I have been reading Yoga Cures by Tara Stiles and would recommend a few of the poses helpful for stretching.

You are able to preview the book below:

http://books.google.com/books?id=zz9...0knees&f=false

Calm eyes, (relaxes pain with migrane) seated arms crossed hold knees (my neck injury is very sensitive to this) and the other seated, relaxed poses shown I am able to do.You are not able to preview all of the seated relaxed poses.

Basically this book has common ailments and explains certain poses for each. In the back of the book all the poses are illustrated, of which we can see some.The migrane section includes down dog, child's pose, and temple massage, which are more toward preventing stress.

I do enjoy Tara Stiles', non-new agey/ straightforward yoga approach but I also recommend another book, http://yogaforpainrelief.com/
if you are a beginner because it is more gentle for PCS. I have mentioned it before here.
Best wishes.

Appreciations again to you, postconcussion, for reposting this helpful info. I do seem to often 'miss' much of value here, in that my time-and-attention-capacity varies so much from day to day. But then, that is simply learning-to-live with pcs, i.e. doing what we can and hopefully catch up on other days!

Theta

Yoga is wonderful for so many reasons!!! It is great for stretching, relaxation, promoting a sense of peace, and good for the body. Some of the simpler poses would be great for beginners who are looking to start "working out" again, but worried about the stimulation and increase heart rate with going to the gym. Yoga was a big part of my recovery and I found it a great way to ease back into working out. It also helped with depression!

postconcussion,

These links provide wealth of information.

The way psychologist explains the mind/body connection and how it affects brain in a scientific way and not overwhelming is excellent.

I sent these to few people without head injury but other issues and they all thought it was great.

As a matter of fact I started with Yoga and looking for some more easy and gentle postures and in your second there are plenty. Can't try all of them but sure going to try quite a few which will help me. As night nurse mentioned I have to watch my heart rate and these poses are the ones I need.

Thanks again and you may want to post this on the sticky thread above on useful links.

Cheers!

Thanks to theta,nn, and pcslife for your encouragement.

pcslife, for your dizziness, what did the doctors say? I am worried for you. Did they say to push through it/ use it or lose it or to rest and it should go away? Did any specialist have ideas?

Your Brain On Meditation
- Yoga Journal article, written by Kelly McGonigal, PhD, Stanford University.

The complete article: http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2601

"Science proves that meditating restructures your brain and trains it to concentrate, feel greater compassion, cope with stress, and more."

"Research from other laboratories is confirming that mindfulness meditation can lead to lasting positive changes in the brain. For example, a recent study by Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University put 26 highly stressed adults through an eight-week mindfulness-based course in stress reduction that followed the same basic format as Goldin's study. Brain scans were taken before and after the intervention, along with participants' own reports of stress. The participants who reported decreased stress also showed decreases in gray -matter density in the amygdala. Previous research had revealed that trauma and chronic stress can enlarge the amygdala and make it more reactive and more connected to other areas of the brain, leading to greater stress and anxiety. This study is one of the first documented cases showing change occurring in the opposite direction—with the brain instead becoming less reactive and more resilient. "

Dr. Kelly McGonigal teaches yoga, meditation, and psychology at Stanford University and is the author of Yoga for Pain Relief --- the book cited by postconcussion, in original post.
__________________________________________________ __________________________

Thanks muchly, again, postconcussion.

postconcussion,

Thanks for the concern. Doctors don't have much clue about this. Each specialist says their own thing - Meniere's, Anxiety, cervical spondylysis (?), post traumatic vision syndrome (of course Post Concussion Syndrome by all) etc., based on their field of study Some want me to push it through and others has no advice. I can push through pain but not sure how when feel like passing out or feel like falling I know few people who has terrible dizziness and on disability and doctors told them nothing much can be done.

My dizziness is also very bizarre! For e.g., certain stores bothers me more than others. Also I noticed when I walk without turning around neck too much I am fine. But once I come to check out line and stop my heart rate goes up and head feels funny. Anxiety? May be.

Also even when I was on elliptic machine before when I kept doing it I am fine. Once when I slowly come to a stop it hits me. Some times it resembles Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (rarely happens with head injury).

Lately I have been going to spine specialist and did Prolotherapy few months ago and Botox 6 weeks ago. It sure helped me with the neck and head pain part. Now I can lift up my head and no pain. Even looking to sides is ok. But looking down I get dizzy. But this has been for a while though.

For this reason I am going to spine specialist and they are really trying help me. Latest MRI of my spine and shoulder (so many MRIs in the past 3 years) showed only mild degenerative disc disease in neck and some mild narrowing in one internal carotid artery. No subluxation, disc bulge etc., so nothing warrants a surgery. Neurosurgeon and other doctors think it is nothing they won't do surgery at all. Neurosurgeon wants me to take Xanax and go to Costa Rica since his roots are from there and he knows I like the mountains there.

Overall I see some improvement in the past few weeks but I also started yoga and some serious meditation in the past few weeks. Also I am taking some homeopathy medicine for the past 1 month. Something is helping I think.

But Xanax helps overall for all symptoms. Once I tried .5 mg and yes I got some good relief (usually I stay .25mg or low). If I have nausea too much I take Zofran. I call these emergency meds. So I know what to do if I get into stressful or unavoidable situations

My spine specialist wants me to do epidural injection (another trial) but I am going to hold off until the current issues with steroid injections (all that fungal inject and people dying) resolved. Some times they hide and slowly come out with truth (more compounding pharmacies in trouble etc.,). So I wait. Also I am not a fan of steroids since it may increase my anxiety.

