Shoulder Injury ?

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

 

I've been on this group a long time though mostly

silent .

The queries about shoulder injury prompted me to

write.I had pain in my shoulder,could not sleep on the

right side etc. 5 different orthopaedic doctors

diagnosed it as Rotator Cuff injury caused by a

shoulder spur which came about as a result of a broken

collar bone 17 years ago. I had 2 courses of

Cortisone/steroid injections in 9 months, continued to

practice in moderate to severe pain and did

physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the Rotator

Cuff.After a year of misery and being told to get more

injections I opted for surgery .

In surgery ,the doctors saw a perfect rotator cuff .

And a totally torn Bicep.Torn off at the place of

origin at the shoulder. The Bicep was reattached with

titanium hooks. It is called a SLAP lesion.

That was 7 months ago .Post surgery for 2 months my

arm was in a sling.Then it was frozen another month.

I could do no practice. EVERY asana involves the

shoulder.

Currently,I am getting back very slowly to practice.

There is also a lot of fear. Not knowing what to do,

how far to push etc etc.

Moreover the entire alignment of my body is off .

 

Can anyone suggest something to help ?

 

Regards,

Tanya

[Guest guest]

Tanya,

 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I too suffered with a shoulder injury

for more than a year. It just got worse. As it turns out, it was also cause

by a collar bone break many years ago. So I had surgery. The superspinatus

was torn and had to be repaired, collar bone was shortened, and the acromium

bone had a hook on it that was causing damage and had to be modified.

 

It has been nearly five months since the surgery. The first two months were

too painful to even consider suryanamascaras or any other shoulder related

posture. I am just now getting full range of motion, but still have not

healed enough or gotten strong enough for postures that put any stress on

the shoulders. I want to get back to a meaningful practice, but I am having

the same experiences you are. I am afraid of prematurely stressing the

surgery and doing damage.

 

My physical therapist recently said I can do anything I want but must listen

to my body and back off if there is anything going on. Any comments or help

that you ore anyone else may have would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Ron

[Guest guest]

I've had similar experience -- took about 2 years to fully recover.

 

Your comment "I want to get back to a meaningful practice. . . " struck a

cord.

Much easier to deal with these situations when you remind yourself that this

isn't simply about doing or not doing an asana -- that approach turns the

practice into a series of accomplishments.

 

Listening to your body, backing off where necessary, doing what you can to

be present, in the moment -- perhaps thats your meaningful practice.

 

-t

 

_____

 

ashtanga yoga [ashtangayoga] On

Behalf Of Ron Stowell

Wednesday, November 15, 2006 10:51 AM

ashtanga yoga

RE: ashtanga yoga Shoulder Injury ?

 

 

 

Tanya,

 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I too suffered with a shoulder injury

for more than a year. It just got worse. As it turns out, it was also cause

by a collar bone break many years ago. So I had surgery. The superspinatus

was torn and had to be repaired, collar bone was shortened, and the acromium

bone had a hook on it that was causing damage and had to be modified.

 

It has been nearly five months since the surgery. The first two months were

too painful to even consider suryanamascaras or any other shoulder related

posture. I am just now getting full range of motion, but still have not

healed enough or gotten strong enough for postures that put any stress on

the shoulders. I want to get back to a meaningful practice, but I am having

the same experiences you are. I am afraid of prematurely stressing the

surgery and doing damage.

 

My physical therapist recently said I can do anything I want but must listen

to my body and back off if there is anything going on. Any comments or help

that you ore anyone else may have would be greatly appreciated.

 

Ron

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your bringing me back.