If you’re one of the many people who have been working from home this past year, you’ve doubtlessly discovered that an impromptu home office isn’t very comfortable. And while we hope you’ve been able to get a more ergonomic setup by now, many people are still dealing with long-term discomfort. At Kosak Chiropractic in Fairfield, we provide compassionate, non-invasive, non-addictive treatments for musculoskeletal disorders. We regularly treat people suffering from pain in their lower backs, necks, and shoulders, but today we wanted to talk about pain in one of the more neglected parts of the spine: the tailbone.
Like the backbone, the tailbone is actually a collective term for several different bones. Below the lumbar vertebrae, which are where the nerves to the legs emerge from, is the sacrum, a structure of fused vertebrae that the hip bones attach to, and below it is the tailbone, also known as the coccyx. The coccyx is made up of several partially-fused vertebrae and it forms an anchor for the muscles of the pelvic floor. The coccyx is well-protected from most injuries, and even if a person feels pain in that area, the bones themselves are unlikely to be broken. However, the pelvic floor muscles may be strained and inflamed, and the tailbone may have become overly stiff or hypermobile as a result.
Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is likelier to strike women and can result from injuries sustained from childbirth or activities such as bicycling and horseback riding. However, it would be felt most intensely when the patient is seated. We can provide wedge and doughnut-shaped cushions that would allow a person to sit comfortably without putting pressure on their pelvic floor while it heals. But to ensure it heals correctly, we might also provide chiropractic adjustments, along with anti-inflammatory treatments such as therapeutic ultrasounds and recommendations for core strengthening exercise.
Kosak Chiropractic is located at 1252 Travis Blvd., Suite G, Fairfield, CA, 94533. To schedule an appointment, visit Kosak Chiropractic online or call 707-426-1111.