brin1516

Thank you ettielou and Gabrielle for your advice. Even when I do the separate leg intense stretch with my legs closer together, there is still tightness and pain in the adductor muscle of my right leg. I am not sure how I injured it; I could have been forcing it a few months ago. For the last two years or so I regularly touch my forehead to the floor and I might have been pushing too hard when it wasn’t going as easily as I was accustomed to. Although I can’t recall feeling any intense pain that would have let me know I had gone too far. In any case it is not getting better so I will go ahead and have a physiotherapist have a look at it.

As to your question about the arthritis Gabrielle, the salazopyrine (anti-inflammatory) has done it’s work and I have almost no pain at all in my joints for a number of months now. We are slowly reducing the dosage and I hope to be able to stop altogether in the future. I continue to do my hot yoga 2-3 times a week.

Hi Gabrielle,

Thank you for your quick reply.

>> I am guessing that you had some kind of problems before you were diagnosed with arthritis. For how long did you have problems?

I would say the first symptoms appeared somewhere around 1995. Then I had every now and then a painful, inflamed finger. It was a bit annoying, but not a problem. About a year ago while doing a week-long hiking trip in England, suddenly it really hit; pain and restrictions in my knees, pain in my foot and ankle. I immediately saw a physical therapist, then a chiropractor. I thought it was a twisted ankle which produced pain in my knees through overcompensation or perhaps pushing myself too far in yoga. I also saw a podiatrist and got insoles for my shoes, as I thought it might be a postural problem. Finally, in November of last year I gave into the urging of my partner Lili (a psychiatrist) and saw a Rheumatologist. To be specific, I do not have Rheumatoid arthritis but ‘Undifferentiated Spondylarthritis’. I was told that this was actually not as serious as RA.

I am now experimenting with different medicines. I began with Sulfasalazine. Last week I began with a low dosage of prednizone and a higher dosage of Sulfasalazine because the inflammation (myalgia) was not going away completely. Just today I began a new medicine Methotrexaat, which is stronger than the Sulfasalazine. As my Rheumatologist described it she is trying to find the right cocktail which will reduce my inflammation and pain.

>>Since the diagnosis have your problems been worse or have they improved?

My problems have improved since the diagnosis.

>> What about the time that you practice? I have had students who feel really stiff in the mornings and this is when they feel the worst; as they get out of bed. Still they have found that getting to yoga was the thing that they could rely on to make it that much easier. Do you find practice easier in the morning or afternoon or does it not matter?

I always practice in the afternoon, around 4pm. The afternoon is more practical for me as it takes some time for my yoga room to heat up. Although mornings would probably set me up better for the day.

>> What happens to you if you only practice 1-2 times? And have you ever tried practicing 4 times per week?

I find I definitely feel better the more I practice. However, (and the reason I am writing to you) was that I was concerned if maybe I was doing more harm than good. I have a tendency to be a ‘pusher’. Learning to accept and be with what is happening is important to me.My Rheumatologist advised me to not push too hard as this could exacerbate the pain and swelling.

>> “or if you have become that guy who is jumping out of his skin with excitement with his renewed flexibility and strength, and behaving like a teenager again.”

This quote from your reply is exactly the reason why I was so impressed by Hot Yoga. This was initially how I felt. When the restrictions came, it was a hard blow and I have slowly become “a guy who has to be careful with many limitations” simply because I was not sure if pushing myself too hard was the right thing.

What do you think? My plan now is to attend the Bikram class in California for a month. I will take your advice and do it 4,5 or 6 times a week. It might be useful to have a ‘hands on’ teacher for a month to help me with details of my practice (?)

I am also seeing a homeopath and do my Zen-Buddhist walking meditation every morning, so I am covering all my bases!

Thank you so much for your interest and advice Gabrielle.

sincerely,
Michael