Meds or yoga?

texaslonghorn31

Hi most wonderful community! Question of the day to throw out to you all! Nutshell (since I post more in detail about it on other topics)..... nerve damage from the radiation..... already seen a neurologist... he will be doing an EMG.... etc etc... However, he gave me a prescription for Gabapentin, also known as neutonin (may have spelled it wrong). It is used for nerve pain but you have to take it three times a day. I am not a big on taking meds person. I am looking into other options such as yoga. Has anyone ever done yoga after breast cancer and treatment and got to where it didn't hurt? The nerve damage makes it hard for my to raise my arm over my head and I have slight lympodema. Pain in shoulder area... and so on. I would love to not have to take meds and find a way to ease the pain through something else. Any thoughts on yoga or suggestions for other physical type activities that would help? Thanks!

dlb823

Texaslonghorn, sorry about the pain you're experiencing, but I wanted to suggest that you check out a thread entitled, "Motivation."  Several of the gals on it are into yoga, and one or two attend yoga retreats, so may have some helpful suggestions for you.    Deanna

sanbar8771

I have been doing yoga for about a month and yes, it does hurt in the beginning. Make sure you talk to your yoga instructor and tell him/her that you have limited movement. They will then modify the poses so you will not hurt. Some of the regular Yoga poses are too hard on the arms. My lymphadema has cleared up since I have been doing yoga.

texaslonghorn31

Thanks for the feedback ladies! I am looking forward to trying the yoga out and seeing how it goes. I am willing to suck up the pain in the beginning with the hope it will lead to less overall pain down the line!

sanbar8771

HOOK EM' HORNS!!!!!!  I just got back from yoga and I feel amazing. Every time I go, I can stretch my arms more and more.  It is great.

EstherMSKCC

Dear Texaslonghorn,

I'm an employee of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and am writing to share some resources that may be helpful as you gather information on yoga and other complementary therapies to relieve pain associated with cancer and treatment.

The National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/cam and the American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/index  both have good overviews on complementary therapies that are worth a look.

There have been studies that show certain complementary therapies such as yoga http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/77718.cfm, acupuncture http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69111.cfm, music therapy http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69308.cfm, massage http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69296.cfm, and tai chi http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69395.cfm can help some people relieve pain, among other side effects of cancer and treatment. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, self-hypnosis http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/1987.cfm can also decrease pain and reduce need for pain medication.

I hope this information is helpful. All my best, -Esther

texaslonghorn31

Esther - thank you so much for the resources and links. I will most certainly go look at all of them. I am really tired of just being told to take meds for everything and want to try better ways to try to get my "normal" life back.

TokyoSing

It is good to see many of you trying yoga.  Remember, the poses should never hurt.  You might feel a little sore in the muscles that have not been used for a long time, but no sharp pains, ever. Start by doing restorative yoga, using lots of props.  Gentle is the operative word.  

texaslonghorn31

I called and talked to a really nice guy at a yoga place by my office this morning. Explained my issues and that I have zero yoga skill. He suggested I do the beginner yoga, but also a couple of sessions in private with one of the teachers who is also a physical therapist. So think I will try it out. Now I am trying to decide between going to see a chiropractor or having acupuncture done to help with the pain from nerve damage. Never been to either. My back hurt at times too (stupid shoulder always hurts). Anyone have an opinions on which of those may be better?

texaslonghorn31

I fear with the chiropractor is once I get cracked it will be like needing to crack my knuckles all the time and will hurt more if I don't go!!!!

texaslonghorn31

Thanks JBinOK... I think I may try it to see how it goes for me! I have friends that rave about it though they don't have some of the oh so special RAD side effects I do... but they love getting"adjusted"!

Snobird

I would try PT. I ended up with frozen shoulder and lymphodema and PT was my saving grace. Make sure you work with a Lymphodema specialist. I had a team approach with a Lympho PT and an Ortho PT worked out really well for me and I came home with excercises I could do at home which i have continued to do even though I am a year post PT.

gymnut

hi all,

haven't been on here in a while.  i would definitely recommend you try whatever alternative or complementary therapies feel right to you as long as you get all the info.  i had a frozen shoulder on the non-bc side after surgery for torn rotator cuff & torn biceps tendon & it was a huge help.  ive used pt many times with lots of  benefits.  i know some other people who swear by chiropractic, but it's not been helpful for me personally. 

as far as acupuncture, i only tried it once in a demo, though if i wasn't so desperately broke or if it was covered by insurance i would try it for my migraines.  i've spoken to a lot of people who recommend it heartily.  i went to a support group mtg last week (1st one, have been searching for a group) & there was a acupuncturist who does a lot of work w/ oncology pts & spoke about lymphedema & a number of other things.  also a couple of the women there really seemed to have benefitted from it w/bc & treatment related problems themselves.

whatever you decide, good luck & take care.