The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Injuries, Restrictions, Ailments, Pose Modifications › Injuries › Nerve Damage?
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Originally posted this under Neck Injuries, but reposting here in case anyone has some advice:
I began practicing Bikram Yoga in 2005 and have regularly practiced 3 – 5 times a week, until this past August, when I experienced a sudden partial paralysis in my right hand.
This post caught my attention, as my MRIs show a thinning of the discs of my cervical spine at C6-C7. I have not experienced ANY recent pain or stiffness in the neck area, but had some mild but chronic neck pain before beginning yoga. Several doctors have suggested that the amount of thinning shown in the MRI would not be causing this degree of paralysis, but may be a contributing factor and suggested staying away from this “extreme” yoga until they know more. (“But regular yoga is ok” … go figure!!) That was was 8 months and four doctors ago, with no new answers.
However, Dr. Hand Specialist suggests my nerves could repair themselves over many months, and I could/should continue regular exercise if I am careful. I have noticed some mild improvement, but still have very limited movement in my middle, ring and pinky finger.
So, I am curious about the back-bend modifications you suggest. I really miss practicing and hope I can return with some assurance I am not doing any damage to my neck or nerves.
I am curious if your doctors thought the back bends were causing the thinning of the discs?
Re the numbness in your hand, sometimes I get tingling in my left hand like pins and needles. It happens on and off throughout the day, and especially at night while lying down/sleeping. I wondered if I wasn’t doing half locust incorrectly. I noticed that when I push against the floor, I actually put most of the weight into my wrists instead of my hands… For some reason the pose is much harder if I engage my hands. I have started trying to focus on doing it correctly, since I worry I may have been crushing the nerves in my wrist. Do you every have issues with that posture, or is it just the back bends?
I think the opinion is that the disc-thinning was not caused by yoga, more likely a genetic irregularity or an injury when very young. A doctor/friend of mine who just started doing hot yoga mentioned to be careful with so many deep backbends. I’m just not sure what “careful” means and looking for some more specific coaching.
There is no numbness or tingling, just severe weakness/paralysis. But great tip on full locust!
Oh Matthew, what can I say? Sorry. You posted when I left for my teacher training in Costa Rica and I completely missed this one. Please excuse me!
Any progress with this?
Please let me know. Then we can move on from here.
Bunni, hi
Try instead to use your ARMS and chest and shoulders to push into the floor, not just your hands. No wonder it’s difficult for you.
Try to press your heart into the ground by creating a platform across the shoulders and top of the chest. If you don’t understand what I mean, we’ll delve further. But by all means talk a look at the posts on Locust because it’s in there for sure
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂 -
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