I was wondering if anyone has tried yoga to help with symptoms. In theory I would think it would help with ROM. I have used guided imagery to try and relax but I am curious if yoga may be more effective.

Having CRPS has been a nightmare but knowing I am not alone has helped in ways that doctors and medicine cannot. So I thank all of you for your advice, suggestions and support.

Yoga can absolutely help. I've been doing (the easy yoga) for a few years now.

Not only does the stretching help, it helps with balance and overall pain reduction. And either before or after, I try to practice some mindfulness meditation for a few minutes.

With CRPS, gotta hit it with everything including the kitchen sink. And that means that along with conventional western medicine, you need to consider experimenting with any kind of complementary therapies that can help. And yoga is definitely one of them!

Seconded, especially RE: the kitchen sink.

I'd also add that the "yoga" typically thought of in the western world (asanas/postures/movement/stretching) is just a part of one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, and represents one small part of the big picture.

"Yoga" is a Sanskrit word meaning "to yoke" or "to unite" (an exact definition in English is somewhat obscured in translation.) As I intrepret it, the real aim of yoga is to yoke the mind to our true Self, instead of letting ourselves be yoked to the mind, (which is where we find ourselves currently.)

Thank you both for your replies. Are there any websites or DVDs you recommend? It can be difficult for me to get out of the house so is this something I can easily do at home? Thank so much for your help.

Kris,

Here is an excellent link to a website at the University of Minnesota that lists a number of "healing practices", many which may help those of us with CRPS. Chiropractic, yoga, massage, mind-body therapies, acupuncture. Don't be afraid to experiment with these therapies to find one or more that can help you with your chronic pain. Don't sell them short....if you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be practicing yoga and meditation, I would have had a good laugh. Not any longer. These therapies can work. n

http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/

As for yoga, what I did was to take one yoga starter class with an instructor (very helpful) and that was enough for me to be able to formulate my own simple yoga program.

I'm sure there are plenty of DVDs available as well, search the web, Amazon, etc. for them.

Good luck to you!

Also try insight meditation ,takes a while to focus but helps in many occasions !!! néed to go back and practice myself , lol

NurseKris,

Advanced Yoga Practices http://www.aypsite.org/10.html may or may not resonate. But it's by far the most comprehensive and well-defined Westernized approach to Yoga I have found.

Much the actual material seems 110% friggin' nutso, but it's artfully presented in a logical sequence with a supportive, non-offensive, and even humorous communication style. This site goes into much of what I had already found to be true in my own direct experience (and well beyond that!).

Ultimately the information provided at AYP is just one more tool in the arsenal -- and the effectiveness of any given tool will vary based on the uniqueness of the individual using it. But it's a really good one for me, so maybe it will help someone else.

my neurologist told me that beginners swimming exercises for arthritic (and rsd) people would be better then yoga because of the complex movements you have to make for it. she was concerned it might be too much for me with my rsd. but i was told that beginners yoga that only involved breathing and meditation would be okay. hope that if you try it you feel better soon. take care.

Thank you so so much for this website! I have already bookmarked it and it will take awhile to get through all of the information. I really like the variety of treatments that are listed.

I thought about swimming as well but if the water is too cold or too hot it really hurts me. I think I may need to do a modified yoga to avoid putting any extra stress on my legs and feet. Thank you so much for your advice.