Subluxation of the Tailbone
Subluxation of the tailbone, a painful misalignment of the "tail" of the spine, can respond to manual realignment and other therapies.
Subluxation
The term "subluxation" refers to a bone misalignment. Subluxation of the tailbone occurs when the coccyx, the small bone at the bottom of the spine, points toward the right or left instead of resting vertically, according to Tailbone.com.
Causes
While some forms of tailbone pain actually come from other parts of the body, a direct trauma to the tailbone can knock it out of alignment, causing subluxation and pain.
Diagnosis
X-rays, typically taken with the patient both standing and sitting, can reveal a fracture or dislocation in the tailbone, while an MRI scan can eliminate the possibility of "referred" pain from a spinal disc.
Treatment
Manipulation from within the rectum can shift a dislocated coccyx back into its proper position. An injection treatment called prolotherapy can relieve pain from a strained ligament attached to the tailbone.
Considerations
PainClinic.org urges patients to seek out surgery on the coccyx only after consideration of other treatment options. If the tailbone pain actually comes from another source than the bone itself, the surgery may prove an expensive waste of time.
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