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Yoga after Back Surgery

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I am wondering if there is anyone out there who may have had back

surgery and has been able to do yoga after surgery.

 

Last week I had surgery on my lower back, L5 disk to be exact.

The disk was bulging into my spine creating torturious pain down my

left leg and numbness to my left foot.

 

Since the surgery the pain is gone but I still have some numbness in

my left foot.

 

I am hoping to start my practice sooner rather than later.

 

Does anyone have suggested postures for a yogi recovering from back

surgery?

 

Are there postures I should avoid?

 

Thanks for in advance for your help.

 

Peace.

Joe

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  • 2 weeks later...

ashtanga yoga, "desireablem4u"

<desireablem4u> wrote:

>

>

> I am wondering if there is anyone out there who may have had back

> surgery and has been able to do yoga after surgery.

>

> Last week I had surgery on my lower back, L5 disk to be exact.

> The disk was bulging into my spine creating torturious pain down

my

> left leg and numbness to my left foot.

>

> Since the surgery the pain is gone but I still have some numbness

in

> my left foot.

>

> I am hoping to start my practice sooner rather than later.

>

> Does anyone have suggested postures for a yogi recovering from back

> surgery?

>

> Are there postures I should avoid?

>

> Thanks for in advance for your help.

>

> Peace.

> Joe

 

Joe -

 

While I did not have back surgery, I also herniated a disk in my back

(L4-5) several years ago. Afterwards, my therapist suggested that I

find some other exercise than yoga!

 

Overall, I'd recommend taking it very slowly when resuming yoga and

listen to your body, trying not to push things but wait until you

gradually regain flexibility and strength. Since I am Iyengar-

trained, props would certainly help. Forward-bending poses (seated or

standing) were initially hard since one tends to use the back rather

than flex from the hips, especially early on to try to protect the

back. Sitting on a folded up blanket for poses like paschimottanasana

and breathing into the pose seemed to help me.

 

Good luck!

 

Larry

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  • 5 years later...

joe

 

did you ever get a response to your question - i have recently had L5/S1 surgery for the same reasons as you and am unsure as to whether certain yoga moves could potentially set me backwards

 

have you been able to successfully undertake yoga since your surgery and have there been any restrictions?

 

nico

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 months later...

I took Hatha yoga for about a year prior to having major back surgery. Lots of work was done in surgery. I was back to yoga in a month. I would stick with Hatha yoga to start. It gives you opportunities to rest between poses. I believe your instructor can help guide you. Remember though, you never want to get to pain. I don't recommend back bends, head or shoulder stands, any type pose that may use abs you don't have yet. If you need support when using ab muscles, put both hands behind your lower back to decrease the strain on the back muscles. Yoga is the best thing I ever did for myself, except have this surgery. I am blessed with great yogis. Good luck. Need any more help, feel free to contact me.

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