report. Describe what you can see, because the stages depend on it. A reddened, painful area that does not turn white when pressed is a sign a pressure ulcer may be forming, with the skin still intact. A blister or an open sore is further along. An area that is dark purple or maroon, or a blood-filled blister under unbroken skin, is a deep tissue injury that can quickly become a severe sore. A covering of dead skin that is yellow, tan, green or brown means the depth can’t be judged at all.
When to call rather than wait. Contact your provider right away if blisters or an open sore develop, or if there are signs of infection: a foul odor from the sore, pus coming out of the sore, redness and tenderness around the sore, skin close to the sore that is warm or swollen, or fever. And if a pressure sore changes or a new one forms, tell your provider.
What to change today, while you wait. Relieve the pressure on the area with pillows, foam cushions, booties or mattress pads, and change position often — about every 2 hours in bed, every 15 minutes in a wheelchair. Do not use donut-shaped or ring-shaped cushions. Avoid slipping or sliding when moving her. Avoid positions that put pressure on the sore. Do not massage the skin near or on it. Check the rest of her skin every day, including the places she cannot see.
What not to do. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or iodine cleansers unless a provider directs it. Do not try to remove any dead tissue yourself. Never attempt debridement at home.
Who treats it. Most stage III and IV sores will be treated by a provider. Stage I or II sores will often heal if cared for carefully, with proper cleaning and dressing. But which stage this is, and so which applies, is something only an exam can settle.