The Hot Yoga Doctor – Free Bikram and Hot Yoga Resources › Hot Yoga Doctor Forum › Injuries, Restrictions, Ailments, Pose Modifications › Hips › Left Hip Pain
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Hello,
My name is Cristy. I am new to this forum. I have been practicing Bikram yoga for 2 1/2 years. On days that I don’t practice, I will power walk or do some form of light aerobics (step boxing for example).About a year ago I started noticing pain in wind removing pose on my left side. I stopped doing that pose altogether and I cannot bring my knees into my chest and hold onto my elbows in the last part of the posture. I skip that part. I know you are supposed to feel a “pinching” pain, but mine is definitely a “bad” pain, not good.
About a month after that pain, after class (not during), I noticed a burning sensation in the back of my left buttock. It wouldn’t start burning until the evening and I never felt it in yoga.
The pain has gotten to the point now of burning off and on all day long. I’ve stopped going to yoga altogether very recently. At first I tried to not do all of the postures in hopes of healing it, but it didn’t seem to be helping.
I’ve seen a Sports Doctor and he thinks I’ve worked the membrane between the hip socket down so much that it is now bone on bone. I had x-ray’s and they were normal, but now he wants to do an MRI.
I’ve seen a chiropractor. He was able to do some adjusting, that gave me some relief from the pain, but as soon as I go back to Bikram and the heat, the pain comes back immediately. He also says that we can go beyond our range of motion on the heat and can aggravate certain areas of our bodies.
I’ve spoken to a reknowned Bikram Teacher – Esok. He says that I have to work through the pain to get better.
Here’s the thing. I LOVE the yoga. I don’t care if you want to call it Bikram, or just hot yoga. I love it. I feel good doing it. I’ve become a better person doing this yoga.
I’m not sure what to do.. get an MRI? Stop doing yoga? I’m just beside myself. I’ve never been injured before. No previous injuries that I can think of. I am 43 yrs old, 4 11′ and 84 lbs. I’m a tiny woman. I’m strong in this yoga. I have an “ego” to let go of because I tend to have a very strong practice.
Are there certain postures I should stop doing? Should I stop doing yoga? I feel like someone cut off my left arm. That’s how much I love it, want it and need it.
I should also note that power walking and aerobics REALLY aggravate it and I have stopped those exercises. Swimming is the only thing that seems to not make it hurt.
Thing is, I hate swimming. I want my yoga practice back. Any advice would be extremely helpful.
Best regards,
CristyHi Cristy
I am WAY behind on answering forum posts BUT I am starting at the wrong end of the pile just for you. :cheese: It is that important for me to let you know that I believe I COULD have some answers for you, that I have bucked tradition!
There is a LOT I can ask you about what you’re doing.
[strong]No, I do not think you should work through the pain.[/strong] And if you like we can try to work through your issues together before you go for an MRI.
Let me work through some of these overdue forum posts – as I have been a month away at my own Hot Yoga Teacher Training. I will get back to you. Are you willing to work with me?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Yes, Gabrielle, I am willing to work with you. I should also note that when I sit at a computer or drive, my hip flexor area feels uncomfortable, but I do not believe it’s the hip flexor. It goes deeper. Ice seems to help that.
Standing head to knee is painful for me when I bring my left knee up at the beginnng of the posture. Sometimes I just stand there with just my leg lifted and bent at 90 degree angle, if I bend forward, I feel the pain and I don’t want to push that.
I’m also wondering if Standing Bow Pulling pose is doing something, although, I do not feel pain in that. I just feel like it’s such a stretch in that area where I feel pain. Maybe I have micro tearing or something?
Thank you for your quick response and I look forward to what you have to say.
Namaste – CristyHi Cristy
I will get there as quickly as I can. Hang in there. I have questions!
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I see that Gabrielle started replying to you but here is my 2 cents:
I think you should go get an MRI (you will probably need a MRI with contrast fluid in the joint). An X ray won’t show cartilage damage like your sports doctor is talking about. The worst thing that will happen is the MRI tells you exactly what’s wrong, so you can treat it however you decide, and get back to the hot room. The best thing that could happen is the MRI tells you nothing is wrong, and you can get back to the hot room!Best of luck.
Hi Lisa
It’s true, getting an MRI to see if there’s anything is probably the first port of call! I literally have so many forum posts to answer before I get to the details of Cristy’s issue that she would have time to see if there’s any underlying cause that’s obvious…
It is highly possible that there is something happening in her practice…
I will get there – and thanks for posting. I appreciate it.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I have an MRI scheduled for next Thursday. Until then, any suggestions on what poses to avoid that might irritate my left hip. I’m so afraid to do yoga. I want to so badly, but I am afraid. Thanks everyone.
Hi Cristy
Are you still power walking and going to aerobics?
Is your studio aware of your issues? Have they given you any guidance at all during class or given you generalised principles with which to approach your practice? Do they teach the same class every time with more or less the same dialog?
I know you spoke with Esak but working through the pain is clearly not the way to go here.
Let me know so I may be able to give some advice
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂I have stopped power walking and aerobics. Swimming and biking are the only things that do not seem to aggravate it. Yes, the studio knows of my injury. None of my teachers have said to skip any postures, but I do. They have told me to listen to my body and to keep doing yoga. I only go 2x a week. That is all I can handle with the pain. I can’t seem to figure out which postures are the most aggravating as I feel great in class, but the pain comes after. Therein lies the problem. My MRI is scheduled for next week.
I have cancelled my MRI. I am seeing someone who does a treatment called “Active Release Technique.” He is breaking up scar tissue in my hip. I’m still doing hot yoga, but am still not able to do all of the poses. I am also still not sure which postures are the ones that really aggravate the hip area. The doctor can feel scar tissue in my hip. So, we’ll see. So far I feel like it’s getting better. Namaste.
That’s great news Cristy. Keep us posted. I will take another look after the weekend.
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂Hi Cristy
I have had good reason not to be active on the forum so please would you simply update me with your issue?
Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂No worries. I’ve quit yoga for awhile. I can’t figure out which postures are aggravating my hip so I’ve decided it’s best to stop until the pain subsides. I did end up having an MRI and it was inconclusive. Nothing appeared to be wrong with my hip. I’ve been told I need to strengthen the area with light jogging and some special hip exercises. So, that is what I am doing right now. It seems to be getting better, but very slowly. Thanks for checking in!
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