practice after abdominal surgery

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rubystar
Participant

February 20, 2009 at 10:10 am

Post count: 2

#1334

Hi there,
I am wondering if you can advise me. I have been doing a regular Bikram practice (5-6 days a week mostly) for about 4 months. For most of this time I have enjoyed the practice and noticed the benefits of such a practice. I have come from an ashtanga yoga background where I also maintained a regular practice until about a year and a half ago when a very large fibroid in my uterus started playing havoc with my back and legs whenever I practiced. I had the fibroid (and my uterus) removed last April (08) and have made a fairly solid recovery.

However, the past couple of weeks I have been experiencing a huge amount of back and abdominal pain – more than what I should’ve thought is associated with body ‘opening’ pain. I am wondering if this could possibly be connected with the abdominal surgery I had to undergo to remove the fibroid and if the practice could be exacerbating it. I know it’s some time since the operation but I did experience some nerve damage to my belly in that there is still no sensation above the scar.

Do you or does anyone know what the effects of Bikram yoga are on nerve damage and/or abdominal surgery?
Thanks for your time!
Rubystar

fraseram
Participant

February 20, 2009 at 6:27 pm

Post count: 356

#4289

I am NOT a doctor and would talk to him/her about this but…. in my experience yes Bikram does effect the veins and nerves. I can get tingling in my arms during camel or locust for ex: it sounds (and again not a doctor) like the body is trying to send blood there and fire these nerves that are damaged. The poses are designed to send blood and fire certain parts of the body.
when do you feel the pain ? is it during a specific pose? after class? the next day?
once we narrow it down we may to look at a modifying or taking out a pose

rubystar
Participant

February 22, 2009 at 3:53 am

Post count: 2

#4291

Thanks for your reply!
At first the pain was when I wasn’t practicing and a few days ago it’s also been while I’ve been practicing. No asanas in particular seemed to be worse but lately I’ve noticed, too, that my arms are going numb during practice (usually feel it when I am in savasana) and I simply don’t have the energy I did. Had just started a 30-day challenge too (had done 6 days straight) but have decided to give my body a rest for a bit and see what happens. Off to the osteo in a couple of days to see if there’s anything out of alignment.
Thanks again for your post
Om Shanti

fraseram
Participant

February 22, 2009 at 7:22 am

Post count: 356

#4293

too to watch out for proper hydration!!! and replace elecrolytes
tingles and weakness, fatigue are symptoms of dehydration/heat stress

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

February 22, 2009 at 7:32 am

Post count: 3048

#4295

Hi Rubstar and Amy

And I would add that if you are numb or have tingly sensations then you could be low on some of your essentials (which would replenish with an electrolyte supplement as Amy has suggested). Incorrect levels of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium mean your muscles and your heart (amongst other things) don’t function optimally!

Rubystar if you were to do a class of Ashtanga right now how would your jump throughs be and other movements of a similar nature? Easy? Or have you lost some core muscle tone since your surgery? I am curious to know…

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

NinaR
Participant

February 27, 2009 at 12:42 am

Post count: 1

#4320

Hi Rubstar, I myself went through the exact same procedure as you 5 years ago. My fibroid was HUGE, 12-14 cms. I came back to my practice but took it slow for the first year. Yes, I too did not have much feeling in my scar for a while & also had discomfort during forward bends. Belly down postures took me approx a year to get back to. You have gone throgh major surgery & your bdy, nerves, muscles take a while to get bakc. my lower ab muscles will probably never get their full range bck. I am now a Bikram yoga teacher, doing all the intense classes at training did help me loads. Give yourself at least 2-3 years before you expect a full practice. your body has gone through trauma & needs to adapt. My practice now is stronger than ever & I feel that most of the internal ( & external) scar tissue had healed quite well.Keep up the work, keeep yourself hydrated & back off when you need to.
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