Knee injury from Camel pose

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kenfong48
Participant

December 10, 2010 at 6:11 pm

Post count: 2

#2019

I am new to Bikram yoga, this morning was my 7th class (consecutive days). I am trying to complete a 30 day challenge. Did I mention I love it so far? I am a gym rat and I have dabbled a little in Pilates, but Bikram is just a whole level higher.

This morning, I was doing the second set of the camel pose, and as the instructor said push harder, stretch, etc., I did just that and I heard 2 snap/crackle/pops in my left knee. I got out of the pose early and was hurting. It hurts everytime I engage my left knee, bending, walking. I can’t apply any weight. After I enter into a position, i.e. standing, sitting my knee is fine, but it hurts to move it.

I hope I didn’t tear anything in my knee, but I plan to keep going to the studio. I don’t like going to the doctor, and I refuse to take ibuprofen. I always opt for natural, holistic remedies. Do you have any recommendations on what poses I should avoid or which ones I could modify? And also any natural, holistic remedies to ease the pain and speed healing?

Thanks a lot.

An injured newbie yogi.

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

December 26, 2010 at 5:01 am

Post count: 3048

#8138

Hi Esther

You can probably guess it’s a busy time of the year. I am finally here!

First question is to ask you if you’ve had any improvements in your knee or if it has degenerated. It’s 2 weeks since you posted and if you were on a 30 day challenge and you’ve been pushing yourself to get to that goal then I really would like to know what the general ‘lay of the land’ is.

As a newbie to yoga or at least Bikram yoga you are probably learning your most important lesson. That could be that despite your teacher’s commands you are the one who SHOULD be in control. Is it possible that you were enticed to go to a place before you were ready to go? I cannot say from a few words.

The inducements to push or to push harder or to go beyond ‘your flexibility’ or whatever some teachers say cannot apply to every student in every case. It’s a flaw in much instruction.

Sometimes the way to speed healing is to stop doing yoga. Other times it is to use a better yoga technique. Perhaps it is icing your injury.

When it came to looking after your knee, did you ice it? Did you apply heat? Did you end up taking some tablets or applying some kind of cream? And if it’s still bothering you did you end up going to some kind of therapist?

I apologise for the delay! What’s been happening?

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂
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