Tailbone Injuries

[Guest guest]

I see where there have been a couple of posts this evening covering

tailbone injuries and falls.

You do NOT need to have a fractured tailbone to end up with long

term problems, including problems that are seemingly totally

unrelated to the tailbone. And it is not uncommon to have the

residual effects literally last for years.

Any sharp blow to or fall upon the tailbone can (repeat can - it is

not automatic that it will happen) cause the tip of the tailbone to

either curve to one side or the other or to curve inward toward the

rectum.

Well, the coccyx is connected to the sacrum and the sacrum is

connected to the lumbar vertebrae, which are connected to the

thoracic vertebrae, which are connected to the cervical vertebrae,

which articulate with the occiput ... etc, etc, etc. This is no

exaggeration - a fall on the tailbone as a kid can end up later in

life contributing to TMJ problems, as one example. It can also be a

factor in headaches, as well as general problems with the spine.

It has been my experience that the tailbone is rarely, if ever,

specifically checked aside from an immediate injury to it. In the

last 35 years I have spent thousands and thousands of dollars either

out of pocket or via insurance to Chiros and Osteopaths for back

problems. Not once did any of them EVER check my tailbone. And I

mean literally not once.

About 14 months ago when I was taking Lymph Drainage II, one of my

classmates said " Mike, your back is all screwed up. Have you ever

had Cranial Sacral Therapy? " My answer was " No. " Her next question

was " Would you like to? " The next two nights after class she

treated me to two one-hour sessions. She started with the tailbone

(which just happened to be curved to one side). In two sessions,

she adjusted the angle of the tailbone, changed the angle of my

pelvis (I think I had an anterior pelvic tilt), removed a slight

scoliotic curvature in my thoracic spine, and realigned my head on

my neck. In other words, a major postural shift. I still get

problems with my back, but nowhere near like I used to. This may

also be a contributing factor in why I no longer get debilitating

tension headaches.

The point is that she started with the tailbone. Unless/until that

was addressed, work further up the spine wouldn't have lasting

results.

What I am suggesting is that if any of you have ever had a good

tailbone injury, regardless of how far back in the past, and you are

having continuing, chronic problems with the spine and/or cranial

bones, you might be well advised to check into a couple of different

modalities. One is obviously Cranial Sacral. Another one that does

well in this area are some of the Polarity Therapy techniques. I

would also not hesitate to ask an Osteo to check it. I am not sure

that I would ask a Chiro.