TO YOUR HEALTH
Tailbone: Where The End Is Also A Beginning
the coccyx forward, often with a left or right shift in position. Less obvious is the slow-motion trauma of the sitting position. A slumped posture while sitting for long periods of time can distort coc- cygeal position, especially if seated on a hard surface. Women in their third trimester of pregnancy are particularly vul- nerable to this postural coccydynia. This is due to the action of the hormone relaxin, which loosens the ligaments of the pelvis in prepa- ration for childbirth. This undoubtedly is one of the reasons for the VWDWLVWLFDO¿QGLQJWKDWZRPHQVX̆ HUIURPFRFF\G\QLDPRUHIUHTXHQWO\ WKDQPHQ+RZHYHUWKLVVWDWLVWLFDO¿QGLQJUHPDLQVYDOLGDPRQJZRP - en and adolescent girls who have never experienced pregnancy, sug- JHVWLQJDGGLWLRQDOUHDVRQVIRUWKLVJHQGHUGL̆ HUHQFH A Neurological Joining Other considerations when diagnosing tailbone pain have to do with QHXURORJ\ VWDUWLQJ ZLWK VRPH ELRORJLFDO VFD̆ ROGLQJ FRQQHFWLQJ WKH spine and the coccyx. Climbing the left and right sides of the vertebral column like a vine of ivy climbing the tower of a college building is a chain of nerve structures. These structures are part of the sympathetic QHUYRXVV\VWHPZKLFKFRQWUROVWKH³¿JKWRUÀLJKW´IXQFWLRQRIKXPDQ organ systems. This left and right chain join at the front of the coc- cyx in a nerve structure called the ganglion impar (from the Latin, meaning “odd bundle”). The importance of this neurological joining is well-known within the chiropractic profession. One example from a published case report is a case in point. After a “sit-down” fall, a \HDUROGJLUOVX̆ HUHGIURPORZEDFNSDLQDQGORVVRIEODGGHUFRQ -
BY CHARLES S. MASARSKY, D.C.
At the lower end of the spine is the remnant of what was once a WDLOERQHLQWKHKXPDQHYROXWLRQDU\SDVW²WKHFRFF\[,QDQXPEHURI ZD\VWKLVERQHDWWKHVSLQH¶VHQGLVDOVRDEHJLQQLQJ,QWKHPHULGLDQ V\VWHPRIDFXSXQFWXUHLWLVQHDUWKHRULJLQRIWKHJRYHUQLQJYHVVHO,Q Yoga and ayurvedic healing, the coccyx (or tailbone) is located near WKH5RRW&KDNUD 0XODGKDUD&KDNUD WKH¿UVWRIVHYHQHQHUJ\FHQ - ters. Western health science has also long understood the importance of this bone. The coccyx functions as a site of attachment for muscles DQGOLJDPHQWVRIWKHSHOYLFÀRRUWRVXSSRUWWKHSRVLWLRQRIWKHDQXV and to provide weight-bearing support when seated.
Tailbone Misalignment ,Q ERWK RI WKHVH PDMRU $VLDQ healing systems, as well as West- ern medicine, coccygeal (tail- bone) misalignment is seen as a potential disruptor of many sys- tems of the body. Probably the most common symptom of coc- cyx misalignment is pain at the tailbone, clinically known as coc-
cydynia . This tailbone pain can radiate to and include the anus and VH[RUJDQVFDXVLQJGL̇ FXOW\ZLWKERZHOPRYHPHQWVDQGLQWHUFRXUVH Back pain is another frequent manifestation. The most sudden cause of coccyx misalignment is landing on the buttocks during a slip-and-fall accident. This type of trauma can drive
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Integrative Medicine of Northern Virginia Shep Saltzman Nurse Practitioner • Acupuncturist Herbalist • Homeopath Specialties: Hormone Imbalances
Thyroid Conditions: Hypothyoidism and Hashimoto’s Weight Gain – Feeling Cold – Constipated – Infertility – Hair Loss – Dry Skin and Hair – Foggy Thinking – Fatigue – Wake up tired – Enlarged throat – Excess sleep needed Menopause / Post Menopause $Q[LHW\GHSUHVVLRQZHLJKWJDLQKRWŴDVKHVPHPRU\ORVV painful intercourse, Urinary tract infections, Low Libido, Shrinking Breasts, Vaginal dryness Treatments: Personalized holistic plan, Extensive labs, Chinese herbs, Hormone therapy, homeopathy, lifestyle adjustments, medication if needed.
Integrative Medicine of Northern Virginia 11870 Sunrise Valley Drive, #100 Reston Virginia 20191 www.imednova.com
PATHWAYS—Spring 25—77
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