Recovered from neck pain-- how to and how long should I alter asana practice

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I recently suffered a bout of terrible neck pain. I had had stiffness in my neck for about 4 days (pretty common for me) and did some stretches to try to get my neck to feel better. Unfortunaltely, after I did fish pose-- which usually makes my neck and shoulders feel a lot better-- I had terrible pain. I had never experienced pain like this in my neck–only annoying stiffness, tightness, a “pinched” nerve here or there. Shockingly, after about 5 days of horrific pain (I wore a neck brace, rested, and took steroid, muscle relaxants, and Vicodin), the pain went away. I’ve had lower back problems before but never neck problems and was very surprised that the pain in my neck went away almost completely, whereas my lower back is almost always bothering me to some extent. The doctor says I had a compressed nerve in my neck, wheareas my low back problems are due to problems with the disk-- so maybe that’s the difference.

Even though the neck and shoulder pain is pretty much gone, I’m am obviously reluctant to do anything that will cause it to come back. My question for you is how I should alter my asana practice after experiencing this neck problem. I went back to my first yoga class last night since having the neck problem and didn’t do shoulder stand, plow, headstand, fish pose, or camel.

My second question is how long I should refrain from such poses, given that the pain does miraculously seem to be almost completely gone (in only one week!).

#2

I learned a lot from master Chunyi Lin’s spring forest qigong program. There are multiple energy systems running through the human body. A general summary would Kindney, Liver, Stomach, Heart, and breathing systems.

The symptoms you describe are actually caused by a blockage in the pancreas which is related to the stomach system. The stomach system gets blocked up when someone has too many worries. Also, maybe just working too hard and thinking way too much. Cold soars or problems with lips are other symptoms of this. Symptoms are indicators, but it’s better to focus on the cause and fixing it.

If you think of the human body as a plant, when it sprouts the kidney system is the first system of development. From there all the other systems grow out of it. The liver brings wisdom when the kidneys branch out to it. The liver leads to the heart to understand spirituality, then that leads to the third eye and we begin seeing bliss. Generally when any other system is out of balance, you start with getting the kidney system fixed up.

Practice Virasana Asana (traditional Japanese sitting) and Pran Mudra. These will really help stimulate and balance the kidney system. Will also benefit the stomach system. Imagining your favorite shade of yellow is healthy for the stomach, and any practice of easing up on the brain work will also be helpful.

Note: For pran mudra make sure the pinky and index tips are touching the pad of the thumb and not the tip of the thumb. There is good and bad examples out on various internet sites.

I know a lot of this isn’t yoga cause it’s mostly Chinese culture, but after studying both teachings from China and India the differences translate perfectly. Another helpful tip for the medicine you are taking, is keep following the doctors order until the day comes your body rejects it. You’ll intuitively feel that it’s time. At that point re examine with the doc.

<3

#3

Hello Penelope,

Based on this and your previous post it sounds like you’ve got several therapeutic issues that need to be considered when selecting, choosing, engaging, and executing and asana practice. Your reference to Fish Pose is a red flag (to me) as I don’t feel that pose is appropriate for a student with only a year of practice under their belt.

Why? There are required actions in the student’s body that must be present to do that pose safely and the poses that come before it DO matter, ie when the neck muscles are opened in asana it is not followed by weight-bearing on the cervical spine (neck). That is more than inappropriate, it is overly risky relative to potential effect.

Further, students that have pinched nerves and herniated disks are best served by a very specific and mindful sequence of postures. For example, a student that has herniation at L4-L5 should not be doing forward bends, assuming they have chosen a yoga practice which truly mentors student safety and well-being in asana.

While I certainly respect a student’s mindful choice to take pharmaceutical drugs, it is quite obvious that the blocking of pain receptors prevents the student from deeper levels of feeling and subsequently protecting themselves in their doing as well as getting at the underlying gunk which is manifesting in their physical body.

