Yoga Therapy For Slipped Disk

(March 6, 2009)

Doctors suggested surgery. Now I am doing yoga. It is better now. Is the surgery ultimate for my situation? Or can we recover completely through yoga ?

Slipped Disk Cause

We presume you are referring to a problem of a slipped disk. This is one of the most common causes of neck pain and lower back pain. Your spinal core, like everyone else’s, has round, flat, plate-like structures. In clinical jargon they are called disks and lie between the bones of your back (vertebrae). They come with a strong, sturdy covering with a soft, gelatinous fluid (nucleus pulposus) within. The main task of the disks is to pad your vertebrae and let your back flex. If ever that soft, gelatinous fluid (nucleus pulposus) of your disk swells and protrudes, it exerts pressure on the nerves adjacent within the spinal cord. This is what causes you so much pain and inconvenience. By and large, people between the ages of 20 and 50 suffer from slipped disk; the condition more prevalent in men, than women. Likewise, slipped disk is predominant among the obese.

Normally, a grown-up person’s vertebral (spinal) column comprises of 26 vertebrae. These are:

In the cervical region – 7 neck vertebrae
In the thoracic region – 12 chest vertebrae
Supporting the lumbar region r– 5 lower back vertebrae
Fused together into one bone in the region of the sacrum – 5 sacral vertebrae
Fused into one or two bones in the coccygeal region – 4 coccyx vertebrae

Before fusing into the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae, there are totally of 33 vertebrae.

Yoga Therapy for Slipped Disk

Yoga is extremely important for the musculoskeletal system and for overall good health. People with a weak musculoskeletal system normally end up suffering extreme pain and discomfort. Very often, we use our bodies are in the wrong ways. And considering that the musculoskeletal system is primarily concerned with mobility and protection of internal organs, you should be so much more careful.

First and foremost, for quick recovery and healing, you should have plenty of bed rest for a couple days. Total immobilization of the spine is considered the best panacea for a slipped disc. Later on, you may start doing Yogasanas (poses). We, usually, recommend the backward bending poses, as they are thought to be very beneficial. They also help in resolving spinal rigidity and in rendering flexibility to the joints, besides correcting wrong posture.

Yoga Asanas

Begin every session with Shavasana (Corpse Pose) followed by Makarasana (Crocodile pose)

Asanas do be done at a later (resolving) stage –
Ardha Chakrasana (Half Moon pose)
Pawanmuktasana (Wind Relieving pose)
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
Ushtrasana (Camel pose)
Shalabhasana (Locust pose)
Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
Dhanurasana (Bow pose)
Marichyasana III (Sage Marichi's Pose)
Bharadvajasana (Sage Bharadvaja's Twist)
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II Pose
Utthita Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose)
Utthita Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
Ardha Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Half Upward-Facing Dog Pose)
Supta Padangusthasana (Reclining Big Toe Pose)
Balasana (Child's Pose)
Session should end the with Shavasana (Corpse Pose)

Pranayamas

Mild Kapalabhatti (Skull Cleansing)
Anuloma-Viloma (Alternate Nostril Breathing)

Submitted by A on March 6, 2009 at 04:21