You slip and land on your tailbone. Ouch! A vicious jolt of pain ripples through your body. Painful and potentially dangerous. Because can you really go blind from such a fall, as is sometimes claimed? And what is the function of this part of our body? Roel Wilbers, physiotherapist, manual therapist and specialist in the field of pelvic and tailbone complaints, answers.
The coccyx, also called the tailbone, is located at the level of the anus. “It is the end of the spinal column and consists of a few small vertebrae,” explains Wilbers. “The vertebrae mainly move at the transition with the upper sacrum. This movement mainly takes place when sitting down and getting up from a sitting position.”
It is not entirely clear what the tailbone is for exactly. If you go by the theory of evolution, it could be that humans once walked on all fours and had a tail. Just like monkeys. “In the first place it seems to be an attachment point for muscles and ligaments, with a possible steering function from the anus and the anterior part of the genitals and a stabilizing function for the pelvic floor. Basically anything that tightens the pelvic floor.”
It is sometimes said that you can go blind if you fall on your tailbone. Is that really true? “No, that’s a folk myth,” says the specialist firmly. “Anatomically, the coccyx is not connected to the eyes. Also, there are no nerves running directly from the tailbone to the visual center in the brain.”
Many GPs do not know that there is a treatment for tailbone complaints and advise to persevere for a while.
Roel Wilbers
Recovery often takes a long time
Falling on your tailbone can be very painful. Especially if you land on something pointed like a stone, table point or curb. “The tailbone is part of the spine, just like the neck and back. And we probably all know how severe pain in the neck or back can be. The tailbone is a loose end that is less well protected, so it can easily bruise or get out of position.”
In the event of a fall, the periosteum can also become irritated, making the area painful when pressed with your finger. “The recovery often takes a long time, because there is always pressure when sitting. You can also break your tailbone, but that is less common in practice.”
If you fall on your buttocks and are in a lot of pain, you don’t need to call the doctor right away. “As with all injuries, the body usually resolves the complaint itself and the pain is less after a few days.” If the pain lasts for months or gets worse, he does recommend seeking help from a specialized physiotherapist. “Many GPs do not know that there is a treatment for tailbone complaints and advise to persevere for a while. Or they give painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs that fight the pain, but often do not lead to improvement in the long term.”
About 80 percent of all people who have reported to me with tailbone complaints have left the house completely free of complaints.
Roel Wilbers
‘Many people walk around unnecessarily long with tailbone complaints’
Pain in the tailbone can be somewhat relieved with special seat rings and saddles, says Wilbers. But more effective is treatment by a physiotherapist. “I treat twenty people with tailbone complaints every week. The treatment mainly consists of repositioning or ‘straightening’ the tailbone and ensuring that it moves optimally again. This is done through direct techniques at the tailbone by the hands of the therapist, but also through targeted exercises.”
Many people walk around unnecessarily and for a long time with tailbone complaints, says Wilbers. “To give an indication: about 80 percent of all people who have reported to me with tailbone complaints have left the house completely free of complaints. These are often also the somewhat more difficult cases that have been suffering for some time and have sought help in several places. So for anyone walking around with tailbone problems, there is definitely hope!”
