Nerve pain flare after yoga; whats up with that?

[Fluffysmom]

So, I wrote in another thread about how great my gentle yoga for people with MS class was.  I focused on the positive because it was a truly positive experience.

I tried to be gentle in my stretching, and backed off if the stretch reached the point of real pain.  I had a near-panic situation with my mid-back starting to go into spasm when I was stretching my hip, holding my foot with a strap. The kind of spasm situation that will pull a couple ribs slightly out of place.  I stopped what I was doing and just breathed, and things calmed down.

We relaxed at the end of class and things felt great.  I joined a group for tea/coffee and chatting afterwards, and then went to lunch with a friend.  

My nerve pain in my right leg started worsening; I took my Tegretol, my vicodin.  It got worse, down in to my foot, up to my ribcage.  I couldn't wait to get home, put on my nightgown, and lie down.  Not even that was very comfortable.  I did fall asleep for about a half an hour, and felt a little better.

Not long after I was up and sitting on the couch, the pain returned full strength.  Some of it was muscle soreness, but mostly it was that glowing nerve pain that is so different.  I tried pain rub, thinking if I relaxed the sore muscles, maybe the nerves wouldn't be so irritated.  No help.

By bedtime, I hurt so badly that I had a heck of a time getting to sleep, even with my bedtime meds, and extra 100 mg. of Tegretol, deep breathing, distracting myself with a good book, etc.  Sleep was short and not quality.

My MS neuro said that this type of nerve pain is from my MS; not a peripheral neuropathy.  

1) How could a few warrior's poses, one downward dog, one child's pose, and various stretches flare up nerve pain?

2) Could it be unrelated to the yoga, just poor timing?

3) The nerve pain was active before-hand; could the stretching and such further aggravate irritated nerves?

I loved the class, and will be going back.  I'll take it even easier; any other suggestion?

Thanks,

Kathy

[Karen99]

There are times when I pay dearly for any activity I do.  Other times I can play baseball, ride a bike for hours, run with the grandkids, etc without any problems.

Usually I have physical clues beforehand that dictate the outcome.  For me, a severe increase in fatigue (and I'm always fatigued) tells me to take it easy.  Sometimes I forget this is my pattern, and other times I simply have to push myself to accomplish something that needs to be done.  

Maybe when your nerve pain is active, it's best to stay off your knees.  Or you may find that any poses on your knees cannot ever be tolerated.  It might take some trial and error over time to see what works best for you.   It could just be the timing.

Good luck.  Stretching is good for us.

[Fluffysmom]

bump

[Fluffysmom]

Wow, that new instructor sounds like bad news.  I hope you can find a new yoga class, where the instructor understands that some people have challenges that can't be rushed or forced.

This class I was in was pretty simple, and the instructor would often say stuff like If you can't do this, then rest your legs on a blanket, or just rest.

The only time I felt much in the way of discomfort was the spasms, and when I was on my hands and knees, because of the state of my knees (after many surgeries, they are very sensitive).  I was glad to move up to downward dog, except my arms felt like wobbly noodles because they're a little weak.

Thanks for responding to my posts, Alex.

Kathy

[HVAC]

When I took yoga there were poses I just could not do. My first instructor understood this. The new instructor would grab my limb and try to force it, this did not work.

If you feel discomfort stop.