fbpx notalgia paresthetica | Gokhale Method Institute
Sign up for our Positive Stance™ Newsletter
CAPTCHA
To prove that you are a human, please answer the following question.

notalgia paresthetica

lisagwood
lisagwood's picture
Offline
Last seen:
12 years 8 months ago
Joined:
08/18/2009 - 2:31pm
notalgia paresthetica
Hello, I LOVE your book!

I have a nasty case of notalgia paresthetica in my left mid-back area that often gets extreme with itching, tingling, burning and deep discoloration, especially in the morning after being upright for half an hour.

I'm a yoga teacher (4 years) and practitioner (30 years), and with the help of your book am trying to unlearn the "tuck your tailbone mantra" that has been deeply ingrained in me.  I normally do not have any lower back pain, and am fairly flexible.

I have pronounced kyphosis of the upper back and my shoulders hunch forward (I must always stay mindful with my posture in the area).  I presume this is the cause of the pinched nerves causing the NP, do you have any recommendations for specific exercises or areas of the back to work with that can relieve, or cure the NP?  I appreciate any advice you can give!

thanks, Lisa
Founder
Online
Last seen:
4 min 33 sec ago
Joined:
09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
1. Be very careful not to further distend your spinal ligaments. It's great to stretch muscles, but not ligaments. A lot of serious yoga practitioners misunderstand where forward bends and backbends should happen (mainly the hip joints for forward bends and mainly L5-S1 for backbends) and overdo spinal twists. Even if it feels good to round your back a great deal, I recommend not doing that. If your muscles are tight and want a stretch there are better ways to achieve that (length, shear, slight rounding while lengthening, etc.)

2. Try using shea butter around your affected area (or anywhere on your body) - it has collaginase properties and helps hasten healing.

3. Massage and acupuncture can be helpful to hasten healing as well.

It sounds like you are doing the things I recommend for this that are in my book - don't tuck your pelvis (this is probably the origin of the problem) and try to experience the natural movement in your spine that accompanies breathing when you are well stacked.

Good luck!
lisagwood
lisagwood's picture
Offline
Last seen:
12 years 8 months ago
Joined:
08/18/2009 - 2:31pm
Thank you for the reply. I'm amazed at how much I automatically tuck my tailbone--  it's going to take some time to undo years of that behavior pattern!    Lisa
Founder
Online
Last seen:
4 min 33 sec ago
Joined:
09/10/2008 - 8:36pm
Tucking the pelvis has become pretty endemic. But it shouldn't take years to change - more like weeks.
gmaria8
gmaria8's picture
Offline
Last seen:
5 years 1 month ago
Joined:
10/15/2019 - 3:23pm

For relief of itching, from notalgia, I have used Vitamin B, lavender essential oil and salicylic acid pads.

Log in or register to post comments