Upper back feels locked-up

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

For the last few weeks my upper back has been feeling - locked up. It doesn’t hurt, it just feels like cords wrapped around the upper spine are keeping it sort of stiff . When I due a light backbend or stretch and yawn into a chair at work, my spine crackles like rice crispies in a refreshing and painless way but it feels like I’m not getting to whats really there.

And before anyone tells me its a symptom of prana blockage in the paths around the spine due to spiritual issues, I already thought of it (it was the first thing I thought of) and started incorporating tonglen. It has yet to have an affect on my upper back but I certainly do feel like I just loooooove everybody. :smiley:

Anyway, I’ve added Sucirandhrasana, but I’m wondering what other asana might anyone recommend that I’m not thinking of? I have an upper spinal issue and so I’m staying away from sirsasana and sarvagasana until the rest of me is in a better place to welcome them, and chakrasana is out because its been tearing up my wrists. Cobra, cat pose, light backbending help, but they don’t seem to be hitting the right spot. I keep thinking there are some really basic upper-body gentle twists that hit that area that I’ve forgotten about due to lack of use.

#2

You mention some very frisky poses which do not appear to me to be at all related to releasing the muscles in the area in which you are seeking it.

Is there actually someone on the planet who would recommend Chakrasana for someone with upper back tension?

what sort of upper spinal issue? Is this not a therapeutic question that is being posed? I’m confused, sorry.

#3

[quote=InnerAthlete;11140]You mention some very frisky poses which do not appear to me to be at all related to releasing the muscles in the area in which you are seeking it.

Is there actually someone on the planet who would recommend Chakrasana for someone with upper back tension?

what sort of upper spinal issue? Is this not a therapeutic question that is being posed? I’m confused, sorry.[/quote]

Suciradhrasana is often shown to stretch the upper back, neck. shoulders and hips. Chakrasana is often identified as a great stretch of the thoracic cage. Whether or not anyone would ‘recommend’ them to be for my upper back tension, I have found that in agreement with popular sources, both of them do have a positive effect on the tension in my upper thoracic area; with chakrasana and appropriate counterposes having the most effect. However with my wrist issues I am hesitant to incorporate it until I have given them time to heal and so that is why I’m asking for advice on other poses to relieve that tension.

The upper spinal issue I am aware of is a biphasic cervical curve that was addressed a few years ago by chiropractors. Just starting my yoga practice at the time, I questioned them on poses that might not be in my best interest and they advised laying off the neck until they could give me a clean bill of health in that area. Unfortunately for financial reasons I haven’t gone in over a year and am playing it safe even though I don’t feel neck pain anymore. When trying poses of that nature I have experienced neck tension that was not very good and so if incorporated at all it is very infrequently. While the upper spinal issue may play some role in my upper back tension these last few weeks, I’m certain that it has more to do with the incredible amount of overtime that I have been working at my uncomfortable desk. I stated the reference to my cervical issue only in order to describe why I would not be willing to try neck-intensive asana. I will address the issue of it when I befriend a chiropractor or resume my past therapies now that I have money to do so.

Whether or not this issue should be classified as therapeutic, I asked it here because it is something that is causing me some frustration, anxiety and distress and I equate health with the absence of things which cause me to feel those. It also makes me feel as though I have less energy because I am hesitant to move as freely.

Thank you for writing back though. :slight_smile:

#4

Oh I see. Thank you for clarifying.

#5

Hi,

Don’t you think you should correct your “uncomfortable desk” first of all and then see if the rest won’t sort itself out? This “uncomfortable desk” seems to be the root of your problems, to me in any case.

#6

[quote=Pandara;11161]Hi,

Don’t you think you should correct your “uncomfortable desk” first of all and then see if the rest won’t sort itself out? This “uncomfortable desk” seems to be the root of your problems, to me in any case.[/quote]

I’m a contractor helping a startup hospital. They only budgeted for computers and desks to serve the amount of staff they were going to have - and it did not include us. My computer is a public scanning station at an uncomfortably low long table. A volunteer had to be shut off in a mini cubicle in a side room today to use a public computer for her stuff, so I have gratitude for the privilege. Spending 70 hours a week alone in that side room would drive me nuts!

I could ‘correct’ the desk by quitting, but I enjoy my work and require the money for something very important. I’m more than willing to find the best healthy way to overcome this challenge within the restraints of the situation I am in.

#7

I suffered the same symptoms last year. Except in my case it got worse. Visited a specialist and he showed me a stretching exercise which only helped partially. That’s when I turned to Yoga and it has made a big difference.

There are couple of Asanas for the upper back. I would recommend Ardha Matsyendrasana. What you are experiencing is the effects of bad posture a modern day work hazard. It would be a wise idea to see a Chiropractor [FONT=Arial]as soon as possible. Nip it in the bud. Yoga will surely help depending upon how seriously and often you do it.

If you are not visiting a Yoga course, I would strongly recommend the book Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar. Apart from detailed explanation of all the given Asanas, there is a special section which list Asanas for various ailments (Upper back included). The book will put you back by 30 odd $ but is a sound investment if you are interested in Yoga.
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#8

I suffered the same symptoms last year. Except in my case it got worse. Visited a specialist and he showed me a stretching exercise which only helped partially. That’s when I turned to Yoga and it has helped.

There are couple of Asanas for the upper back. I would recommend Ardha Matsyendrasana. It is a wise idea to see a Chiropractor [FONT=Arial]as soon as possible. Nip it in the bud. Yoga will surely help depending upon how seriously and often you do it.

If you are not doing Yoga classes, I would recommend the book Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar. It shows loads of Yoga Asanas with a 360 degree perspective of a Yogi performing them. And at the end of the book you will find an exhaustive list of Ailments and the Asanas for them (for the Upper Back as well). It will put you back by 27 $ or so, but it is a sound investment if you are into Yoga.
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#9

Aww thanks! I didn’t really think of ardha matsyendrasana because I never incorporate it into my practice usually but I will try it for sure if you think it will help! I knew I needed some kind of twisting. I work like, 2000 miles from home right now and this weekend only I am here in my town so I’m going to try and get to my chiropractor on Monday. I have Light on Yoga by Iyengar here in town so I’m going to try to find it in storage before I leave because I kept thinking of the back section of that book with the same ailments section but I just couldn’t get to it!

Thank you a lot for your response!

#10

It all depends on measure. What is the cause and what can we do to balance it ?
Life presents situations when the stress simply cannot be balanced. In these cases it is important to realize what we are doing and why we do that ?
So many little things can be improved, so many unnecessary stress can be avoided by a little care, but there are cases when we just have to make a sacrifice, and when we chose to do it, we must be sure that it worths it.