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| Hello. I waited a long time, but now I'm going to ask. I'd really appreciate any opinion and I'd really be thankful if you could take the time to read this, so please, please, please help me.
It is a quite hard situation and therefore I would like to recount as many details as possible, in hopes that the experts here might be able to give me some advice or at least give me an answer.
I'll also highlight the most important parts of this message for those who have little time to read the entire post.
Basically what I'm currently asking myself is:
How did I get this?
How can I stop this (i.e. prevent further damage) and
what should I do to recover?
I would deeply appreciate your answer, even if it's only an opinion or a possibility of what might have happened.
A little background on myself...
I'm 20 years old, male, and used to be quite irregular in my physical activity during my teenage-hood. I never did sports, had a normal body but started to change my attitude when I was starting to get almost overweight.
Around the beginning of this year I started doing cardio, running, push-ups and other basic activity, and since the results were very good I also considered yoga.
Despite having a non-athletical body, I recall having always been flexible, so I never had any difficulties doing the yoga positions in the books illustrations.
However, even this year I wasn't very regular with yoga (didn't hold to a schedule, didn't do it daily). I did fitness exercises only when I had time. That could mean that I sometimes stayed up to a week without doing any exercises at all.
Nevertheless, I was improving, loosing a lot of weight, feeling better inside and outside...
And this is why I'm writing...
On the 3rd of June, I performed a variant of the position called "Halasana" - the Plough pose - a position that actually had come to me quite naturally other times before.
For the sake of being specific please allow me to link this picture I found on a search machine...
http://www.yogacards.com/yoga-postures-2/yoga-postures-S/halasana-plough-pose.jpg
But maybe I did something wrong. I don't know what exactly I did wrong.
Maybe I moved too fast. Maybe I stayed too much time in that position.
Maybe I didn't lift my thighs up enough.
I don't remember, but that's the position I did. And it felt comfortable.
All I remember is that after staying about 15-20 seconds in that position I felt a pressing pain in my nape, at the lower back of my neck, where the neck connects with the shoulders.
I stopped at that point and quit all physical activity for a while.
Initially, I put massage creams, everything, but the pain didn't go away.
A few days later I went to the doctor, who checked me and told me that nothing serious was there, and maybe it was just a muscle sprain. She told me to resume physical activity without worrying about anything.
I stayed 4-5 days without doing any physical exercises. I also thought that maybe I was worrying too much and it's bad to stay without moving. I tried doing some exercises again, but immediately stopped because the pain started radiating from the neck towards the shoulders the arms, the fingers.
I tried to rest again, not moving for many many days (basically all I did was waking up, eating, staying in front of the computer all the day), but the pain escalated - sometimes came, sometimes went - and expanded to other areas, in the thoracic area of the back, and the upper part of the neck and the back of my ears.
Also the type of pain was different and changing all the time. It was either dull, tingling, "scraping", or as if something inside me was actually bleeding.
On July 7th, it became unbearable and I went to the emergency department. They did an orthopedic check and also said it's nothing serious, however they prescribed me several different drugs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to take for a week and to keep a cervical collar for 5 days.
To be honest I felt as if the cervical collar did ease my pain at the original spot where I got injured (nape shoulders), but made the rest of the neck quite stiff and caused other pains.
I'm not sure, I'm not a doctor. But I'm just mentioning it in case you might have had a similar experience or you might know...
Again, during the entire week I basically stayed at home and used only the computer. I didn't even make the slightest turn with my head.
All seemed to be alright, but the pain came back and got worse than before (and again, it seemed as if each wrong movement I made caused a new chain reaction that spread the pain to other parts of the neck).
On July 14th I went back to the emergency department, where they checked me again, said there was nothing serious. But this time they gave me some powerful injections to take for a week (again, powerful NSAIDs and muscle relaxants).
It did help... but I always had the feeling that it was only pain relief, and something was still happening because every now and then there was a new pain growing in the neck and spine.
A week after, I did an MRI of my spine. According to the MRI, there was nothing wrong with the spine, no disc herniations, and nothing wrong with the spinal cord, etc.
The only visible symptom was that the cervical region had become stiff and lost some of its natural curvature.
