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| I broke my coccyx at the weekend. Can the teachers here recommend a safe sequence for me to practise whilst I wait the 6 weeks for it to heal?
Also, anyone suggest where I can get those ring shaped ortho cushions fast? I'm in Reading, Berks. UK.
Fee |
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Veteran
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| Oh, "ouch 'is hardly the word  Can you order a cushion from your local pharmacy? I thought they might keep those cushions in stock, they used to be quite common. As for the practice, I must leave that to the experts--when they decide to wake up 
But I am an expert in sending good vibes to ease the "ouch". Just think you'll have lots of time to post on the forum. Try to rest in some comfort.  |
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| It's best to spend the six weeks resting it completely and definately avoid seated poses (he says stating the obvious  )
If you feel you really must do something, then work on your shoulders and chest openers (reverse prayer, cow faced hands etc) or meditation or pranayama seated in a chair on a doughnut cushion.
My mum did the same a few years ago and we got her a cushion from the local NHS/GP office who loan them out.
If you want an unused one, I'm sure most large chemists will sell them.
Jonathon
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Expert Yogi
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Location: right where I'm supposed to be | Fee, do nothing and relax (Ahimsa). Please. If you don't, you will feel it later in life.
As far as the cushion, you could probably purchase one in any local pharmacy or medical supply retailer.
OUCH is right!!! I broke my pelvic bone when I was 21. I'm 43 now and it has definitely contributed to my lower back disturbances. Take it light sista friend.
This is a great time to practice yoga internally. Maybe engross yourself in some studies
Edited by mishoga 2007-07-09 7:45 AM
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| Safe Sequence:
1. Eat minimum.
2. Rest maximum.
3. Meditate.
Orbilia - 2007-07-09 5:29 AM
I broke my coccyx at the weekend. Can the teachers here recommend a safe sequence for me to practise whilst I wait the 6 weeks for it to heal?
Also, anyone suggest where I can get those ring shaped ortho cushions fast? I'm in Reading, Berks. UK.
Fee |
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| None of the larger pharmacies in town stocked anything like the right thing, nor did any of the mother and baby shops.
Fortunately, one pharmacist pointed me at a shop that specialises in such things, just outside of town, and my boss's boss has just driven me there and back (something to do with anything to stop me moaning apparently :-) ).
They not only had them, but had a choice, including one specifically for coccyx injuries with the cut-out at the back.
Just need to find something to stop me caring about the snakes crawling over my desk now.
I'm so pissed off with myself... first an shoulder injury then weeks of viral laryngitis, now this. No wonder I've put 10lbs back on :-(
To clarify, I was wondering if there was a gentle asana sequence that I could do that would stop the rest of me locking solid as a result of hobbling around as I can already feel my lumbar region starting to scream at me?
Pranyama's a great idea. Is there a particular one you'd suggest? I find viloma breath calming (don't know if it's meant to) but I'm not experienced enough in this area to know what would be particularly helpful (if anything).
As you're probably wondering, I did it thus :
I have the world's ugliest raised flower bed in my front garden that I've been trying to find a reliable landscaper to get rid of for months now. One of those feral lilacs had planted itself in it, right in front of my lounge window. Having got sick to the back teeth of having to chop it back every three weeks or so, I decided to dig it up. I'd got to the bit where you rock the stump to get it out and was just about to adjust my footing to brace myself better when one side came free. I pitched backward. I managed to get most of my back on the soil, but the edge of the low brick wall caught me between the butt cheeks. Karmic vengence on the plant's behalf? I suspect so!
Apparently they only X-ray for this if there's pelvic instability or incontinence as the strength of radiation needed risks frying one's ovaries (the pelvic girdle/sacrum gets in the way). So I've a note asking for consideration and super-strengh paracetamol and ibuprofen to take together. Apparently it'll take 6 weeks to heal and about 2 for the pain to subside noticeably.
The A&E doctor was a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde Antipodean. I nearly said to him "sod the pain killers, just make house calls, often!".
I'm not signed off work by the way and as I sit all day at a computer, the cushion was vital. If I were signed off, I'd be spending my time teaching myself some Egyptian arabic *wry smile*.
