Tailbone pain doesn't clear up on it's own

Angelyn, USA - angelyn.hodgkin@icloud.com

Posted 2022-09-25

I received an injury to my tailbone from riding a bike. I took my legs off the pedals to show off for my two year old and went down a drop. All my weight went into my bike seat causing tailbone pain. I just lived with it because I had heard there was nothing that could be done for a broken tailbone. The muscles got tight and pain became chronic. I just sat less, used a coccyx pillow everywhere I went, and sat in funny positions for way too long.

Two years later I wanted to do something about it so I got an X-ray. I found out it was dislocated at the 2nd to last little coccyx bone. I went to a local physical therapist, but what they tried to do for me didn't help at all. It wasn't until I came across Jon's page coccyx.org that I started to understand my condition better. Personal stories that were relatable. The journey on the right path to healing started with the list of providers in WA state on this site.

I contacted Dr. Brian Chan, DC, Chiropractic Physician in Seattle and he spent almost an hour's worth of time talking me through my options and helping me understand what was going on in my tailbone. But he was 2 hours away from my home and we actually didn't think that what he offered was what I was needing. My muscles were the painful part and I needed massage therapy of the pelvic floor. He recommended another office in Seattle, and when I asked if they knew anyone closer to my location they recommended Linnea Comstock, PT and Lori Waterman, PT in the Olympia, Wa area (see Doctors and specialists in the USA, Washington).

Treatment with Linnea made progress steadily with about 1 visit a week for about 17 weeks. Then when full healing just wasn't occuring, I requested I give Lori a try. Within 3 more visits I was 95% recovered. Lori had a different touch and my body just responded to her better. My healing may have been expedited if I'd seen Lori from the beginning, but I am just glad I got better.

Treatment, to be blunt, was painful (less so with Lori's touch, but that was near the end of treatment, and my tailbone had less pain in general.) It required massage through the vagina and the anus. Not fun but so necessary!

After treatment ended I did experience some tailbone pain while sitting and some "popping" of the little joins when shifting around. But I am happy to say that 5+ years later I am 100% pain free and pop free. It took some time for all the muscles to fully relax and stop causing me any trouble.

Lesson learned: when having tailbone pain, if it doesn't clear up on it's own right away and continues and even worsens; do not delay getting the right treatment. I'm so grateful for Linnea and Lori, Physical Therapists with special training/certification in Pelvic Foor Rehab, that have the guts to help people with needs in that part of the body.

I welcome questions.