With more people working from home, many are finding it painful to sit at a computer all day with fewer reasons to move around. But while most people feel soreness in their lower backs, necks, and shoulders, a few people are also suffering aches around their tailbones. At the Carrollton chiropractic office of Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete), we provide non-invasive, non-addictive treatments to keep the musculoskeletal system in alignment and reduce inflammation. We can help people suffering aches in their tailbones, but we want them to understand what’s happening and what to expect.
The tailbone is also known as the coccyx, and pain around it is known as coccydynia. It is made up of several fused vertebrae and dangles beneath the sacrum, which is a similar, but larger structure. The way a woman’s legs connect to her pelvis causes her to put more weight on her coccyx when she sits than a man does, which is why coccydynia tends to be more common and more severe in women. Although the tailbone itself is unlikely to be fractured, the pelvic floor muscles that attach to it may be strained, causing them to become inflamed. An injury to this area, such as may occur during horseback riding, could also cause hypermobility of the coccyx.
If the area around the coccyx doesn’t feel sore during an examination, the pain may actually be originating from somewhere else. But if not, we can assist a patient with lifestyle coaching as well as soft tissue therapy and spinal manipulation. Many patients feel more comfortable sitting on a ring or wedge-shaped pillow with a hole cut out for the tailbone. We can also teach stretches and deep breathing exercises that will improve the strength and flexibility of the pelvic floor muscles.
Dr. Peter Lazarnick is located at 486 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, Georgia, 30117. To schedule an appointment, call 770-832-2226 or visit www.askdrpete.com.