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carpal tunnel syndrome

 
 

judith katz
Novice

Apr 28, 2001, 11:22 PM

Post #1 of 5 (222 views)
carpal tunnel syndrome Can't Post
I just read a short article that commenented about yoga helping to relieve the symptoms of cts. If you have any experience or knowledge of the above, I'd most greatly appreciate your imput.

bobbi brown
Novice

May 30, 2001, 1:56 AM

Post #2 of 5 (220 views)
Re: carpal tunnel syndrome [In reply to] Can't Post
I too recently read an overview on yoga linked to CTS in the May issue of Health magazine. I've searched the web sites that they recommend to no avail. Please advise if you have found anything. I've had surgery and one hand is worse than before the surgery. Help!

Ivan
Administrator

May 30, 2001, 2:24 PM

Post #3 of 5 (219 views)
Re: carpal tunnel syndrome [In reply to] Can't Post
More online information about yoga in connection with CTS can be found on the following websites:

http://www.health.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000030.html

http://www.wholehealthmd.com/news/viewarticle/0,1513,1,00.html

Dr Marian Garfinkel's original publicaton "Yoga-Based Intervention for Carpal Tunnel Syndrom" was published in JAMA, November 11, 1998 - Vol. 280, No. 18, p. 1601-1603. Reprints are available form Marian S. Garfinkel, email: mariang102@aol.com

I would like to stress that it is important to seek medical advice and guidance of an experience Iyengar yoga teacher. The online articles may give an impression of what exercises can be done, but it is important that they are done correctly (i.e. under the supervision of an experienced teacher).

Regards,

Ivan Herger
Iyengar Yoga Resources

JR
User

Jun 12, 2001, 11:03 AM

Post #4 of 5 (218 views)
Re: carpal tunnel syndrome [In reply to] Can't Post
I had that about 10 years ago when I started to get serious with my practice, and concurrently started doing Desktop Publishing for my work. Got rid of it in less than 18 months and the workplace insurance company were so disbelieving that recovery was possible that they suggested it was a mis-diagnosis!

I understood fairly early in the piece that the restriction and pain in the wrists was a symptom of restriction and holding in upper thoracic... I had a whiplash injury 20 years ago. So the way through was to open and strengthen the chest, shoulders and arms without straining the wrists and making them ache.

I had regular osteopathic massage and adjustments and did yoga practice 3 to 6 times a week.
No weight on arms ie dog pose, handstand etc when paining. Dog pose in ropes was good.
Rope sirsasana, sarvangasana on the chair when pain is bad.
Spike - I think they call it Post in Pune - between the shoulder blades. When I was at home a lay with a short block along the spine and head supported. Every day.
Shoulder openers of every description, including dangling from a high bar one arm at a time (feet on the floor), tadasana to the wall with one arm to the side, palm to the wall, open the palm, lengthen the arm and turn away from it while keeping the front armpit towards the wall.
Namaste at the back.
Hold a wall rope behind you at hip height and walk away from it till you meet resistance and then stay there.
I travelled for a year with a block to lie on and a 6 metre length of seatbelt webbing which I tied in a loop from roof trusses, verandahs, trees, etc and hung ie rope sirsasana.

All this done with a regular Iyengar practice of standing poses, fb's, bb's etc

Remember to look at the mental patterns which hold you into the problem.

And at the office, stand up and stretch every half hour, do namaste with elbows on the desk or filing cabinet and chair twists.

And B R E A T H E

liz pagan
Novice

Jun 19, 2001, 8:32 PM

Post #5 of 5 (217 views)
Re: carpal tunnel syndrome [In reply to] Can't Post
About 8 years ago I developed what was diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome. I had surgery and didn't improve, finally got it under control when I was told I also had thoracic outlet syndrome, a compression of the nerve that takes place in the neck and can reflect to the hands.

Simple exercises, trying not to sleep on my stomach, and working with an Alexander Technique instructor seem to have worked to keep my condition in check.

The first point I want to make is that when they say it's carpal tunnel syndrome, it ain't necessarily so. Everyone's different, and carpal tunnel syndrome is an easy answer with an easy -- surgical -- "solution." It may be a cluster of conditions relating to the way the bones, muscles and other stuff are put together.

As concerns yoga, I'm pretty sure my problems developed not only as a result of repetitive strain from working at a computer -- but that, at the same time, I started to study with an Iyengar teacher and began doing regular handstands, headstands and shoulder stands. Compression of the wrist, compression of the neck.

Too much for my body (which also happens to be naturally very flexible -- not a good thing I've learned when it comes to joint problems).

So I cut out all hand balances, did dog pose with ropes for a few years, and limited my time in inversions

Now, I can do unsupported dog poses up the wazoo without any negative effects, and I've recently added a once-a-week handstand.

I still find that if I do a headstand for more than 2-3 minutes, followed by a 5-minute shoulder stand, I feel it the next day. So it's important to know your limits (and communicate them to the teacher esp. if you're doing an intensive with your non-regular teacher).

I live with minor chronic pain and occasional flareups. Will my hands every be completely normal? I doubt it. Will I ever achieve the 10-minute headstand? No, it's not worth it to me. But other than that, I'm sure my body is helped more than hurt by my practice now.

 
 
 


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