Right now I stay with Meditation, Yoga, Homeopathy and Xanax. I may add Acupuncture or Neurofeedback to the mix

Cheers!

Its interesting you mention mal De Debarquement syndrome as I have a girlfriend who went on a cruise, had a big hit to the back of her head on the bunk, and the next day started with her symptoms. It put her out of work for 3 months with the dizziness and resultant migraines she had. She presented very much like PCS and I was convinced the hit to her head was the key to all of this and started it all and she has an element of PCS.

Anyways, she was on zofran, imitrex for headaches, ativan for the anxiety for when she was trying to fall asleep and still spinning. I did a lot of work with her doing Healing Touch and she also saw an acupuncturist during this time. Both of these worked wonders for her and truly helped her symptoms and dizziness. She is now back at work and doing great. On a side note, she is in Level 1 Healing Touch class this weekend.....she was so impressed with how well it worked, she wanted to take the class too so she can learn to do it to others. Shes a nurse as well.

Hello, to All,

It's been a busy week for me, so I'm taking it easy this weekend, to 'balance' the necessary busyness-out-in-the-world.

I've researched & discovered some very excellent weblinks to share. Those of you, who perhaps like myself and others here, have come to a seeming end-of-the-road with what traditional medical and healthcare providers (for most of us) can offer --- and whatever self-care we have managed thus far.

For those of you who are perhaps averse to (in your religious beliefs or other reasons), otherwise cynical, negative, or skeptical about the scientific validity of yoga and meditation in the very real world of medical healthcare, and in our own most basic individual health-healing-wellbeing --- this is *not* for you.
[Thus don't bother to read any further. Just in case you're 'having a bad time' & looking to be 'a poop' somewhere, leave it at the doorstep of your own mind. ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvXFx...eature=related

The weblink is to ~ :58 mins youtube video (excellent quality) of presentation at UCSD, by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD in molecular biology 1971 from MIT; and is Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

BTW: I have mentioned Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness-based stress reduction (based on insight meditation) and the U Mass. Med School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, on other/previous threads this month.


Also, for further reading: http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/whatMBSR.php

http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/about/index.aspx

Thus for those of us who are choosing to refer ourselves to other sources of wellbeing and healing beyond the obvious that so many of us have already hung-in-there-with, here is neuroscientific evidence that we can help ourselves through yoga, meditation, et al.

It is about an hour long youtube video, so please don't try to watch it all in one-sitting. You can always hit the pause button.

Sincerely,
Theta

thanks pcslife for detailed reply. I am sorry we are still having symptoms, we have been here so long. But I am thankful to hear what you have been doing.

As far as the dizzy thing goes. I understand how scary it is. Mine has gotten so much better. I have the checkout line thing as well in big stores, costco, vs. I do not know anxiety/ whatever. Sometimes I think ok it is anxiety so just suck it up but the floating passing out feeling is too strong. If it has gotten better over time maybe it is not anxiety.

You did not mention if you take everyday headache pain meds still. I have been taking tylenol extra stength everyday. 1 pill or 2. But now it has been over a year, maybe 2. Now when I look at it my stomach feels awful, even though it is not supposed to affect your stomach. I feel like rejecting it cuz I have been taking it so long.
I cannot take any nsaids, ibu, aspirin anymore because my stomach is in constant pain. But, I need to take something. The pain is still very severe. Not anything compare to at first, but it is all the time. At night when the meds wear off I cannot force myself to open my eyes.

The neck pain is bad, but it is not normal to feel your spine all the time. I can feel the nerves all around, and have not had success in reversing my spinal cord from pushing out due to spasms.No more pt will be covered.
The migrane is so unbeleiveably sore. That book helped me because it talks about befriending your pain, which I try to do. It is hard because I do not want to be a chronic pain person.I read that terry gross' worst fear is to live a life of chronic pain and i think wow she has interviewed so many people from so many walks of life and I understand why she feels that way. I think I am undermedicated.

Basically the yoga and deep breathing hep me take care of the rest of my body. It helps me to not feel down about not being able to exercise.

When I went to the consultation for biofeedback, they only wanted to do neuro and bio combined. He said take a yoga class if you want that. I think he was disapointed because I was worried about the cost. But I know that anymore brain stimulation is not good for me so I do to want to try it. I read a lot each day and I can tell when its been too much.

As far as botox, I am glad to hear that it helps. I am learning that so much of my problems are in my neck. When I lean over and pull on my neck in different directions the pain is intense all over the top of my head. Do you have that? I am thinking that the migranes are mostly due to that but also I am wondering could there be damage inside. axons shearing?

The steriod injections sickness is terrible. I would be worried as well to get that for a long time. I remember posting about the injections i had ago and I would just stay away all night listening to my heart beat. But, a friend gets them for neck due to accident and relies completley on them. He has a disc issue.Thankfully you don't have one.

What homeopathy are you taking? Butterbur I took but it has made my stomach upset. I tired the co10 plus magnesium combo for months and months but i did not notice too much of a difference.

The mountains are nice. I have a heart for the ocean but since my accident I feel like it broke a little. I asked God to show me the beauty of the mountains more because I cannot surf anymore or enjoy the waves. But forget hiking!:0

Do you worry about too much xrays? i was told that no more ct scans ever due to radiation, no more xrays only if emerg and only mris if emergency. But I know that mris are only magnets. Did docs say anything?