Basically, I'm currently clueless about what's happening to me.
And I say happening because I have this feeling that each day, each wrong movement I do, the pain seems to be different (either the type of pain or the location of pain).
I showed the MRI to my general practitioner doctor, and she says that very probably the muscles are straining the nerves.
She also told me to do swimming.
Anyway, I'm about to seek the opinion of other specialists and I'm also going looking for a real yoga professional who might know about yoga related injuries.
Meanwhile I would like to know what you think about this whole issue.
I'd be thankful for any advice or explanation.
Especially - if you have any idea, even the slightest - on how I can prevent further damage or whether there's any exercise I should do to recover from this condition of recurring pain.
Thank you so much in advance. |
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Expert Yogi
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| Hi Chris - I am sorry you hurt your neck  Halasana is a tricky pose to do without a teacher and I understand the idea that you felt you could do it because you are flexible and that it didn't cause you pain before. I did a lot of yoga in my youth without a teacher and (probably very luckily) without injury. I loved halasana and stayed in the pose for long periods of time.
It sounds like you have pulled some muscles and have muscle spasms. They can take a long time to heal and computer work sadly is often something that does more harm than good. Posture at the computer and the action of the arms and shoulders is sometimes a key cause of neck pain even without yoga.
You will get plenty of advice here about how to proceed, but I'll bet most, if not all of it will include visits to alternate practitioners. There is a reason for that - typical medical treatment is often very unhelpful for these sorts of injuries. But since you have been seen to so thoroughly and it is clear there is no damage to your spine, it is fairly safe (yet not 100% and I have to give that disclaimer) to say that you need to go and find a body worker (massage, physio - a good one, Rolfer etc.) or acupuncturist to help you with this. Once you have come back to a state where you can tolerate activity, find a good, experienced yoga teacher and start again. Good luck! |
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| Thank You tourist,
thank you for your so quick and understanding reply!
Yes, I already realized (and cursed myself) in the past weeks that I was quite reckless for not having started yoga at a class or with a trainer - especially knowing that I used to be quite un-athletic in the past (which might have probably played a major role in what happened to me. Maybe I was not ready yet?)
You say that computer work can cause harm! Could this be an explanation to the fact that even with all the medicine and injections, the pain always returned after some time?
I actually stayed at the computer because I thought I would move less that way.
In addition, I would also mention that while I'm at the computer (correct posture, shoulders on the table) I actually feel less pain than - for example - when I try to look for a comfortable posture to sleep or when I walk for too long.
Anyway, I will now try to use the computer less.
I'm starting to research a good body worker.
Thanks so much again. |
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| I agree with everything that tourist said but would add that you may have stretched or torn a ligament. (That would account for your doctor saying that your neck curvature wasn't right.) Ligaments heal very very slowly because there is very little blood supply to them. I hope that it is a torn muscle instead as that will be better in a matter of weeks. Plow and shoulderstand are both extreemly dangereous to do without the supervision of an experienced teacher (also headstand). Gentle movement (without pain) helps muscle tissue to heal without forming scar tissue. Find a good yoga teacher who understands therapeutic yoga (Iyengar teachers often have some training with injuries). It is very important that you resolve this neck problem successfully so that you don't have recurring injuries later. |
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| Hi Chris,
If I was in your position, the first thing I would do is visit an osteopath or chiropractor who is familiar with Yoga related injuries.
Jonathon
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Location: London, England | Hi Chris,
Just to give you some background I've been teaching yoga for about twenty years, and about halfway through that I completed a degree in chiropractic. Before I took the degree, I was perfectly happy teaching shoulderstand and plough-afterwards, I'm not-I do sometimes include them in classes, but mainly to try to prepare the students for other classes where I know the teacher does not have my misgivings about the postures.
In the photo link that you gave, this gentleman is doing all the wrong things-allowing the cervical spine to flex-when he goes up to shoulderstand, he is risking cervical disc protrusion, or some other injury. When most people do these postures, it is much easier to get into them by allowing this deformation of the cervical spine-in fact, they are often taught to do this, tucking the chin into the notch of the collar-bone, and lengthening the back of the neck, and upper thoracic spine. In my humble opinion, everyone should be made to use a support under the neck to make them adhere to a good cervical curvature-similiar to the lumbar supports that you see people using when sitting, but obviously a lot smaller. I've been toying with the idea of creating a website which sells rehabilitation gear for people who do yoga, and this would be something that would be included.
