Hot yoga and thoracic back pain

Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Author

Posts
Little Duck
Participant

January 21, 2010 at 11:01 pm

Post count: 1

#1680

Hi,

For the past 12 days or so, I have had thoracic back pain, which started just under the right shoulder, and has radiated around my side to the front of my chest and back. I have also felt shots of pain breathing in and out on my right lung. It was not caused by injury – it felt like a muscle stitch that got inflamed.

Much of what I’ve read online suggests yoga is good for back issues, but I have found that doing my regular hot yoga class, which I’ve been practicing for about 8 months, almost daily, seems to aggravate the back pain and set me back. I have taken it easy in many classes, and have skipped a few days here and there, but am now considering suspending yoga practice until my back is better. (In last night’s class, it seemed like the ‘dancer’s pose’ with the right leg back seemed to initiate the pain.)

I’m wondering if yoga may have injured my back in the first place; perhaps I was bending too enthusiastically. However, my online research into yoga-related injuries hasn’t turned up anything related to this area of the back. I’m wondering if anyone here has any thoughts for me. For example, if it was my yoga practice that is the problem, which postures may have been the culprit? Where should I be more mindful when I stretch? Or, perhaps I am barking up the wrong tree, and yoga has nothing to do w/ this pain…?

Thanks!

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

January 25, 2010 at 1:37 pm

Post count: 3048

#6306

Hello Little Duck

I really can’t be sure how your problem has been caused. It would be pure speculation without more information or being able to see your practice.

For example, if you are feeling pain in your right shoulder, going into Standing Bow, you may actually be setting up some tension in your body to try and avoid further damage. This could be completely unconscious too. So while you are trying to heal your body the very treatment could be the culprit. It’s just an example NOT what I think is going on at this stage but it’s to demonstrate that there are many ways to look at your problem.

You say that you have been practicing for 8 months. Would you be willing to tell me if you have been practicing the hot yoga or Bikram series almost daily for that time?

but I have found that doing my regular hot yoga class, which I’ve been practicing for about 8 months, almost daily, seems to aggravate the back pain and set me back.

Can you tell me how long the pain that you talk about above, has been happening? I just want to understand what’s happening more clearly.

Oftentimes the answer will be the technique you have learned or stumbled upon through trial and error. It may be anywhere on the scale from excellent to poor. I hope we can narrow this down so we can get you back on track again.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

Madlove
Participant

February 23, 2010 at 7:25 pm

Post count: 1

#6511

HI all- So excited to find this site, Gabrielle. I am new to Hot Yoga, and have learned so much from this site, forum and the classes I am attending. I have some back issues – fused disc in neck C5-6, Herniated disc L5, and a fairly recent compression fracture in T10 from horseback riding. My spine is a mess. I actually was having a massage a few months ago, and the therapist said my shoulder area was like steel and that I needed to do ‘yoga” before I had a serious injury….enter the compression fracture in November and Voila – I’ve found hot yoga!
I am such a newbie, I don’t know what to expect. I’ve read where the best way to get into this practice is to go for 10 days straight. I did that over the last 2 weeks, and found most of the days that I was able to learn something or move deeper into some poses (interesting that the poses that are getting easier are the ones I don’t think about too much…..trouble each time with standing bow – thinking!). However, after day 9, I felt a lot of pain. I went on days 10-12 and was in more pain each time. I finally decided to take a break yesterday since my body was really hurting – neck, thoracic area primarily, and even right hip and right side of foot were sore. I am confused because I read so many posts of people who eliminated back pain over daily 2-3 week practice. However, I know I have an acute injury and longtime disc issues, so wondering if there is a better way to approach this immersion in hot yoga. I LOVE the feeling of daily practice, breathing, and especially how I feel when I leave. However, I don’t want to force my way through this and cause more problems and slow my healing. I just believe that all the blood flow must be good for the spine. I would love to continue with a daily or as much as possible practice. Can anyone give me some insight on how to proceed with my back situation and do no harm to myself? Thank you! 🙂

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

February 24, 2010 at 1:06 am

Post count: 3048

#6514

Hi Denise

Firstly thank you!

Would you please tell me where you are feeling your pain? I am thinking that there would be some associated issues around the neck and your cervical vertebral fusions. So can you tell me more please? Do you feel it at or just adjacent to your fusion site? You mentioned that you have a thoracic injury so is that also where you’re feeling the pain? Is the nature of the pain acute in all areas because there are different grades of pain?

With your different spinal issues I believe we may have to take different approaches to some of your poses. Let’s see what we find out.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
Author

Posts