Advice about firebreating with a bad back

Submitted by pollyanna_inuk on February 1, 2011 - 3:35am
Body: 

Hi all,

I partially slipped a disc in my lower back about 10 years ago and every now and then I do something stupid to make it flare up again which I did just over a week ago. I can't bend forwards so can't do the firebreathing as normal. Is there any benefit from doing the firebreathing on all fours or would it be detremental? I'm able to do most of the other exercises except any that involve bending forwards or sitting cross legged. I'm just avoiding those for now and doing more of the others. Any advice about the firebreathing would be gratefully recieved. Thanks

Pollyanna

Christine

February 1, 2011 - 9:56am

Hi Pollyanna,

I do hope the practice of orthopedics will catch up with its own research strongly illuminating the fact that a full lumbar curve is protective of spinal discs.

Firebreathing can effectively be done standing, sitting, and on all fours. If you have mobility in your back on hands and knees and are not experiencing pain, I believe this exercise could be only beneficial.

Christine

P.S. I have no way of knowing what your condition is, but just want to add that much of what used to be assumed as disc disease is now believed to be sacroiliac joint dysfunction. With SIJ dysfunction, nothing is more aggravating than spending large amounts of time in positions where your spine is C-shaped. Lying flat and supine on the floor and breathing naturally combined with sitting and standing in WW posture restores SIJ function.

pollyanna_inuk

February 1, 2011 - 12:41pm

Thank you so much for getting back so quickly. I'm not sure what my condition is either. I just seem to be very weak in that area and have the lower disc partially fused with the pelvis (this showed up on the X ray I had when I fist injured my back and they said it is congenital). I have never exercised regularly until getting my ww pack so that area is not very flexible. A physio friend of mine says I also have very tight hamstrings which means I find it impossible to get even close to touching my toes.

I am trying to stay in posture as much as possible and all standing and kneeling exercises are ok. I can even do the stretch from side to side. Leaning forwards is painful which make sitting in the correct position for a bowel movement difficult. Getting up from sitting is also difficult but I am using a wedge for sitting as much as possible to help with this.

I've had relapses like this a couple of times and know it will get better againg then I need to avoid the stupid things I know may set it off again. At least I can add firebreathing back in and the ww exercises are keeping the areagently mobile!

Pollyanna :)

louiseds

February 2, 2011 - 8:10pm

Hi Pollyanna

I am thinking tight hammies too. Tight hammies is one of the causes of the c-shape, as is a tucked tummy. Your first vertebra being partly fused to your pelvis may cause all sorts of muscles to tighten, to stabilise the area. However, I think all this really does is to pull your vertebrae closer together and try to squash all your discs. What I really think you need to do is to strengthen all the muscles that join your spine, sacrum and hips and legs together so they will respond better to your commands instead of saying, "I am not strong enough to contract and relax repeatedly. I will just have to shrink up to one length and stay there." It is only when all your muscles can stretch out fully and contract fully that they can function optimally, and be capable of obeying the subtle commands your brain gives them to know when that bottom disc has reached its limit. Congenital? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. Human bones change so much after birth, and while we are growing, and again as we get older, and everything seems to try and fuse! When somebody can show me an x-ray of a newborn with this type of fusion, then a later one as an adult experiencig problems with it, I will believe it is congenital. Before and after photos don't work if you don't have a 'before' photo. That is basic science.

You will need a good physical therapist to guide you through getting these muscles moving again, all at the same time. Then you can *really* pull up into WW posture. It will take time after an injury like this.

I am glad you can still firebreathe.

I know from personal experience how frustrating it is when this happens.

Louise

pnwm-krdr

February 8, 2011 - 12:16pm

please,---just what exactly is "sitting and standing in ww posture"?
What does it look like?
I am reading the book and desperately want to assume these beneficial positions at all times as opposed to flat stomache and tucked in butt as was taught all my life.
Not even sure if doing the f.b.exercisright---how does one know?
respectfully, pnwm-krdr

Christine

February 8, 2011 - 1:04pm

Hello and welcome pnwm-krdr,

The sitting and standing postures are illustrated in the book. Also check out YouTube for WW postural instructions. I don't know what you mean by f.b. exercises. Could you explain a bit more?

Christine

granolamom

February 8, 2011 - 2:46pm

I think she means firebreathing?

if thats what you meant, pnwm-krdr, then I can try to answer you. It took me a long time to get it right. I knew that I was doing it correctly when I felt my uterus lift up and pull my bladder up with it. I felt the bulge literally disappear. (it didnt last very long at all, like maybe a few seconds but with time it lasted longer and longer).
also, I felt the 'rhythm' of the exercise take over and my brain didnt have to instruct my body. that's when I knew I had it right, because it just felt right.
not terribly helpful, I'm afraid.
but keep at it, and I think you'll get it.

pnwm-krdr

February 9, 2011 - 1:05pm

sorry----f.b.=fire breathing
am not computer literate---don't know how to utilize you tube.

doubtful

February 9, 2011 - 2:25pm

I used to have periodic flare ups of this. Haven't had any back trouble since my body has got used to WW posture. Must be a connection.

DOubtful

Christine

February 9, 2011 - 2:37pm

We need a thumbs up button! Glad to hear it, Doubtful. :)

pollyanna_inuk

February 9, 2011 - 3:53pm

Sorry not to get back before now. I'm glad I can still do fire-breathing too. Shame I didn't think to ask before - I went a week and a half without. It was when I was doing what my old physio called 'humps and dumps' (on all 4's arching and dipping the lower back) that I realised it was similar to fire-breathing and thought to ask if it was ok to do it in this position. The upright ww exercises have been great for my back as they really stretch the spine giving room for the disc to pop back in line. The bending forward is still bad - sends pain into my left buttock and right down my leg - ouch. Been putting off seeing a physio because of the expense but have an appointment tomorrow - she had to cancel last week's because she'd hurt her back!

Thanks for sympathy and advice

Pollyanna :)

alemama

February 14, 2011 - 8:23pm

I think it's important to know what's going on with your discs- What do you think 'slipped' actually means? Or when your back 'goes out' what's that mean?
Disc injury is no joke. There is a cycle that happens with injured discs- and it sounds like you are well aware of that cycle.
You can get a small tear in a disc- part of the fluid in the disc can leak out and irritate nerves until it is reabsorbed by the body (it usually takes 2-8 weeks for this to happen) and the tear seals over with scar tissue. If you rest well when your injured disc reopens this tear you can heal well and move on to have many years of pain free life.
Sometimes, you can have 'kinda' pain free life.
Let your body be your guide. If it hurts, don't do it. Do all the things you can to optimize healing- eat extremely well, ice to cut inflammation and rest. Once it is feeling better, start a strengthening program to better support your spinal column. Build big glutes, hams, work the Qls, and the abdominal muscles. You can compensate for an injury very well if you choose to work on doing so.
There are some fascinating images of discs, healthy discs, injured discs through MRI. If you google you can find instruction on the anatomy and physiology of the intervertebral discs.