Torn meniscus - how long after surgery can I return to yoga

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jstablow
Participant

March 21, 2015 at 2:04 am

Post count: 1

#2697

I practice Bikram 2-3 times per week. Recently some nagging knee pain got much worse and it turns out I have a torn medial meniscus. (I do believe that the injury happened outside of yoga, but I’m not entirely sure how or when it occurred.) I thought maybe I could “yoga” my way through this but I guess it will not heal on it’s own because of lack of blood supply to the area. I have surgery scheduled for three weeks from now. I have stepped away from yoga until I had my MRI results to know what I was dealing with, but now, I want to go back until the surgery. Fixed Firm and Toe Stand have become problems for me, but I had been making modifications.
(Fixed Firm has always been my favorite posture.)

My question is, should I still continue to go up until my surgery and after surgery, how long do I have to wait to return. I have read Bikram will help after surgery but I don’t know how long I need to wait to return. (It will be hard for me to be away…)

Thank you.
Jill

Gabrielle (The Hot Yoga Doctor)
Forum Owner

March 22, 2015 at 2:53 am

Post count: 3048

#11284

Hello Jill

I do believe with a couple of things to look out for, you can go back to yoga before you have the operation.

I would avoid Toe Stand. Are you saying you CAN do Tree Pose?

The danger is not necessarily bending the leg up in that manner, but when you straighten the leg again to standing. If you feel anything ‘catching’ in your knee joint when you straighten your leg, in ANYTHING you do from now until you have the repair, bend the leg as much as you need to (you should feel relief) then massage with your fingers on that medial side as you start to straighten the leg. You’ll be avoiding further tearing that way.

With a tear in the medial meniscus, theoretically, you should actually be able to do Fixed Firm because you are actually creating a little more space on that medial side by sitting in that way. My advice to you is to do one of 2 things.

First, remember that your default position for this pose, if you’re feeling too much pain with the bottom on the floor (see next point) is to just sit with knees, heels and toes together in a regular ‘closed leg kneel’. Sit upright.

Second, try sitting in the regular way with bottom on the floor, but regulate the pressures by widening the knees as much as you need to. Your thighs may be even at a 45 – 90 degree angle to each other. Which means your knees may be quite some distance apart. Keep them wide (unless of course there is no pressure AT ALL on them in the regular position) until after the op.

Remember the first tip about straightening the leg and being mindful of any pinching of the meniscus.

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

mzsocialworker1
Participant

March 23, 2015 at 10:32 am

Post count: 103

#11286

Definitely see what your Ortho has to say too.

I recently sprained my knee and was scared about going back to yoga.

The doctor actually said yoga is great because our body will speak to us immediately if we are doing too much.

I’m always super mindful though and try not to push myself too much or worry about what others around me are doing.

I see the benefits of just sitting out as well.
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