dancing with a pain in the b#tt!

[zot buffalo]

I've seen great advice here from really knowledgeable bhuzzers, so I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me out!

Last winter I fell skiing and felt something pop. Ever since then I have been struggling with a sore hip that would not get better. I finally got an MRI, which showed that I partially tore my hamstring tendon at the point where it connects to my pelvis -- literally a "pain in the butt." Way too late for surgery, too much scar tissue.

Soooo, I've been doing PT but can't seem to get any advice on what exercises to or not to do -- especially since none of the therapists have the vaguest idea about bellydance. The best advice I can get is "don't do it if it hurts." Dude ~ walking hurts, sleeping hurts!! Ironically, dancing doesn't seem to hurt all that much, until afterwards.

Any wise bhuzzers with experience in this?

[*Shira*]

Originally Posted by zot buffalo

Last winter I fell skiing and felt something pop. Ever since then I have been struggling with a sore hip that would not get better. I finally got an MRI, which showed that I partially tore my hamstring tendon at the point where it connects to my pelvis -- literally a "pain in the butt." Way too late for surgery, too much scar tissue.

Soooo, I've been doing PT but can't seem to get any advice on what exercises to or not to do -- especially since none of the therapists have the vaguest idea about bellydance. The best advice I can get is "don't do it if it hurts." Dude ~ walking hurts, sleeping hurts!! Ironically, dancing doesn't seem to hurt all that much, until afterwards.

Oh dear, that sounds really painful! At the risk of stating the obvious, we on bhuz don't have medical training and haven't seen your MRI, so there's a limit to how much value our advice can contain. But since you've been getting physical therapy and not getting helpful advice, I can see why you're looking for other ideas.

I can tell you that I've had 30 years of back pain as a result of a car accident when I was 17 (I rolled my vehicle). In my case, I think the scar tissue was a big part of my problem, because it was gripping the muscle into a great big knot. In May, I had a major breakthrough that has made a huge difference, through structural integration (also called rolfing). It's a type of body work (therapists are licensed under states' massage licensing procedures), but it tries to fix alignment problems in the body through poking and prodding of the fascia. In my breakthrough in May, the rolfer had me lie on my stomach. She then placed her foot right on the knot in my back, and had me raise my upper body into the yoga sphinx position and then do a series of rib cage moves while she applied the weight of her body to it. The deep pressure from the weight of her body applied directly to the knot felt pretty intense, but at the same time very "right".

Although I still have issues in that part of my back, I'm SO much better than I was before that particular breakthrough appointment. My massage therapist (different person from my rolfer) has really noticed the difference, too. He says that her work really loosened up the hardened scar tissue, which was what I needed.

[zot buffalo]

Shira, one of my teachers suggested rolfing, she recommended a woman who doe it locally ~ I think I will go talk to her. thanks!

[tahiradancer]

I have done this. Long ago and far away.

Two things and the first you will not like! Time. It takes time to heal. As in months if not more. Then it is time for gentle stretching. As in yoga stretching. And and after the stretching, a hot bath. If you can handle epsom salts, add those to the water. And when it's all done, you may never quiet regain the flexibility on that side.

Rolfing, chiropractic and massage theorpy help. A lot. But remember to be patient as well.

{{{{HUGS}}}

[Lauren_]

I was thinking of some kind of hands-on bodywork, too. Not a regular massage therapist, but someone with lots of experience and specialized training.

My myotherapist is practically my primary care physician at this point, but I don't know whether that's the right kind of treatment for your situation.

Sounds like rolfing might be just the thing!

[*Shira*]

If you do decide to try the rolfing, here are a couple of tips on how to get the most out of it:

1. Before your first rolfing appointment, go to a regular massage therapist (ie, someone who does sports massage) for 8-10 sessions and get full-body deep-tissue massages, including to the area where your injury was. The purpose of doing this is to help your body get used to deep poking and prodding. Deep tissue work can really hurt if you're not used to it. Rolfing goes deeper than standard massage, and massage will help you get accustomed to the pressure first. (In other words, the deep poking and prodding of rolfing will be less painful if your body first learns to accept deep pressure from a less intense style of body work.)

2. Hot baths are your friend. They ease a lot of pain.

3. Arnica ointment is your friend.

4. Yoga is your friend, but only if you do it in a way that brings your focus inward, to think about what your body is experiencing in the moment. Ie, take yourself into a pose, find your "edge" without going past it, hold it at your edge, and then look for ways to relax the edgy muscle without easing back on the pose. When I start starting going for rolfing, I found that the yoga technique of trying to direct my breath to whatever body party needed TLC at the moment proved helpful in rolfing. Also, every time I go to a rolfing appointment it starts with the rolfer asking me what I "noticed" since my last appointment. These questions really helped me with awareness of what my body was feeling, and in turn that awareness helped me progress. Yoga helps develop that awareness of what your body is experiencing.

5. I used to take a couple of ibuprofen before going to a rolfing appointment to make it easier to take the really deep work. I don't any more, because I've developed some mental techniques that are effective and I prefer to avoid taking drugs unnecessarily. But I'd still suggest considering the ibuprofen if you're new to deep-tissue work and don't yet have the mental techniques for processing the deep-tissue sensations.

[zot buffalo]

Shira ~ thanks, that was way better and more detailed advice than I got from either the doc or the PT!!!