jenc

I had back problems when i was younger. My doctor referred me to a physiotherapist who said I had one leg longer than the other and put a wedge in my shoe. Result hip pain. I took myself to an osteopath who discovered I had a twist in my back, probably done at birth. all my life I had thought I had one hip bigger than the other, but no it was because I was out of alignment. He put it right in 2 visits.
My sister regularly visits a chiropractor.

If you have problems in your back which are bad enough to be seen by this person, you must bear in mind that your whole body will have organised itself to cope. I would say that you are unliely to put it right with yoga, as you will probably continue to use the muscles and joints in the wrong way.

See the chiroprator

karena

I vote osteopath. Sorts me out. (I believe the different is Chiro = skeletal, Osteo = skeletal and muscular). And BD is also good; my osteo can tell if I haven't been dancing, as it helps me so much. I didn't even know how to stand up straight (muscles at front of body, why did no-one ever tell me that) until I did BD

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Marya

Khanjar,

you have a lot of issues to deal with. Based on my experience as a student and as a teacher i would say you are lucky to have a teacher so observant and willing to talk to you about your posture. I suggest talking to her more and telling her all the things you mentioned here.

I understand your desire to find health solutions yourself. I find MDs are not very interested in actually solving problems and more likely to prescribe a pill. I have many of the same issues you have and I can't take prescription pain medication or even aspirin or Ibuprofen so I have to deal with pain alot.

I have scoliosis too, the right hip is twisted forward and tilted, I have numerous back injuries from working in the National Forests on trails, tree planting, falls during hiking, auto accidents, injuries as a child etc. Many people have these problems, scoliosis is actually rather common. My parents had it I have it, I know many people who have it, it does get worse with age if you don't exercise and stay strong.

I find that yoga (usually some kind of Hatha yoga, but other than Kundalini Yoga, probably any kind will help) helps immensely. Look for a teacher who focuses on alignment rather than stretching and who can talk you into a posture very precisely. I have found that yoga teaching techniques over the years have improved immensely and the teachers that i have are very careful to make sure you are perfectly aligned in the position.

I also see a chiropractor regularly, there are no osteopaths where I live but I understand that they can be very helpful.

I also have found a lot of help from massage therapists and am hoping to start a program of Rolfing soon.

I started Belly dancing on the suggestion of a massage therapist after an auto accident. He thought it would help me recover.

with yoga and dancing, I am more flexible and strong than I was 15 years ago. I am in better shape than people 10 years younger than me. I have more control over my body than most of my students. My posture is also 100% better, I have way more body awareness than I did before which helps me keep my posture better. if you don't know where your body is in space how can you know you are standing correctly.

These problems never go away, if I stop doing yoga or take a break from dancing they only start getting worse. It is a continuous effort to stay flexible, keep the pain to manageable levels and stay strong. I have also found that emotional stress (death in the family for example) can make everything worse and that diet will also effect everything.

good luck, stay in your dance class, try yoga out, (there are other regimens that might help too if yoga doesn't suit you)

Keep it up, don't give up, I have a student who had been hit by a truck a few years ago, who couldn't do shoulder shimmies or hip drops even after private coaching classes, say she felt so much freer in her body and she loved the class. She still can't move very well but if she feels better i am happy.

Marya

khanjar

Thank you all for the advice, I have sought out a Yoga class, Iyengar Yoga which I understand focuses on precision and alignment and with hope, it might correct the skeletal-muscular problems with regular and correct practice. I believe the class this evening is teaching standing postures, which is very cool with me, as this is where my problem was discovered.

I do like what I have read on Iyengar, in that it teaches body awareness, alignment and correction, something which I believe might very well be useful with my desire to learn ME dance, basically knowing where everything is without looking hahaha.

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Marya

Good luck Khanjar,

Iyengar is a good version of Hatha Yoga to study. The main thing I like about Iyengar is that getting into the posture is not the goal, the goal is all those things you mentioned above.

Yoga has really helped me with all the aches and pains of getting older. I don't like Yoga particularly but I keep it up because it works.

Marya

adiemus

Can I suggest you head to a physiotherapist - beware of osteo/chiro and any other hands-on treatment - their x-rays are often of poor quality, and without supplementary exercise to add to their manipulation, your posture will revert to 'normal'. Physiotherapists are experts in posture and muscles, and are good at showing you exercises to help.
Personally if you're not experiencing discomfort(apart from aches and pains from muscles being used), you are very unlikely to need to change very much to prevent harm - it's quite hard to damage your back!
There is an awful lot of misinformation about back pain, posture and the like. Please read the information from a reputable website before consulting anyone about an essentially normal back!!
This one is good Bandolier - Evidence based thinking about health care
Most of us will get low back pain, most of us have what could be called 'poor' posture - but the two are not related! Most back pain gets better quickly (within 6weeks) but then will 'grumble' away for ages.... only a few percent need surgery. The best treatment from evidence is good pain relief, adjusting your activity for a day or two, then get back into movement again - especially (IMHO) bellydance! The worst thing is to lie still and do nothing!

Remember your body is always changing, and especially if you're doing new movements and unless you have neurological symptoms (numbness, tingling, loss of bowel or bladder control) back pain is pretty uncomfortable but essentially doesn't harm you!

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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

Kashmir

Me three. Also, if the issue is muscular and will respond to stretches etc you need a routine designed for your problem. A general once over (such as yoga) may not do any harm but won't necessarily target the problem. For instance, when I had my pelvis twisted forward due to muscle inbalance, I had to do some standard stretch work but twice as many glutes on my right as left, and twice as many hip flexors on my left than right. Also the order was a little unusual ie I didn't do my glutes then hip flexors but mixed them up.

If it is skeletal, some relief is possible - but it can't be "fixed". Either way, you need to see someone who specializes in body alignment - such as a sports or rehab physiotherapist.

Kashmir

I'm horrified by people who tell me they have regular appointments with an osteo/chiro to "put their backs in" every few weeks - for years. What they are getting (if they are lucky) is some relief of the symptoms by releasing the muscle tension. What they need is a program to fix the problem. After my first brush with back pain, the physio basically told me - "You know what to do, do it, you don't need to come back again".

adiemus

You got it!!!! Self management is by far the best way to live with your back - remember there are people out there who are making their living out of treating you, whereas an ethical practitioner will help you do it for yourself.

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He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

jenc

On the other hand the physio told me I had one leg longer than the other and gave me something to put in my shoe. agony continued. My doctor said go to an osteopath, doctors don't know anything about backs. The osteo told me i had a twisted pelvis possibly from birth, as I had always thought i had one hip way bigger than the other. he put me right in a couple of visits and from being someone who had excrutiating episodes of back pain, I have been 15 years pain free. I don't have one leg longer than the other and my hips are now the same size!!