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2007-07-09 8:39 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 168
| I'm really glad you found the cushion and I hope it brings some relief
Since I'm an expert on weight watching ( I watched mine go up and down for years  ) I can add the advice you already know. With decreased activity and decreased exercise you have to watch what you eat very carefully or you probably gain weight So, a lot of meditation would provide all kinds of benefits against boredom and the desire to snack in addition.
I think the advice was to rest, not go to bed but if you and your cute doctor can find a way to hit it off with a broken coccyx I would pronounce you cured |
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Expert Yogi
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| Oh Fee, you poor thing! At least a week to recoup and regroup and wait for the pain to be manageable, then probably anything that doesn't hurt? Glad you found the cushion  |
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| Virasana (with or without your cushion) may be quite soothing as well.
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| Thanks, Tourist, Johnnie. I'm figuring gentle Virasana twists would be good too, along with my usual warm-ups (anti-rheumatic series of pawanmakasana)?
I'm seeing an osteopath this afternoon as a colleague and first aider has just spotted that my right shoulder is lower than the left. The last time this happened (other way round) was after the stinking cold before last and I'd popped a rib in the thoracic spine. He wrang me out like a dish rag and it went back in painlessly and with an almighty crack! As I've just got over another cold, I suspect the same issue. This clinic is ace and they know about the coccyx. They keep most of my IT dept, at work in running order :-)
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2007-07-09 9:54 AM
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| Take lots of vitamin C as well. For the cold, not the coccyx.
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| Thankfully, the cold's gone (bit of residual sinusitis but I'm rarely free of that). In fact, I'd just started to get my energy back, hence the gardening. I really shouldn't be let out on my own you know *sighs*.
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| ...the vit C won't cure a cold but it will build up your immune system to prevent them in the future...
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| such a great time to practice pranayama and meditation. 
and, i'm sorry that you broke it! ouch! |
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| Hello Fee,
The coccyx, when bruised, presents in a similar fashion as it does when fractured.
And I would not embrace the thought "broke" for perhaps the obvious semantic-energetic linking.
Either way, that sort of injury, because of it's depth in the body and its interrelatedness (I made that up and we over here on this continent tend to do that) to the pelvis and the sacrum, well it's frisky, sensitive, and very reactive to the slightest movements.
I would begin doing whatever it is you do when inflammation is present in your body.
While I'd be a bit concerned about external rotation of the thigs (as it can pressure the SI joint) you may find those poses that bring "flow" into the pelvis to be helpful. But they should be gentle, supported, and restorative which equals bolsters, belts, and blocks.
Try the Supta Baddha Konasana series. If the bolster, blocks and belts do not help there, place the back of your front against the wall with the Baddha Konasana legs up the wall. I will inquire about this sort of thing more specifically on Saturday. |
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| Thanks for the tips. The A&E doctor said I had fractured the coccyx (peeling me off the ceiling after prodding me may have been a clue  ).
I saw my favourite osteopath yesterday who's confirmed that the rest of my back and pelvis are ok (I have some previous SI issues so wanted to make sure I hadn't twisted myself). He popped back a couple of slightly mis-aligned ribs and worked my right rotator cuff that's still not quite right since that shoulder injury I got in Dahab in March (very slight issue of tight internal rotation).
The direction of impact would have caused a transverse energy flow across the coccyx so I don't think as much force went laterally up the spine as landing on your butt would've produced (thank God given my previous experience of that one!). The edge of the bricks acted like a guilotine blade across the width of the coccyx as I landed flat.
I am finding that the most comfortable position is supine cobbler (tail bone moved toward the heels as instructed, dear yoga teacher, mine ). I can get my knees almost to the floor normally so doing this on the bed means I'm fully supported at the knee by the mattress.
Fee
Fee |
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Expert Yogi
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| I am surprised that any version of cobbler works for this, Fee. When I read purna's comment, I thought - oh no, more ouch! It just goes to show that we have to try things and see how they work for us. I was doing that pose in the hospital in the adjustable bed and was keen to get home and try it on my bolster - big mistake! It was just awful and pulled on the stitches. Using a belt for my feet also pulled. So now I am doing the pose lying flat on the floor with my toes at the wall - very nice! |
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I think I find it so as being a little sway backed, I get a lot of movement when I move the tailbone away. I'm currently using the bed in the spare room as it's higher than mine and though it has the same mattress, it comes up softer as it's a spring base metal frame job rather than a wooden fixed-slat one. I'm finding it cushions just enough to provide total leg support in cobbler.