Hope your neck gets better soon, let us know if we can offer any support or advice.
Nick
Edited by Nick 2007-08-01 1:57 AM
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| Hello chris,
Yoga injuries are, sadly, on the rise at alarming rates. It makes me quite sad.
I will say that you have very mature writing for a 20 year-old. Some of the concepts and constructs you compose are very thorough and mindful - a rare quality which made me initially suspicious.
Never the less, I'll give you some feedback. And I'll preface that feedback with this caution: I am a yoga teacher and not a medical professional. You've obviously seen several doctors and it is appropriate that "we" visit the health care practitioiners of our choosing when we are in a situation such as the one you are in. Yoga supports the body's own abilities to heal, it does not, inherently cause healing.
If I were in your position I would seek a chiropractic consultation. If you do not "believe" in such things then it would be folly to pursue a consultation merely because some stranger on a yoga forum said so.
Without being able to see your pose, and only having the photo as a reference, it is impossible to determine what sort of issue you may have. I would thus keep your thoughts incredibly clean as the mind has a tremendous power to manifest. Do pursue recourse but do so without writing a script in your mind about this damage or that damage. Chances are that you will fully recover as you are very young. I would caution you from thinking that sitting in front of a tv or a computer monitor is doing "nothing" please avoid both as they place strain on the muscles of the neck. This is not rest.
When the body accompanies neck pain with referring pain in the upper extremities it is, of course, possible for a nerve to be impeded and the innervation (or impulses) to the upper extremities pass through via the cervical spine. Again, I am unable to ascertain your particular issue as there is simply not a strong body of observation and information to do so.
As this is a serious issue (that I do believe will heal fully) if you plan a recourse through yoga please do so with a well trained therapeutically skilled yoga teacher. This person is rarely teaching a 55 minute class at the local gym (though it is possible).
The ways in which we work with neck injuries are very detailed, carefully monitored, and mindfully progressing. I would not be able to "give" you such a thing over the Internet. But it is possible to receive such aa thing from a qualified teacher.
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| Let me thank you for all your replies. Each of you.
I probably should have asked here earlier,
since all your information provides an entirely different
perspective on the whole situation.
Allow me to express my deepest fear, as it is useless to bury it in vague uncertainty:
that, despite the apparently unserious diagnosis of the MRI,
the ongoing reactions caused by wrong movement and/or posture might actually climax into something serious indeed.
The doctors only told me to "rest". My general practitioner suggested some sleeping postures but they didn't help a lot.
So most of the time I was pretty uncertain about how to move and stand, sit or walk while being treated with medicine, cervical collar and injections.
Now that many of you also explained that sitting in front of the TV or
computer is harmful - which is basically the only thing I did
since I got the injury in first place - I'm wondering whether this unhealthy behavior, compounded to the original ailment (rigidity? torn ligament? muscle sprain), is aggravating it, maybe even causing stress and pressure on the intervertebral discs.
If I stand still for a while and focus on my breath (I've also done meditation, breathing, etc. since I was about 15-16 years old) I feel as if the original pain is not there anymore (lower part of neck), but there is this scar-bleeding-like feeling in the upper part of the neck.
I don't know whether this pain is just radiating from the original spot or whether it's entirely new.
I'm currently searching for a chiropractor or physiotherapist in my area and that's my top priority these days.
Nevertheless, I'm still uncertain about what to do in the meantime.
I can't sit or use the computer, from what I learned here.
But what else shall I do during the 24 hours of the day?
(I'm a student, on summer vacation. I can't even read when I'm on bed since lifting the books with the hands also triggers pain...)
I would appreciate any suggestion - if you have any - as to what I should do now, (movements, daily activities, walking, exercises, sleeping?) and what I should avoid doing during the day.
This is probably the vital information most doctors so far failed to give me, if my feeling that posture and wrong movement/non-movement have been making things worse is right.
