Tailbone/lower back relationships? (newbie)

Hi Lauren, I agrre with all of what jackie says, and so pleased that you haven't gone down the surgical route. Cranial osteopathy may be able to help with the tailbone, I would suggest giving it a try (a few sessions at first).

Kegels: check Christine's blog about the correct way to do them as they can do more harm than good.
Judith

Hi Lauren,

Under my last blog, we had a discussion about a retired researcher/PT named DonTigny. He was part of a “movement” of orthopedic practitioners who have made great progress in reconsidering and redefining causes and cures of lower back pain. Although I personally find this particular practitioner’s writings confusing, he was very clear that almost all of the lower back pain we have been told is “disc” related actually has its origins in the sacroiliac joints. His colleagues are very clear that loss of the lumbar curve is the reason for much of the problem. Not that degenerative disc disease doesn’t occur in a substantial percentage of our population, but before the discs blow out, the SIJ often becomes stressed and painful. A proper lumbar curve is very protective of the discs and the SIJs.

This is why spinal fusion at L5-S1 makes about as much sense as hysterectomy (be careful, Jackie!) What is needed, in my opinion, and what we have seen in many women here, is that returning to the natural pelvic organ support system also corrects back pain. Alemama is one person off the top of my head whose tailbone pain vanished upon starting this work. The seated postures (esp. straddle) take pressure off the tailbone. The women here will probably tell you that the kegel device will aggravate not only your tailbone pain but also your rectocele.

It is a bit of a learning curve at first and all I can advise is that you relax and watch the dvd. We have written it all out a thousand times here and will answer any of your questions, but only you can do the work. Both the dvd and book address body angles while working and exercising - so your questions about Pilates will probably be answered there. Our abs make everything work - but not in the conventional way we’ve been taught, for they are continuously pulled UP instead of IN.

Smile and don’t forget to rest.

Christine

Just a reminder that we always talk about anatomy and pelvic support in general terms here - never individual cases.

If you have pain or any history of injury or surgery PLEASE consult your doctor before beginning any of the WW techniques.

Thank you!

Christine

I also had the feeling that I was in the right place at the right time when I found Wholewoman. I am so sorry you had to go through those diagnostic tests and that you were uncomfortable. I wish there was a way to give the information needed and leave with pride intact. What a tough deal.
I can also imagine what it is like to have pain for the past 18 years and then find out your pelvic organs are rearranging. Sucks. I don't know how you are going to address the pain. Knowing what is causing it would be helpful. I wonder if it is the actual bones or the supporting structures or what?
Well anyway I have read great things about trigger point therapy. Chiropractic never helped my SI (just the right one bugs me) but did help with other body issues (including prolapse), regular massage is good, I am trying acupuncture right now for my SI- so far no change.
Over all body health and fitness is probably going to be your best bet. Gentle stretching, Yoga, Swimming- all these are great for most bodies.
I did find relief from the tailbone pain that had bugged me since the birth of my first baby (I have stretch marks all around and above my tailbone- she had a crazy presentation) when I started using the posture. It was really soon after starting. What a relief.
I don't think kegels are really that big of a change factor for prolapse. And I have not seen a fantastic endorsement of the devices from women here.
Good news is that your pelvic floor is supported by your entire body - from your head to your bum.
I sure hope you can get your tailbone pain sorted out. It is a literal pain in the butt.
Welcome to the site. ask questions as they come.

Hi Lauren

I would be concerned if you are on muscle relaxants for a long time because, well, they relax all your muscles. What I mean is that your coccyx is held in position by muscles. Your tummy muscles reflect intraabdominal pressure and bounces it away from your vagina. Your sacrum pins down your pelvic organs in front using the resilience of muscles. Your tummy is probably flabby because your tummy muscles have no tone. Likewise your pelvic floor.

The musculoskeletal system is made up of two kinds of tissue, bone which can handle compression better than tension, and muscle which can handle tension better than compression. Actually there is a third part of the structural system of the body. This is the ligaments and fascia which hold the organs in their places, lubricate the movement of muscles over each other and hold the ends of bones together. If the muscles cannot do their job of lengthening and contracting with some springiness, it puts incredible strain on the skeleton, and presumably the fascia and ligaments too.

IMO, muscle relaxants are great for specific short term purposes but you have to find out why the muscles need relaxing, eg Ponstan for period pain. Muscle spasm is one of my problems. It is tied up with stress for me, and stress means worry and anxiety. I find that I have an arsenal of tools to deal with it, from different types of massage, some use of anti-inflammatories, some analgesics, ginger, garlic, stretching and exercises, dance, you name it. To rely on muscle relaxants is playing with fire, both from the point of dependency and because you are interfering with your body's structural system, which you are trying to optimise with Wholewoman posture. It defeats the purpose a bit because your body cannot work properly.

You probably won't solve this POP thing overnight. Just take in what you can and combine as many techniques as possible. Hopefully it will eventually click, like it does for most of us.

Cheers

Louise

Hi Lauren

Excuse note form as still a bit hectic this week.

1. Cranio-sacral isn't the same as cranial osteopathy. With CO you'll get the benefit of a trained osteopath without the drawback of conventional osteopathy (IMO) of being bone-crunched. He/she will check your entire body mechanism, including your breathing. BTW, I'm not dissing cranio-sacral, I've had that too and it was good, but I think that if you've got a musculo-skeletal problem, CO may be better.

2. I have a rectocele and kegels definitely make it worse. I think that kegels, whether you're doing them with or without gadgetry, only have a place if your pelvic floor is demonstrably weak. Also, anything that you insert may rest on top of the rectocele and make it worse (I think that, with hindsight, this is what happened to me after using vaginal weights) .

3. Don't lose heart - I'm sure that you will find yourself the right kind of physical therapist, just be very cautious about what you let anyone do to you. Like Jackie, I have a back problem, and in my experience what works and what doesn't is an extremely individual thing. Swimming can be great if your technique is good. I practice Alexander Technique and try to apply the principles to whatever exercise I'm doing. Pilates was brilliant for my back but very bad for rectocele. I think that what's best is to find a PT who understands prolapse as well as spinal probs and can give you tailor-made exercises, maybe adapting Tai Chi moves, yoga poses. I'm not saying it will be easy to find such a person but if you find someone who is generally good and willing to learn, show them this site and book and get them to think about it.

4. I find that the sea sponge helps me manage the symptoms of prolapse - I still get the heavy feeling sometimes but it doesn't feel so precarious, as if it might fall out.

BTW, I'm not the one who's had any surgery and wouldn't consider the mesh under any circumstances.

Good luck with it all Judith xxx