W.W. asks from Aliso Viejo, CA on June 12, 2008
Sore Tailbone Post Pregnancy - Anyone Experience This?
I am 4 1/2 months post pregnancy -- and almost two months ago started noticing that my tailbone was really super sore. I researched online and found that this is somewhat normal with vaginal deliveries. I had a c-section. I'm figuring it's from poor posture and holding a baby in my lap for several hours at a time. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone have any suggestions to relieve that soreness? I got a special pillow but it doesn't seem to be helping. Need some yoga strech suggestions or something! Thanks!
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S.F. answers from Santa Barbara on June 13, 2008
Hi W.,
I had tailbone pain at the end and after birth (C-section too). My friend, who is an ER Physician said that many women have a permanent pushing out of their tailbone from the pregnancy/birth. I have noticed that it isn't as "tucked in" as it used to be, but the pain did go away with some chiropractic adjustments. I would definitely try that first.
good luck, S.
J.P. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
Ok, so I'm a mom of 3 AND a chiropractor in San Juan Capistrano specializing in pregnancy, peidatrics and postnatal and I see this weekly in patients who weren't adjusted through their pregnancies. It can be really easy to fix. Sometimes as easy as one or two chiropractic adjustments....and the pain is totally gone. It usually come from hospital births where the mom is laboring and delivering in the lithotomy position (on her back) - it also makes labor much harder, since the tailbone has nowhere to go. I don't see it in homebirths nearly as much....where the moms can change position at will.
H.C. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
I felt the exact same pain 5 months into my pregnancy the pain mostly went away after a few months by itself I had a c-section too. Now my tail bone sticks out and i have beginning stages of scoliosis because of the way my little girl was all in my back and how the right side of my rib cage is more outwards from her head (but she was so worth it!!).
I didn't see the chiropractor and take yoga classes until a year after her birth and I really wish i did it while i was still pregnant or soon afterwards. the adjustments with my chiropractor and the yoga classes on their own was the best medicine i could ever ask for even if i had to pay for it out of my own pocket.
The pain is now completely gone and I have even gotten 1/4 of an inch taller from aligning my spine with yoga! even though my body will never be the same again i feel great! So I would strongly agree with Marla's advice!
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M.K. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
After you have it checked, x ray, and find out there's no physical issue, it will most likely eventually stop hurting. My son is almost 40. I still remember how my tailbone hurt after he was born for (I hate to tell you) years and years. It became more annoying and I tried to ignore it most of the time. I still think when I was moved from the gurney to the hospital bed, the orderlies hit my tailbone somehow on the edge of the gurney. I was numb from the "block". I had a vaginal delivery; not a C Section. Anyway, I wanted to share my story with you as your question flooded my memory with this story I've shared. I wonder just how common this "tailbone"issue is?
Enjoy your beautiful child; the tailbone will eventually stop hurting and that's a guarantee! Congratulations.
A.P. answers from San Diego on June 18, 2008
Hi W.,
Sounds like you might be having trouble with your SI joint or something in the vicinity. I have been seeing a chiropractor in Encinitas who specializes in pre-natal and post-partum pregnancy adjustments. Before I went to her I could hardly walk. She has helped me immensely and I would highly recommend her:
Cherie Smith
Back to Balance Family Chiropractic
###-###-####
www.drcheriesmith.com
Best of luck to you in troubleshooting your pain.
~A. P.
C.S. answers from San Diego on June 13, 2008
Hi W.,
My tailbone snapped in all 3 of my pregnancies. My babies were stuck on it as it was shaped funny and until it snapped, they couldn't be born. Had I realized, I would have had it removed. It was extremely painful and happened each time as it healed, thanks to a chiropractor. My insurance didn't cover chiro before my last pregnancy (we had moved) and the chiro said had I gone in beforehand, it may not have snapped. I prayed about what to do and who to go to when it happened the 2nd time as we had moved from Canada and God directed me to a wonderful chiro I could actually walk to from my house. He's great w/ tailbones. His name is Dan Spinato ###-###-####. Chiropractic is what worked w/ me. ALl the best. It is terrible pain when you have it. C.
H.C. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
I felt the exact same pain 5 months into my pregnancy the pain mostly went away after a few months by itself I had a c-section too. Now my tail bone sticks out and i have beginning stages of scoliosis because of the way my little girl was all in my back and how the right side of my rib cage is more outwards from her head (but she was so worth it!!).
I didn't see the chiropractor and take yoga classes until a year after her birth and I really wish i did it while i was still pregnant or soon afterwards. the adjustments with my chiropractor and the yoga classes on their own was the best medicine i could ever ask for even if i had to pay for it out of my own pocket.
The pain is now completely gone and I have even gotten 1/4 of an inch taller from aligning my spine with yoga! even though my body will never be the same again i feel great! So I would strongly agree with Marla's advice!
M.I. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
Hi W.. I have had this problem now going on almost 3 years since my son was born. I have been from doctor to doctor and nobody was able to help me. It has gotten better within the years but i still get the pain when i stand up from sitting. I can't be sure of this, but i heard from other people that it might have been the epidural that bruised my tailbone during my surgery (c-section). I don't know if that is what happened with you but look into it There is really nothing that can be done unfortunately for this and it really is painful. It does get better in time though but hasn't gone away for good. Good Luck!
M.B. answers from Los Angeles on June 13, 2008
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I found a free youtube yoga videos for you since I also have really bad pain in my tail bone from a natural labor 1 1/2 ago. I'm willing to try anything to have the soreness go away.
K.M. answers from Honolulu on June 14, 2008
If it hurts most right when you stand up, I had that. Cracked my tailbone during delivery of my first child and had pain for 5 months. Had 4 more kids with no issues BUT randomly when my youngest were 2 it happened again (with no known cause). Was made worse my a road trip followed by long plane flight and it took a year to feel better. So I think that even if the original injury was sustained during pregnancy or delivery, imporper sitting can make it much worse. I was told I just had to wait it out and I may continue to have these problems througout my life.
S.F. answers from Santa Barbara on June 13, 2008
Hi W.,
I had tailbone pain at the end and after birth (C-section too). My friend, who is an ER Physician said that many women have a permanent pushing out of their tailbone from the pregnancy/birth. I have noticed that it isn't as "tucked in" as it used to be, but the pain did go away with some chiropractic adjustments. I would definitely try that first.
good luck, S.
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