My mother keeps saying that I'm worsening matters by resting too much, that I should at least walk a bit, or even travel. I'm actually quite guilty about not being able to help around in the house. I didn't even lift anything (garbage, bottles, etc.) as a precaution.
But the faster I heal, the more efficient I will be later on.
Thank you once again. |
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| The above advise is excellent.
I would only add that from my own experience use of a computer can result in significant shortening of the muscle mass on the top if the shoulders. I originally went to an osteopath for sacro-illiac joint issues but he took one look at my shoulders and worked them too. When he'd finished that first session, the muscles actually sat a whole inch lower down my neck than before!
I feel it's possible that if you've used a keyboard a lot, then you may very well have muscle imbalances / shortening that may have increased your risk of throwing something out of alignment when in plough. The pain is most likely to be from a trapped nerve. A nerve that is trapped for some time may well end up damaged. Ask around to se if anyone you know has an expert that they rave about (and check qualifications). It may well be that the treatment is a little painful at the time and for a couple of days after but it should reduce healing time overall if done correctly.
As for the boredom - try audio books or read at a table so that you're not supporting the weight. Talking of audio tape, might be time to learn a language? You could also try mantra chanting, visualisation and meditation if you want to continue yoga whilst healing? I think many of the breathing practises would be a bad idea at the moment but the experts here might be able to suggest one that would aid relaxation without jarring your neck?
Your mother may also be correct that complete inactivity is not good for you. Walking is excellent exercise and need not place strain on your neck. If the impact of the hard surface jars your neck, try wearing shoes with heels made of a spongy, shock-absorbing material.
I hope you're more comfortable soon.
Fee
Edited by Orbilia 2007-08-01 6:03 AM
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| Your long explanation is missing the MOST IMPORTANT piece which is the Cause and Solution of your problem. How did you learn Yoga in the first place? Did you learn it from an Experienced Teacher? I am not saying you must do it always. What I am saying is: If you did not, you are likely to get into problems like this. And, that may be oK.
Now, the solution: a) For immediate inspection, you must go to someone who can view your anatomy, preferably without X Ray (Do not do too many x rays. That shall screw up further.) Go to a good one not a cheap one. b) Then take all bodily precautions or measures until healing is complete, except do not take any medication. c) Then, go to Experienced Yoga Teacher and learn ALL OVER AGAIN. d) And, do NOT ask Doctors about Yoga and Yoga Teachers about medicine.
Best Luck.
Indefinite - 2007-07-31 6:10 PM
Meanwhile I would like to know what you think about this whole issue.
I'd be thankful for any advice or explanation.
Especially - if you have any idea, even the slightest - on how I can prevent further damage or whether there's any exercise I should do to recover from this condition of recurring pain.
Thank you so much in advance. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Chris - neck pain can be horrifyingly painful without later causing serious problems. I am imagining you are thinking the very worst - paralysis, spinal damage and lifetime disability. While that is all possible, I suppose, the MRI and other diagnostic tests seem to indicate that you have not injured any vital part of your neck - yet. Don't add to your problem with worry!!! Spend some time experimenting with rolled towels or blankets and see if you can find a way to support your neck while lying flat on your back on the floor. For many, a firm roll under the neck with maybe just a soft layer under the back of the head can be very comfortable. Have any of the MD's suggested ice? An ice pack on the shoulders and neck can be very nice and you can either use ice from your freezer or buy a nice, flexible, reusable pack at the drugstore (I am assuming you are in North America somewhere...) cheaply. Good luck and do keep us posted. |
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| I agree with Tourist here:
It sounds like you have a lot of dread and gloom. Think good thoughts. Ice is nice!
Eric
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| If your problem is inflamation, ice will help the inflamation to subside. Try a bag of frozen peas as they make a great ice pack. A minor neck injury will frequently cause the muscles to tighten up to immobilize the neck and protect it while it heals. This tightening can inpinge a nerve and cause major pain. If this is your problem, your pain will respond best to warmth. Try a hot shower with hot pulsating water on your neck and shoulders or a hot water bottle. You will know right away whether heat or cold is what you need. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| I agree, Jim. I meant to add that sometimes a heat/cold cycle can be very good for releasing spasms. Five minutes of each about 3 or 4 times can be very nice. |
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| Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all your help.
