Tailbone Pain and the Pelvic Floor
Can you think back to a time where you have fallen on your tailbone? Whether it was 15 years ago or a few months ago, the trauma to the tailbone can often result in several pelvic floor-related issues.
Common injuries to the tailbone include direct trauma, such as slipping and falling or prolonged direct pressure to the tailbone like during childbirth. Indirect causes of tailbone pain may be due to an injury to nearby structures such as vaginal and/or perineal tearing during childbirth. No one person presents exactly the same way following an injury.
When your body detects pain, your brain sends a signal to protect the area further, which can lead to muscle guarding in that region. In the case of a tailbone injury, the pelvic floor muscles may start to guard this area by not being able to “release.” Essentially they become stuck in a constant state of activation or contraction. You may find that you constantly clench your glutes, even while just doing daily tasks like typing on your computer or doing dishes.
If your muscles continue to be in this guarded state, it can then lead to:
- difficulty fully emptying your bowels or straining to do so
- radiating pain into the glutes or inner thigh
- sharp pain when transitioning to and from a sitting to standing position
- pain with sex
If we take a look at the anatomy of the pelvis, we can see that the pelvic floor muscles, which are shaped like a sling or hammock, attach from the tailbone and run to the front pubic bone. Those muscles support all of the structures above it including the rectum, uterus and ovaries, bladder, and vagina.
This image of the pelvic floor illustrates the proximity of the tailbone to the pelvic floor muscles, and makes it clear that an injury to the tailbone can be the source of multiple symptoms!
It is common to hear stories of people who have bruised their tailbone or even fractured it(!) and have just waited until the pain goes away! Oftentimes, though, the pain doesn’t go away but can shift and create new symptoms like the ones mentioned above.However, there is a lot we can do to treat these muscles and prevent ongoing pain and related symptoms.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is an excellent resource to determine the root cause of your pain. Your physical therapist will work with you to plan a comprehensive treatment program that not only addresses your symptoms but also works toward your goals!
Schedule your FREE 30 minute consultation with one of our pelvic health physical therapists: