Question
Hi i fell down the stairs 3 years ago, i suffered a fracture of the sacral area, i am still in constant pain around the coccyx area, i have been told i will just have to live with the pain I have tried a chiropractor who said my coccyx could be misaligned, also i had a steroid type epidural into the sacrum and the chiropractor felt this could have contributed to my pain.I saw the chiropractor for 10 treatments but did not fell much improvement I then went to see a acupuncturist and had 10 treatments with them aswell but again the pain relief was only short, i had both normal acupuncture and the tens machine type.I find it painful to sit for more than 15 mins, i have a coccyx cushion which helps a bit, the pain at its worst is just before and during my period My gp said he feels its neuropathic pain and there is nothing he can do.I am currently on Amitriptyline and menefamic acid for the pain.Could you offer any advice on anything that may help, is it worth going back to a chiropractor? I am 29 years old and have 2 children

Answer
Michelle,

A subluxated or mis-aligned Coccyx can definitely be bothersome and could be the root cause of your problem. The area can be irritated just by normal activities of daily living.

You might discuss this issue with your gynecologist believe it or not. There is a procedure whereas you would undergo twilight anesthesia and your gynecologist would attempt to re align the coccyx. Because of the anatomical position of the coccyx the gynecologist would actually take a contact on the coccyx through the rectum and pull/adjust the coccyx into position.

I have never performed this maneuver nor have I observed the procedure but do remember discussing the procedure at a post graduate radiology class. Little else can be done if the cause of the pain is in fact the displaced coccyx. I recall the radiologist saying this is a difficult procedure for the Gynecologist because of the tissues that surround and actually attach the coccyx to the Sacrum.

A procedure that is less invasive would be to find a chiropractor who practices Thompson Terminal Point Technique and see if he/she could help with Sacral drop work.

I hope this sheds light on your health issues.

Sincerely,
Dr John Q Quackenbush
Chiropractic Physician Phoenix Arizona