As you can see, I already cut down a lot of my computer time.
jimg, tourist, the heat/cold cycle also helps, even if temporarily.
I had another routine check-up with the orthopedic doctor who only confirmed that very probably there's nothing wrong at spinal level, nor did he see anything wrong in the nerve roots, and that - he stressed - in his opinion it must be muscular pain.
He suggested body work, too.
Specifically: muscle relaxant massage therapy, light cervical tractions, global postural gymnastics, cervical stabilizing exercises, TENS and magnetotherapy ( isn't the latter some non-scientific experimental thing? )
A question: are such exercises generally included in yoga therapy as well?
I live in Italy and at this time of the year it is hard to find any specialist, since every Italian, including professionals, is highly devoted to the ideal of Summer Vacation (even many emergency depts. have closed... as if there were less accidents during summer holidays!).
I also discovered that there are some chiropractors, but I'll have to wait a bit.
In the meantime my pain in the original area has slightly faded away, but the nerve (or muscle?) "rusty" pain is expanding everywhere. Since my last injection-based therapy, I felt as if I was healing for about 1 weeks, but then the pain came back and is now expanding to the back of my ears, teeth, jaw, throat, and I feel as if my eyes are being pulled. Also the armpits and breast areas have similar pains.
So, even if I have a positive mind, I often wake up in the morning with some new pain in some part of the body... and that's what keeps me alarmed [the expanding pain].
Orbilia
You mention trapped nerves. Now that I remember, when I did the Halasana/Plough posture, the pressing pain in the nape came exactly where the nape was on the floor. Maybe I trapped, impinged or crushed it by putting all my body weight on that nerve?
How can that be diagnosed?
kulkarnn
I did an MRI, which is, as far as I have been told, more precise than the X-ray.
What are the other methods for checking my anatomy?
I'd certainly be happy to start yoga all over again after I heal, with a professional experienced yoga teacher. As I already pointed out previously, I think that the whole "moral of the story" of my incident was that I shouldn't always self-learn everything. 
And I hope that my experience will serve as a warning to other reckless self-learners as well.
tourist
Indeed, I brushed up on my biological/medical/health vocabulary this summer. I accepted the possibility of the worst long time ago, so my only concern now is to be at least of some utility to society.
Despite my sport-less background, my progress (loss of weight, strength, inner energy etc.) at the beginning of this year really pumped me with ambition: I was seriously planning to start martial arts this summer (i.e. now) or some really extreme acrobatics (with a professional!)...
Maybe worse things could have happened if I really did.
I had no clue about the danger of computer use on the neck before asking on this forum.
And I don't know what else could cause damage (or worsen the condition).
I'm inexperienced in matters of sport and physical health. That's a fact
And now I'm trying to take precautions and prevent anything that might be triggered by my original injury
Thank You again, and have a nice day! |
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| Hi Chris,
I don't know anything about magnetotherapy, though I often use a TENS machine. I bought mine in the UK for about $100.
You dont mention where you live in Italy, though they do have a large Iyengar scene there.
Contact Gabriella Giubilaro ( www.yogawisdom.com ).
She is both an excellent teacher and Yoga therapist (and assessed me for my teacher training  )
Jonathon
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| Thanks jonnie
I'm from Milan. I researched some schools of the Iyengar method, and noticed that although G.Giubilaro is based in Florence, she sometimes holds seminars in a studio here as well
(http://www.yogastudiomilano.it/).
However, from what I read there seems to be no therapy, healing in that studio - just basic yoga tutoring.
In any case I'll try to contact them and get some information.
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| Hi Chris,
You're welcome.
Although they don't actually advertise Yoga therapy, the teachers are definately trained in it.
Ask them about booking a private session.
Jonathon
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| My teachers train with Gabriella when she comes to Canada. She is amazing. |
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| Thanks everyone for your advice.
While I was on a holiday in the UK, I went to a school of osteopathy and it seems like that they have greatly helped me According to most of them it was a mixture of tense muscles all over the face and neck in addition to trapped nerves.
Indefinite |
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Injured neck doing yoga
