A tailbone injury can make it painful to stand, sit, and lie down. Common in athletes, this type of injury can also be caused by any type of fall, especially onto a hard surface. An especially bad fall can bruise the coccyx, which is at the end of the spinal column. This bone is the most pronounced when sitting, and even sitting for a long time can cause an injury to this area. When this bone is damaged, it can cause discomfort and pain. Thankfully, there are remedies to help heal this type of injury. This blog post presents information about how patients sustain tailbone injuries and how chiropractic care can help treat these injuries. To undergo chiropractic care for a tailbone injury, contact the Temecula, CA practice of Dr. Nathen Horst.

What Causes Tailbone Injuries?

Anyone who has ever fallen on their buttocks knows the sharp pain that can occur at the base of the spine. For most people, this pain is immediate, but not prolonged, as there is no serious issue. These types of falls, however, can injure the tailbone, causing severe pain and discomfort. Falls in which the person lands directly on the buttocks and especially when on the upper part of the buttocks (extremely common when falling on stairs, for example) are the most common cause of tailbone pain, but they are not the only cause. Sitting for prolonged periods of time on hard furniture can also cause pain. Unfortunately, many professions require prolonged amounts of time sitting, which can result in tailbone pain. This can occur even if the individual is fairly active otherwise.

When experiencing a tailbone injury, the muscles around the bone will become stiff. Swelling may accompany this stiffening. The coccyx may pull away from where it should be, which can compress nerves in the area, causing the pain a person feels after an injury to the region. Inflammation and irritation may also be present, creating more pain.

How Can Chiropractic Care Help Tailbone Injuries?

Chiropractic care is often the best solution for resolving a tailbone injury. As the coccyx moves out of alignment, it irritates and compresses surrounding nerves and tissues. A chiropractor can move that bone back into alignment, relieving the pressure that is causing pain. Adjusting the spine will usually relieve any discomfort, but it may also be paired with massage and rehabilitation in order to ensure that the spine remains in the most optimal alignment.

The chiropractor may also use a number of exercises to help to strengthen the muscles around the tailbone and stretching will usually also be implemented to ensure that the important ligaments and tendons in the area are not torn or strained.

In some cases, surgery may be necessary, if the injury to the tailbone is very severe. In almost every other situation, chiropractic care is the best solution.

For more information about chiropractic care for tailbone injuries, or to make an appointment, please contact us at Horst Chiropractic today. Any of our staff can help make an appointment or schedule a consultation.