The Sacrum (in red) is the cornerstone of the entire spine, as well as the Pelvis.
The Sacrum and the Pelvis
Okay tiny anatomy lesson here- your pelvis is made up of a variety of bones, but the most critical (in my opinion) is the Sacrum. It’s responsible for holding up the entire spine (literally), stabilizing the Ilium bones (the large paddle-shaped bones to the side of the Sacrum) and for housing several major nerves.
Remember, the body is like a giant highway- the spinal cord is the main thoroughfare, but there are dozens of large exits, branching into smaller (but still massive) highways themselves. In the Sacrum and lower back, there are nerves that are responsible for leg control, the bowels, the bladder and the reproductive system.
Lower back nerves innervate the sacrum and affect the bowel, bladder, reproductive system and legs.
Conditions common to Sacral nerve dysfunction:
- Lower back pain
- Hip pain (all kinds- front, back, side, on your thighs, you name it)
- Leg pain (including knees, ankles and feet)
- Constipation, Diarrhea, IBS and other bowel troubles
- Period pain, Dysmenorrhea, Amenorrhea, PMS
- Infertility, Difficulty Conceiving, TTC (Trying to Conceive), Miscarriage
- PCOS, Endometriosis, Uterine cysts, Ectopic Pregnancy
- Urinary incontinence, increased urinary urgency and other urinary dysfunction
- Pudendal Neuralgia (a painful condition during bowel/bladder use and sitting)
- Pain during sex, especially during rear-entering positions
- Tailbone/Sacral/Coccyx pain, especially when sitting
Pregnancy causes the Sacrum to tilt forwards, and can remain in that position even years after delivery causing pain and symptoms.
Women are uniquely affected by Sacral Dysfunction
Modern women are expected to work long hours, care for (and carry) children, be expert multitaskers, have a memory like Alexa or Google, be nearly perfect and look amazing doing it. It’s a monstrous task! As a result, women are often pushing themselves physically and emotionally when they could otherwise rest and recuperate.
In the fashion world, wearing high heels has become essential for women in power and business, causing the pelvis to tilt forwards in an abnormal way. This creates tension and stress in the lower back and tailbone as her center of gravity changes and new pressure is placed on tender pelvic structures.
In the world of motherhood and pregnancy, women are inundated with a flood of hormones and stressors which cause the body to stretch and expand in challenging ways. (to learn more about how pregnancy affects the body visit the Prenatal and Postpartum pages).
Often women are expected to immediately switch from human creation vessel to full-time childcare provider with little to no transition time. As the body is still weak and vulnerable during postpartum recovery, it’s all too common for the Sacrum to remain tilted forward as it was during pregnancy, and remain in that abnormal position for years, even for the rest of the mother’s life.
The SI joint is the joining of the Sacrum and the Ilium bones, and together they make up a majority of the Pelvis.
How Chiropractic Helps Sacral and Pelvic Pain
During my evaluation, I look for fixation (lack of movement) in the SI joints (Sacroiliac joints, the two “bumps” you feel when you touch the back of your pelvis). This is the first place many women notice something is off, swollen, painful or sore. It’s the cornerstone of the pelvis as these joints allow free movement of the large Ilium bones (the part of your hip you feel when you “put your hands on your hips”) and are critical for walking, sitting, standing, and pretty much all lower body positions.
By restoring motion to both SI joints, I am able to take intense pressure off many lower body structures. When the SI joint area is fixated, muscle groups in the lower back, hips and legs are required to contract harder in certain areas, while being prevented from moving in other areas as normal. The body is forced to develop a new, abnormal and inefficient way to move and often wears down cartilage and joint material at a rapid rate as things move in a “crooked” and unbalanced way.
If this is allowed to persist, the body eventually starts to experience malfunction in the nerves that travel through the lower back and Sacrum leading to a whole host of pains and symptoms as listed in the chart above. Ideally the body would only experience this in short bursts, and therefore routine adjustments can help the body avoid being stuck in an abnormal pelvic alignment for very long.
Dr. Amanda Simone, B.S., D.C.
What makes my Chiropractic approach different
In addition to the basic fixation of the SI joint, my unique style of Chiropractic care (a mix of Thompson, Activator, Diversified and other techniques) addresses over two dozen different directional fixations your pelvis can be experiencing. Many clients comment the’ve experienced even greater and more immediate relief after an adjustment in my office than ever before, even being lifetime Chiropractic patients at another clinic. Mainstream Chiropractic care, even being extremely effective, often is not looking for the detailed minutia with which I’m experienced and work with on a daily basis. Over the past 12 years my clientele has become increasingly women with pelvic dysfunction, and as a result I look deeper than the average General Chiropractic Doctor.
What we refer to as the “hip” is actually six different joints, and can affect fifteen more in the Pelvis and lower back alone. In my experience, an affected pelvis is often rotated in all six cardinal directions (forward, backward, right, left, up and down) in varying joints as the body strives to accommodate for fixated joints. By correcting each fixation with respect to normal body mechanics, I’m able to provide results that are faster, stronger and with more longevity than ever before.
If you’re interested in learning more about my unique style, feel free to contact me here. Additionally if you’re interested in booking a session with me in Boulder, Colorado you can do so by clicking the button below. You are also welcome to send me an email at amanda@boulderwomenschiro.com anytime for more information. I’m here to help!