submitted by Carrie Schneider, Transcript of Sun PM Session
Roger
Guillaine-Barre Syndrome
41 years old
Roger enters with cane and companion Karina. Rodney asks if he can sit on floor; instructs us to notice how he comes down onto rt[] knee first. Hit by car in 1990, but so athletic—collegiate BB and track—he leapt over car, landing on back. Went to chiropractor but didn’t like being manipulated, wanted to correct himself. Weighed a 188-195, and from 23 on went to 205-210 [now?]; used to have 46-inch vertical jump.
In 2001, following food poisoning from undercooked chicken [as per 12/12], nurse phone-diagnosed tingling/burning in lower extremities as Guillaine-Barre, in which immune system attacks myelin sheath surrounding nerves. Hospital residents performed six spinal taps to identify protein. Sixth sent shock up left side Rg blames for duration and extend of difficulties. [Litigation covered medical costs, also per 12/12]
Severe diarrhea, heavy legs, ascending paralysis (eyes and throat not affected) and immunoglobulin IV to arrest GB, left with residual fatigue and burning sensation (nerve damage). Lives alone so hospital would not release until he could walk; after three months “institutionalized” in neurology he “toughed it out” to get discharged. Stopped taking prescribed drug; efficacy is less established than potential side effects—increased depression leading to suicide.
If healthy bodies switch among five highways of energy to avoid straining while working out; four of his were riddled with potholes. Continued to push regardless and experienced several falls, including confrontation with an aggressive player in a basketball game. Multiple concussions’ herniations of L1 through 5 and S1. Uses a cane but relies on companions to mask true need for a walker or wheelchair.
Diagnosis
From constructive rest fold in right then left knee. R remarks on athletic response to fine cues. Unable to cross right ankle over left knee as on left side. Supta Baddha effortless; people at Queens yoga center (1 ½ years) think how bad can he be. Sets up in a corner there, as in 12/12 YS open class. Knee, chin to chest, straighten right leg into hands, lower eight inches, switch. R asks him to slide legs together long on floor, misunderstands then does it. C shows him Headstand arms and palpates his back as he stretches in Pond Pose, remarks on good lumbar curve. Constructive rest.
In chair/supported forward bend. R says, notice wince of pain. Rg says he grew up pulling in [to avoid getting punched or hit in BB?], but R’s not buying it, insisting it was a grimace. Slight backbend in chair elicits no such reaction.
R says Rg was and is a rare athlete. Instructs us not to help but watch him rise and make his way to pillar. Using two folded chairs as crutches, Rg stands, says he experiences pain in lower back, center to right, like squeezing of wrist. Lowers same knee first to come to floor and run right leg up pillar in supported Supta Padangustasana, block behind for hamstring tightness, strap around pillar grounding lifted thigh. Assistants lengthen lower ribs from hips and root supine heel. After [] mins switch legs. Colleen asks if strap is too tight; Rg says no; she says that your m.o. Caroline and Rhana sweetly offer private sessions in Queens. Rg and K leave. Summation: address what Rg says he wants addressed, pain in spine, not neck (tho R reminded neck is spine). Plan: expansion and compression to revitalize/decompress disks, which get no blood after age 26); help regain balance.
ƒs
Observations from group
Always teamed up, now alone.
Right thigh doesn’t work.
Pushing up to the right is difficult.
Depression in chest while supine
Lifted hips when asked to cross ankle over knee
L4-5 herniation to right might be impingement that didn’t let right ankle cross left knee
Fwd head, clenched throat
Coming down more careful of right knee
Belly breathing worse with right leg up wall
Lack of “variation” in feet or calves
Belly breathing, skin sweating while leg up wall
Tired of feeling like science experiment
Touched low back when stood up at end
Feet plantar flexed more, but well activated
Mother contracted GB around 20 years ago: 80+, fear of falling, sense of drawing to center, swaddling.
He is depressed. He told us so.
Rod: Collect facts; listen. Leg up wall, lying on floor, nowhere to fall, strapped leg makes him inhale. Because of multiple herniations, primarily extend and compress. Devise ½ hr program to alleviate lower back symptoms—C’s post-backbending restorative sequence—and address depression. So far approx 7 mins. What else?
More group observations
People see a fit man. Feels he’s not being heard.
He had a speech; went for it. Defense mechanism for depression?
1 ½ Inch grey fog over energetic body
Winter will make working out tough
Emasculated, not employed
Shingles: “I have so many stressors now,” voice cracking.
What nurse (Manna?) heard: Depressed. “Institutionalized” 3 months; physical inability to leave; worked hard to get out. Burning sensation thruout legs.
Un-medicated himself.
Behind wheel, jealous of people who easily cross the street.
Eager to please; self-sacrifice
Goal oriented.
Marriage broke up
Depression from ascending paralysis, reality of how life changed.
Dani[?]: nerve damage from B12 deficiency; takes Seraquil for PTSD is same med used for bipolar/epileptic seizures.
Continuation of sequence
1) Simple cross-legged, press into blocks alongside hips to lift seat for 30 secs 2X per side
2) Between reps Dandasana against wall on bolster with blocks under hands to lengthen waist
[Give him “man bone,” guy thing to do like Chaturanga? R: docs said building muscles is worse, so create elongation and support for elongation and “teach him that being challenged as a man can also mean other things.” Minor backbending good for herniated discs.]
3) Long sphinx to create traction; baby cobra up and down X3 with timings directed more by him, then push up to forearm plank.
4) Vajrasana with arm variations to increase circulation and create compression (Garuda, Gomukh; Colleen says interlaced hands palms up atop head)
5) Forearm plank better here? Good idea at all? Core stimulation, emotional mentally. Woman[] w L5 to S1 “fully collapsed” (no disc, bone to bone) says plank/cobra helped avoid surgery and epidurals. C refers to her own L5 S2 distectomy.
Plank maintains natural curves of spine. Inhale down, exhale up, hold how long? “He will mirror you,” R [or C?] cautions; do as I do. Do it by breath amount. So 3X cobra, throw him man bone, see the effect. C says adapt to the person in front of you. R says 7 up, 10 in, 3 down [?]. When you give a sequence know timings from personal practice so you know what is happening. Easy sphinx, 3X, 5-second hold. Vajra arm movements. Plank. Vajra+. Plank. Vajra+
Add’l suggestions
Bar in doorframe. Pull up, squat, tree. Hold sides of frame, step slightly fwd for backbend.
Half fwd bend over bolster on chair or table with blanket
Dbl strap ƒstraction supta pada
Stand 2 or 3 feet from wall, walk hands up for Down Dog, crouch, lift and lower.
ƒsR: When spine is herniated, muscles are already fatigued. He is fatigued.
For depression
Backpack strap
Chair backbend
Lying on back press into elbows
Sing or whistle, Kundalini [et al.]
Eyes open, facing out
Hang. walk with him. He is lonely.
Supported Savasana w lifted chest
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