| Date of Birth |
1960 |
| Occupation |
Dental Assistant |
| Hobbies/Activities |
-- |
| How long have you been diagnosed
with this condition? |
Sept 2002, but noticed symptoms
10 years previous |
| How would you explain your diagnosis? |
Inflammation leading to calcium
deposits and ultimately ossification/fusing of joints. Triggered
with stress |
| What kinds of things about your
diagnosis affect you: |
|
| - Physically? |
-Unable to stand in upright position
-Pain and stiffness in lower back and neck, hips
-difficult to get up after extended periods of lying down
or being still (~5min +)
(i.e. fell down after lying on x-ray table for 10 minutes)
-less mobile
-shortened and tightened muscles
-altered gait and posture (forward flexed posture)
-pain in AC and SC joints, and between shoulders
-muscles spasms esp. in back
- "walked as a very old lady"
|
| - Psychologically? |
Had to cut back hours
at work ->discouraging and frustrating
-felt discouraged |
| - General Quality
of Life? |
-disturbed sleep due to pain, and wake not feeling rested
-had to wake up periodically to walk/stretch and then try
to go back to sleep
-difficult to walk up stairs, sit <-> stand, getting
dressed (unable to put on shoes)
-unable to do self care in some instances (e.g. pedicure
for feet, cut nails)
-unable to run to catch bus
|
| What Treatments are you receiving
& how were they working? |
-anti inflammatories (NSAIDS)
-analgesics (pain killers)
->took NSAIDS 1 - 2 days, got better for awhile then no
or less improvement
-no recommendations from physician regarding exercise ->only
a suggestion to change sitting posture routinely while seated
for an extended time. |
| How did you hear about Bikram
Yoga? |
-referred by a friend who was noticing
improvement in her lower back pain from practicing the yoga |
| Did you have any fear or tendencies
about the yoga? |
-- |
| How long have you been practicing
the yoga? How often per week? |
-started December 20, 2002 ->3
years and 3 mo
-3 times per week, except 1 year only 1 time per week |
| What changes have you noticed
in yourself that you believe are a result of you practicing
the yoga? |
- able to have restful sleep after
1 month of practicing
-relaxed muscles ->could feel difference even after 1 class
-breathing became easier
-smiling more
-able to handle heat more (adaptation to external stress)
-less spasm - more chest capacity
-more immunity (sick less often)
-more mind/body awareness, learned difference between pain
of stretching and pain of AS
-less pain
-weight loss (lower fat mass) |
| Has any of your conventional
treatment changed since practicing the yoga? (i.e. discontinuation
of medication) |
-has not taken any medication in
2 years |
| What would you like
to tell people who are feeling hesitant about trying the yoga? |
- if you feel you are inflexible, even more reason to try
the yoga!
-safe -> learn to stay within your limits
-be patient, expect some pain from using muscles again
-stay with it, even if things become painful - may get worse
before it gets better
-respect your body, need to go through some pain
|
