Kashmir

Over here a "physio" isn't a doctor but a physiotherapist. Maybe I should have said "good sport or rehab physio" - I've also met the poorly trained physios whose answer is a heat pack or ultra-sound. But there are physiotherapists who do know about backs - "my" physio in Brisbane did his postgrad work on back rehabilatation.

Farasha Hanem

Dear Farasha,


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Originally Posted by Farasha Hanem
A'isha, I hope you'll still be logged on by the time I post this. I recently had yet another accident at work, this time, involving my back. About a month ago now, I carried a 12 foot ladder to the back after I was through using it, and threw my back out. I've been going back and forth to the company doctor, and Tuesday, I started the first of three physical therapy sessions. During the initial interview and check-up, my therapist asked me if I'd ever had scholeosis as a child. I told her I'd always suspected it, because I've always had a rather severe S-curve in my back, and have had posture problems ever since I can remember. But none of the doctors I've ever been to in my lifetime ever seemed to notice, let alone mention it to me. So the therapist taught me a few exercises to help prevent me from developing a stooped back when I get older

.


OUCH! I hope you are well on the way to recovery from your injuries. I do not know much about scoliosis but it SOUNDS so uncomfortable.

I've completely recovered from the back injury, and am back to practicing my dancing, even though our class is on summer hiatus. Thank you so much for caring, A'isha. *huggles*

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I take supplements daily: calcium + vitamin D, glucosamine + chondawhateveritis, vitamin E and vitamin C (my dentist says they are healing vitamins), plus a regular multi-vitamin. I also take a prescription potassium supplement because I'm deficient in that mineral.


Chondroitin??? My husband and I both take supplements. He takes potassium in prescription strength because of his blood pressure meds. I am thinking that I could use some extra potassium as a regular thing, too.


That's it! Chondroitin! Thank you!

I take prescription potassium for the same reason your husband does. Potassium is an important mineral; just check with your doctor first before adding a potassium supplement, though.

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I've considered taking up yoga myself, and I'm going to see my regular doctor soon for a routine checkup. He knows about my bellydancing, and thinks it's terrific (in more ways than one; he wants his wife to take it up ). I also do some weight-bearing exercises, as well as bench-step. Do you have any other suggestions?

Sedonia Sipes, in another part of the forum I think, discussed weight training. Is it the same as weight bearing exercises? I have no suggestions other than to make sure that your body and your exercise routine are right for each other!! I had to add brisk walking for cardio stuff some years ago because Egyptian belly dance is so much stopping and starting that it is difficult to maintain the right heart rate for me. I do have a couple of heart issues and so I guess it is really important. My dog loves it, but I would rather lay on the couch. I am really not much for exersize besides dance, to be honest. It bores me to tears, but I do it.

Well, weight-bearing exercises can include weight training, but I'm not sure what the criteria is for "weight-bearing exercise." I can't remember which of my BD instructional books I've read this in, but from what I read, bellydancing is considered (by the author, at least) to be a weight-bearing exercise. I guess it's any form of exercise where you work with your own body weight?


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Oh! My therapist was impressed with my backbend!

Yes, belly dance does keep us pretty limber. I was in a car accident that required physical therapy when I was 38 years old, The therapist said the only client she had that was more limber than me was a`19 year old gymnast!! Of course, that was a long time ago now and I am not nearly as limber as I was then.



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Awwww, maaaaan, I figured my post would take too long; you've left.



I'm baaaccckkk!!


Regards,
A'isha

BIG huggles!

Thank you so much for your replies.

*sigh* One of these days, I'm going to learn how to use this quote thingie correctly...

Eve

Same here.

I think going to a GP to sort out these kind of problems will be very hit and miss. Unless they are very good or you are pushy you are unlikely (imho) to get a referral to a physio who again in my experience 1 visit every 2 weeks is not enough So it means paying privately and then it's hit and miss. I have a prolonged tendinitis problems, I tried 3 regular physios before finding one who correctly diagnosed my problem and sorted it out in two visits and taught me how to self treat.

Iyengar is a very good choice and should be of long term benefit to you.

khanjar

Ok, although I have only been doing Iyengar for a month, I am very surprised at it's action, in that each week I go, though I am still harassed by the teacher for my attempts at the postures, he freely admits I am much better than the week previous, I am becoming more flexible.