How are you now?
Fee |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Well, I had cucumber for lunch and no meds, no heartburn!!! I have probably not had cucumber for 8 - 10 years. One of life's special summer pleasures I have to chew it carefully though. Hey - I could try making gazpacho, which I have never eaten... |
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| Another of life's little pleasures regained :-)
I like Tzatziki, both as a dip and as a salad dressing. Oh, and being a Marmite fan, I like that with cucumber in sandwiches. Don't forget to reserve a couple of slices for your eyes when legs up the wall
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| Ah cucumbers, I love even the smell of, and tzatziki is a favorite also. I can only find it in one store that I can't always get to so it's a rare treat.
Tourist, I'm so happy for you, eating food you haven't had in so long. We need variety.
Fee, I'm happy your able to find some comfort in a painful situation. Happy healing my friend.
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| We're pampered rotten here by a chain called Marks and Spencer's (M&S) who have a relatively expensive but totally amazing food hall. They stock Tzatziki most of the time and even do a low fat version. Only trouble is that between the dressed lobster, beef in red wine, pink fizzy wine, and truffles, it's very difficult not to spend ££££££££££s and put on a stone just from walking in the door :-)
Fee |
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Veteran
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| It's as easy as pie (or should I say chocolate mousse--easier even) ;-) wink to tourist -- to make your own Tzatziki ,cheap too. Seed a cucumber, chop it finely, mix it with a pot of yogurt voila! Of course you should add fresh, or dried mint, a touch of garlic , only if you like it, a little salt, a little hot pepper, if you wish. Stir carefully and let it develop in the fridge for a couple hours.
Keep the calories down with low fat yogurt or lavish it with Greek style yogurt. I don't even add salt. I eat loads of it. It is soooo cool and refreshing in the summer--anytime yumyum.
We had a Marks and Spencers in Paris, my husband liked the pork pies. I make the Indian food at home and my beef in red wine sauce you would die for (that's FOR, tourist, not FROM) wink wink so we didn't really buy very much there. I know, it's hard to make beef in wine sauce for only a couple people. I make it for about 30. So you all will have to come here and help me eat it up--with Tzatziki, of course.
When I weighed a lot more than I do now, I liked the clothes at M&S they had very elegant suits and dresses in larger sizes. Of course it has been closed now for several years.
I'm glad you are finding some yoga poses that you can tolerate, Orbilia, but take it slowly and keep the spirits up |
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| Thanks Belle, especially for the cucumber recipe and invite to dinner . I believe that M&S are intending to go back into Europe now that they've turned the core UK business around and got back into profit.
I sometimes have cooking Sundays where I'll do a large quantity of chicken stew, beef casserole, etc and then freeze it in individual portions. That way, I've always got something home cooked for nights when I'm too tired or can't be bothered (it's difficult to get motivated when you live alone).
Taking it easy is difficult for detail-oriented, anal, type A lunatics like me but I'll try..... one reason Iyengar suits me so well
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2007-07-11 10:58 AM
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| Hi, I'm new to this site and thread and yoga in general and I don't know if anyone will even check back here since this was a few months ago, but, I just wanted to let Orbilia know that it will take a long time for your coccyx to heal. I broke mine 15 years ago and still have residual pain when I sit on a hard surface for too long to take a ride on a bike or motorcycle. I don't want to be negative but I just wanted to let you know in case that same happens to you so you won't be too frustrated. I've been dealing with a back injury for over 5 years so I'm too familiar with the frustration that goes along with pain that just won't go away. Good wishes to you I do hope you are feeling much better by now
Also to anyone who needs cushions like that Gaiam.com sells them. They call it a "tush cush" and it has saved my back and bum many a times. I've even figured out away to attached to the motocycle so I can ride again which I'm not really sure is a good thing but it was one thing I just couldn't give up! |
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Ouch, ouch and, well, Ouch!!!!
