Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pec5002]

My story is I have 2 bulging disks in my lower back. I have had numerous MRI's and I have had this condition for four years now. At first the pain was unbearable but after months of rehab, yoga and traction it is now very bareable. A couple times a year I will have a bad couple of days. At first my doctor gave me muscle relaxers (Skelaxin, flexoral) non of which worked. Then he gave me percosets. I go through about 60 a year and stupidly did not bring them with me. Now as I write this I am having a bad day due to hiking yesterday. I have taken 5 tylenol and nothing. My general doctor at home gave me the prescription, but I am not sure what to do here about getting something for the pain. What do you recommend I do I have only been here a month and do not have an ARC card. If i tell my doctor this story will he be able to understand or should I print pictures out?

ps- I have been doing my stretches and no help.

[Omkara]

How about trying breathing? Lie back on the floor, eyes closed, breath into the bottom of your belly, and notice where you feel tightness with the breath. Just observe these areas, breath into them, and relax them. Keep a light smile on your face. Just enjoy the breathing, and keep your mind and breathing united. Relaxing thus will allow your body to do what it needs to correct itself.

Don't eat too much, as this takes a lot of energy and also interrupts the natural symmetry of the torso, forcing compensations that will interrupt the balancing of the body.

Drink plenty of water and soothing teas.

If needs be, when you lie back, have the soles of your feet on the floor and knees up.

Perhaps have relaxing music on.

Just enjoy and be patient.

Don't chant to Krsna, but get physical. Reject the spiritual. That is witchcraft. Do not practice any devotion. Realize your materialness. Matter is the only way. Only what can be seen, touched, tasted, heard or smelled is real.

Use foul language.

[some waygug-in]

OK, I understand. Thanks for the advice. I can see how Yoga can be dangerous for the uninformed....like me.


I'll try lying down and breathing for a while.

cheers

[Omkara]

I wouldn't worry so much about yoga, unless you are having an acute problem. Just take it easy. If you are able to keep your focus on your breath and to relax both in the pose and in the transition, you'll be fine. It's when you try too much to make your body do something that you run into problems.

Just enjoy your practice, and keep your mind on your breath. Your breath is your guru. Yoga is a breathing exercise, not a stretching exercise. If you can keep your mind on your breath, keep is smooth, uninterrupted, relaxed and joyful, you are practicing like a master.

If you worry in your practice, your breath will constrict. Constriction is what your are trying to be free from.

Do yoga. It's great.

But if you are in a lot of pain and need to see a doctor, do so first. If you don't need to see a doctor, just practice your breath in pose. If the pose becomes the end and not relaxed breathing within the pose, you are letting the tail wag the dog.

Simple poses are always best.

Do you have a teacher or a DVD?

[D.D.]

[Omkara]

D.D., can you explain about your spinal chord tension hypothesis some more? How does it cause pain, and what kinds of stresses lead to it? Does your system have categories of stress? That is, physical, emotional, environmental, etc.?

Also, I agree that for many of the breathing exercises a good teacher is needed. But anyone can do a simple long and slow belly breath, slowly, deeply and without effort. Just watching and even counting the breaths is good enough.

For example, one would do well to lie back, count the inhale as one--having the internal sound of the one exactly match from beginning to end of the inhale--, pause, and then count the exhale as two. . .all the way to ten, then starting again.

The attention should simply be in the belly, just below the belly button. Then, as the attention is fully with the breath, expand the watching from the belly button area alone to the body breathing as a whole. . .only watching. . .only noticing how the whole body breaths as an organic whole, that it is no one area or another that breaths. Just watch the body itself breathing, gently, gently, counting, counting, noticing, noticing. . .

. . .letting thoughts pass like leaves on the wind. . .counting, watching, counting, watching. . .any tension dissolves. . .counting, watching, one through ten. . .pausing and observing the spaces between breaths. . .

This requires nothing more than an attentive mind, counting and watching, doing nothing special but starting the breath from beneath the belly button, and staying out of the way of the breath by watching.

Any points of tension observed and dissolved will exactly correct the breath.

The dissolving of tension is only the observer learning to step aside and allow the breath to breath itself. It is a getting out of the way, an allowing, a participatory dance in which both partners become no longer partners but the dance itself watching and being itself.

The breath is the teacher. The pain is the teacher. The dissolution of the tension and pain can only come by listening and following the teacher, and smiling.

[sofaking]

I cracked a vertebra when I was in my early teens. Put up with the pain for several years while I tried everything except surgery....too risky at the time. After thousands of dollars and no relief from the 'alternatives', finally had a spinal fusion when I was in my early 20's. I am 40 now and I have to say the surgery was the best thing I ever did. Wish I had done it 10 years earlier and not wasted my time on all the other crap.

[some waygug-in]

I have no teacher, just youtube vids and a book of poses.

I have taken 1 yoga class, and it was tough.... a lot tougher than I expected.
I asked the instructer if there was an easier level for beginners...he replied that I was in it.

I think I will stick with simple things like cat -cow and down dog, breathing and walking.

I tried doing the "thread the needle" and although it felt good while I was doing it, I got a lot more pain after an hour or so. I think I'd better stay away from that one! Ouch!

I was also doing "warrior" and something called "hindu pushups" which seemed to help me before, but this week they only seem to make the pain move to differen parts of my spine, so I think I'll stay away from them for a while as well.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcW61Bb8uOo


I'd better just do walking and breathing for a few days.

[Omkara]

You can't go wrong with walking and breathing. Synchronize your steps with your breath: "In-two-three-four-and-Out-two-three-four--ONE. . .all the way to ten, and then again, from the belly.

When thoughts come, just let them float on by and return to breathing in you belly. It is really pleasant.

Here's some good yoga:

http://www.amazon.com/Viniyoga-Therapy-Back-Sacrum-Kraftsow/dp/B000U0C9UE

[Rteacher]

If all else fails (and you can't find it in your heart to chant to Krishna) you could try doing the Humpty dance ...
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/adc7e56e

If that's too funky, try the Krishna thing again ...
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/bf9b6cc6

(dang I've put on a lot of weight this winter - no wonder I can hardly walk)

[some waygug-in]

I don't know about Krishna chants, but this might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXgdSOxaCGI

[Omkara]

Silly as that last one is, it's good medicine. . .whatever it takes to laugh, ey?

Exactly what makes that awkward is what also gives us back trouble. . .

Think of children: they'd laugh freely. But us? We become embarrassed, hold back, condemn. Before you know it, the day is without laughter and you've got a face like we see walking on these roads every day: stone and joyless.

Laughing is really important for back health. Find a way to to it regularly.

[Rteacher]

It's important for women's health, too ...
http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/c31262c66

[Omkara]

RTeacher, you're crazy!

[pec5002]

Hey, look I spoke earlier but I would like to make myself clear. I have tried yoga and breathing but it doesn't work for me. It is great that it worked for you. I am not here looking for a way to fix my back since I have spent 1000's of hours in America doing that, but instead just medicine to manage it for those couple days a year when it is bad. Can someone please help me with getting medicine like I had mentioned earlier.