When I am doing the postures, I often think like, 'What the hell am I doing this for, this is hard work '. An hour and a half of it once a week and that is all, aside from some hip and back orientated home pilates, when I feel dutiful enough to do it. Why not home Iyengar, well simply I have a damaged knee and back to watch and with pilates, it is hard to fall off the floor. I do fear further damage in uncoached Iyengar postures at home, perhaps everything is ok, and I am stronger than I think, but after the pain and inconvenience of two slipped discs in the same place and a stretched anterior cruciate ligament, I sort of am aware and guard those areas, something with time, confidence will come and I might be less guarded.

Now, my pal is thinking to start doing Iyengar as he has noticed something in me that I was perhaps not aware of until he said it. He says I walk different, it is more fluid and relaxed. He also said he now understands why his girlfriend stands the way she does, as I am doing it. Doing what I asked him, his reply was standing with knees slightly bent, and the pelvis tilted so that the tail bone is tucked in. My back is also straighter and my demeanour has changed.
His girlfriend is a ME dancer who has been dancing some years and uses the dance form as her morning exercise routine before work.

So, in such a short time, there are surprising improvements and I am subconsciously correcting my posture, not that I was aware of this until my pal told me.

I would recommend Iyengar to anyone who seeks to sort out and enhance their posture, as I a reluctant athlete am starting to see the one and a half hours of hard labour once a week is really working.

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I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

Marya

Good for you for sticking with it. I was hoping you would let us know how it was going.

I recently had a "sewing machine" leg incident in yoga, for me it was a particularly tight hamstring that caused it.

You are very lucky to have a yoga teacher that pays so close attention to you. Hope you were just joking when you used the word harass.

Marya

AngelaJP

I have heard many not-nice things about chiropractors from specialists and patients in some countries. Chiros aren't medical doctors so their practice is not science-based but they claim to know how to align the spine. Many said that those with very mild temporary problems may have some success with a chiro. I haven't tried a chiro (and have no plan) so I cannot really speak from experience.

For problems with muscles, bones, nerves, spine and the like, the physiatrist (diplomate of rehab), orthopedic surgeon, osteopath, etc. would be the best doctors to consult, in my opinion. Each have their own specialization. I have been to a physiatrist for my severe mountainbike crashes and also an orthopedic surgeon to check and stitch my very deep crash wounds. Both have been really marvelous! Just saw my physiatrist recently for back pain when I wake up in the morning. He said my left leg is longer than the right but I'm due for an xray of my back next week. I've had off road bike crashes and trained in cement and paved roads for running so that may have contributed. Hope everything's okay!

Adiemus, you're into pain management! Hope you can tell us more about it

Khanjar, what is Iyengar?

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Carpe diem!

khanjar

Well, again I am the only male in the class, so as male physiology is different, I look basically a mess compared to the ladies. The first time I went, I was completely hopeless and the tutor being a health nut and very well practised in yoga was disgusted at my lack of flexibility. Of course he would, he is the same age as myself and looks at myself compared to he, the only other male in the class, but he is the tutor.

Obviously he is aware of my past injuries, so much so I use the site name 'crumpled' on their website forum. He does seem to be taking an interest in myself improving and when I cannot quite get the pose required, he is at me, pushing me to correct the alignment. If I cannot quite get it through understanding his instructions, (like, I had to ask what the dorsal spine was, when he described a pose to do with it), he uses belts and such to pull or shove me into the correct pose. That is what I mean when I describe harassing, but harassing in a good, positive way.

The ladies, not only are they naturally more flexible, but most have done yoga classes before, so they know more of what they are doing, like when the tutor suggests a pose by using the sanskrit word prasarita padottanasana and more like them, I go; 'whaaat', whereas the others seem to know what the pose is and the tutor having schooled in India says the words in a different way than what a western person might say them, perhaps with an Indian accent, the way he was taught.

My past thought to seek a chiro or osteopath, has gone now, for I feel the Iyengar is sorting the problems out, or at least will.

__________________
I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

Marya

I have been taking yoga classes off and on since 1974 and I only know the sanskrit for a few poses. I finally told my most recent teacher who mostly uses English that I couldn't understand anything she said. I only know the most basic human anatomy so dorsal spine is pretty meaningless to me too. I discovered, by being encouraged to ask questions when I didn't understand, that half of the class didn't understand either. So don't assume you are the only one that is clueless.

Marya

Aziyade

Adiemus, this is a GREAT site! Thank you for posting it!