Guest guest Posted March 6, 2001 Report Share Posted March 6, 2001 I've been practicing Ashtanga for about 7 months. Over the last couple of months, I've developed this pain along the outside of my lower arm. It feels like shinsplints in my arm. Any suggestions? It's kind of hard to avoid using your arms in Ashtanga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 I've had what you describe. After a few weeks (during which time I wondered if I was becoming an astanga casualty) it just went away.<br><br>I"d suggest: anytime your hand is on the mat, pay very careful attention to what you're doing with it. If you have the habit (many new to yoga do this) of putting your weight away from the thumb-side toward the edge of the hand, then that's causing an imbalance and is putting much undue stress on the forearm ligaments -- resulting in "splints."<br><br>At all times, your weight should be distributed to the first two knuckles and the pad of the thumb; that is, away from the other edge of the hand. The palm then should be flat on the mat, not tilted to either side.<br><br>Something else that's bad for the wrists and forearms: using your fingers to raising the palms up off the mat (e.g. in jumpbacks and jumpthroughs). Again, many beginners typically want to do this so they can gain clearance in spite of their lack of ab strength and flexibility. They cut short their yoga careers as a result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 observe ahimsa -- doing no harm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 Ok. I had the "do no harm" part figured out. I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to continue practicing Ashtanga without further harming my arm. I'm hoping to find someone out there that has also had "shinsplints" in their arms to see if they have any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 The three responses you got yesterday were good. All of the posters (whose names all start with ma, how about that?) basically said this happened to them too and it will go away. Could be. Yoga practice can bring about all kinds of changes or openings which may need to be "integrated" - sometimes things things have to get worse to get better. I've had all kinds of aches and pains that came and went. But the "do no harm" advice is also very good. The simple way to look at it is take a break, give it some rest. But this may not do it.<br><br>I would suggest getting a book called Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries, by Sharon Butler. This may not be CTS or any kind of RSI but the book may still be very helpful. It is a collection of stretches that can be used to help with all kinds of problems in the hands, wrists, and arms. I have tons of great books, but if I had to give an award to "the best book in the world" this would be it. I can't say enough about it. Most people may have no use for it, but if you have sore arms or hands, check it out. Sharon Butler is a saint.<br> <br>You can also modify your practice for the time being, omitting any postures that are painful.<br><br>Also, you can start at the beginning, tadasana, and very slowly raise your arms up over your head. If you do this very slowly, and with great awareness, you may feel some stretches that you need to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Thank you, Mr. Slade, for posting the book information. I am struggling with carpal tunnel syndrome and have been splinting it, taking vitamin B6 (when I remember to) and monitoring my hands and arms in vinyasas, especially downward dog. I sometimes take no vinyasa because my hand and wrist get tired so easily. I too have had mysterious pains that come and stay for a few weeks or a month or so and then mysteriously vanish. The positive side of some minor pains is that they give me an opportunity to stay inwardly focused and present in my body while I practice. I'll definitely check out that book.<br>Namaste, K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 "There's nothing like a bit of discomfort for bringing the mind into the present moment" <br>- a quote from my old teacher in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Didn't Nietzsche say something like....."suffering is the sole origin of consciousness"? Or something like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Thank you, TLSlade! I really appreciate the advice. I'll check out the book. Namaste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Thank you, Screwgee, for the advice. It really helps me to know that other people have experienced and overcome this difficulty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 Kejemijo -<br><br>I am always amazed at how many people have problems with their hands. I went to get a faucet part last month and a plumber showed me how his ring fingers lock in place. He's going to see a hand surgeon. I have been able to look at my hand problems as a blessing in disguise, as it has led me way deeper into exploring yoga and all kinds of healing methodologies. It has been very interesting. I to the Sorehand mailing list. Man, you can really hear some sad stories there. <br><br>Just to continue harping on Sharon Butler - she sometimes posts to the Sorehand list, mainly in response to people saying they tried her stretches and things got worse. She counsels them to back off, be more gentle. This is greatly emphasized in her book but it is a hard concept to get. She also revealed in a post there, that after healing herself of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, she purposefully caused various upper-body repetitive strain injuries in herself just to see if her methods would fix them (which they did). She is working on a website and a new edition of her book. I know she is an angel.<br><br>Also, I gather from reading Sorehand that wearing splints is not normally recommended except maybe<br>at night. The more enlightened thinking is that motion is good and splints cause muscles to atrophy. B6 may be good, but can be toxic in high doses. This is a mechanical problem so I don't put much faith in dietary measures for it. Of course a good diet is important for good health. I take a multi-vitamin and figure that's good enough.<br><br>Another really good book on the subject is Its Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! by Jack Bellis and Supra Damany.<br><br>Just be careful about going to see doctors. Many people have surgery and later have the same problem. A few more surgeries and then they really have problems. <br><br>Basically, yoga is the cure. Its just a matter of practicing yoga in a way that is appropriate for you at the time. This is one of Sam Dworkis' main ideas - appropriate yoga. Also we may need to expand our ideas of what yoga is. (Its ALL yoga!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 LOL -- sorry, did not mean to appear flippant, but i can see how that happened. tried to be concise and helpful. pain can be a blessing, to remind us of the importance of observing the fundamentals of our practice, as laid out by gurudev patanjali.<br><br>my practice has over the years been a therapy to relieve pain and heal injuries from the occasional ballet mishap. it took me a long to time to learn there was no sense in compartmentalizing dance (or any other part of my life) away from yoga.<br><br>contemplation on ahimsa, doing no harm, and on the other yamas and niyamas, can bring a beneficial - big picture - resonance throughout our practice. <br>i had a student in one of my midnight men's classes, a physically accomplished young guy, who was fretting over not being able to find his balance for very long in the scorpion pose, although he certainly had the physical strength and perfectly fine-tuned body for it. in order to bring us back to a sense of satya and samtosha, truth and contentment, i was prompted to say to the class, "oh, who really gives a shit whether you can stand on your head or whatever, it's not like you're auditioning for cirque de soleil tomorrow or anything.but i am," the young man replied. we all had a good laugh and the boy's concentration improved.<br><br>the almond joy of yoga is learning that the greatest accomplishment derives from giving up any sense of accomplishment. from letting the ego dissolve so that it ceases to be a vexing obstacle. from performing all acts without any expectation of reward, including self-satisfaction.<br><br>hope your arm feels better soon.<br><br>=)<br><br>jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.