To the nuts and bolts of your question;
if you are under the care pf a physician then I do not intervene in the directions you are given there. Have the healthcare provider you’ve chosen give you a release for physical activity, then wait an additional 2-5 weeks.

When returning to yoga, please consider a practice that can be customized for the current nature of your body as you continue the process of transforming that nature.

#4

Thank you for the thoughtful responses. Gordon-- I am truly impressed (as well as grateful and humbled) that you remember my previous post and responded to my current post while bearing in mind the previous one. It is so rare and refreshing to come across someone that is truly interested in understanding someone else’s (especially a stranger’s) problem, and someone that provides a holistic, individualized suggestion as to a solution. So often we get “one size fits all soultions.” Thank you, truly.

I very much appreciate your expert advice. I met a few times with a yoga therapist who gave me a routine to do for my back (none of the standing poses). The practice is tailored for me and definitely helps, yet I love going to yoga classes rather than practicing on my own. The studio where I go is heavily influenced by ashtanga. The owner/teacher of most of the classes is so amazing, and I just love the feeling/atmosphere of the studio. Nonetheless, most classes-- in the spirit of ashtanga-- include a large number of forward bends (which I always modify by sitting on a blanket or keeping bent knees). Given your advice about forward bends, however, it seems that maybe this studio isn’t the best fit for me. Right now, I am feeling torn between continuing with the studio that initially ignited and continues to inspire my zeal for yoga versus trying to establish a more consistent, more customized and ultimately more beneficial home practice. I always look forward to going to yoga class but never look forward to my home practice. I’ve been hoping that will change with time but so far it hasn’t. Something about the tranquility of being in a yoga studio allows me to turn off the mental chatter and breathe in a way that I struggle to do when practicing on my own. I hear a lot of people say they feel more self-conscious in class than on their own but it seems to be the opposite for me. It doesn’t help that I live in a small 2 bedroom apartment with my boyfriend and dog and have little time/space to practice without interruption. I realize I am rambling a bit but perhaps my rambling may prompt others’ who have had similar experiences to share.

I appreciate your advice to follow the instructions of my doctor (by the way, I only took the meds for 3 days). Yet, you have shown far greater interest in trying to help me than she ever has. To speak candidly, I think she is essentially worthless, which has left me searchiing for answers/soultions for my back and neck pain on my own. Perhaps I am just reacting to the fact that she has a way of making me feel guilty-- as if the pain is all my fault and I woudn’t have it any more if I only tried harder (I think I try pretty damn hard). She did suggest acupuncture at the last visit, which I was surprised to hear from her and am seriously considering.

I should also mention that the version I do of fish pose is modified in that I don’t actually rest on my head. I never realized that it is inappropriate for beginners but will be much much more careful not to do it out of sequence. I now see how foolish it was to simply plop into it out-of-sequence in a desperate attempt to stretch out my neck/shoulders.

Thanks again!

#5

In order:

You’re welcome.

Any sound yoga teacher should have a deep interest in the well being of a wiling student. While this may BE exceptional it should not be exceptional, but rather the rule.

Customized is important. It is also important to respond to small issues in small ways, large issues in larger ways. In other words there should be a relativity to response, an energetic (and pragmatic) meeting half way.

If one’s current practice and current teacher can facilitate sound therapeutics then that’s lovely. If they cannot…another story, and the student must choose.

Our pain is not a matter of fault it is a matter of responsibility which leads to empowerment. When we acknowledge we are responsible, in a myriad of ways, then we too can be responsible for the change that we so deeply desire. It is not about beating one’s self up nor feeling guilty. It is just a sense of “I got me here, I’ll get me out”. To hand this over to someone else is deflating and obviously not empowering.

Finally, do remember that my feedback is only based on MY 2000+ hours of teacher training, my 9 years of study with my teacher, my personal practice, and my healed (and unhealed) injuries…it is not the final word and it is not the position of all.