Yoga shoulder stand for some relief-anyone else?

I'm in almost cronic pain, and don't get surgery until November. One of the only ways to lessen the pain is to be inverted. In otherwords to have my hips higher than my heart. During the day my pelvic area (lower abdomin) feels heavier & heavier, especially if I eat. Before trying the pain killers I start a Yoga shoulder stand, just to try to get things repositioned. I haven't had a period for 6 months because I've been taking Lupron. Lord help me if I had a period. Does anyone else have to go to such dramatic positions for releif? I've also been taking the ativan to dull the pain - now I'm not sure if that's a very good idea or not. Any suggestions welcome.
AKA

AKA,

I'm with you when it comes to yoga and being upside-down. I have minor prolapse problems and unexplained gut pain. Shoulder stands feel great as does down dog. The relaxation and breathing helps me too. I could go on and on, for some reason bridge pose is useful.

I love yoga!!

Sorry you have so much pain, hope you find relief soon. My pain is minor but yoga is very useful and adding kegels helps.

I found yoga also to be very helpful pre-op. It's funny that you mentioned Ativan. I took it too for painful period cramping. I found that 1/2 mg would help to keep me comfortable for almost 24 hours.

I just want to thank you for replying. It really makes me feel more normal to know others are in the same boat. Thank you.
K

I thought I was the only one! I'm in constant pain, basically starving because pain with food is so bad (although I don't mind the ell bees I've left off the bathroom scale). I've also found propping my hips up on pillows to sleep and then putting my feet up for about twenty minutes at a time throughout the day helps a little. I've been doing tons of downward dog because it feels so much better, I'll try the shoulder stands. Ice packs help more than heat pads too so I do that before bed at night.

I just checked my emails today and saw that you're going in tomorrow. I just wanted to say that I'm glad for you that the wait is over, and you'll be able to get well soon. No more downward dog before bed. Wishing you all the best.
K.

I'll miss all my yoga poses for the next few weeks. My hamstrings have never been in such good shape! But hopefully the pain should be gone and starting a new health trend in my life.

Thanks for the support! One last thing I found --strict vegan was the only thing that offered any sort of actual pain relief, the drugs really just dulled the pain but a strict vegan diet, plus giving up caffeine in all forms, really did help. I'm typically quite carnivorous so I imagine my cholesterol levels probably appreciated the meatless months.

Best wishes getting to November, it'll come quickly for you hopefully.

Really interesting things to try here. Certain pilates moves for me seem to align everything for me. Never tried hips above heart though. Also, I have heard that in the operating room this is the position we are in? I know, don't know where I heard it - sounds weird.

I was really amazed to see many of you with the same thing as me: during painful ovulation times leading up to the period I cannot eat because if I eat even one small meal I will bloat and it will make the pain and hormones worse. So, I have to remind myself to starve. One thing that I have recently caught on to though when I starve myself to keep the pain at least at bay and I get weak is to eat a handful of almonds and a piece of nutritionally sound fruit. What a rush! Gives me almost instant energy and almost no bloating from it (of course if I eat tooooooo many nuts then yeah I turn into a blimp) also I buy all natural, no salt almonds. I'm just finding it has helped for me at breakfast time and if I am so hungry in the middle of the day and need a snack. But to hear all of your stories about this, makes me feel not so alone.

You gals help keep me sane. After reading this, I feel less isolated, and it reminds me to do some of these things (yoga, healthy snacks) to feel less uncomfortable. I'm going to put my legs up a wall now

Just wanted to let you know, I visited the castle last Tuesday and even with complications that required I come home with a catheter for a week I don't regret the decision one bit.

I was living in so much pain, and literally starving all the time so the pain of the surgery has been very manageable. I had a cheeseburger for lunch the next day just 'cause i didn't actually believe my doctor that I could without pain and I kind of wanted to show him. I've never been so happy to be wrong in my life, and it was the best burger I've ever eaten.

I think that maybe one benefit to living with chronic pain, it raises your tolerance and makes healing a little less awful, for me at least. They found massive adenomyosis even into glands and pervasive throughout the muscle wall so pretty sure I had 20 years of wicked cramps and constant bleeding to look forward to without the surgery.

Here's hoping your day to visit the castle comes before you're nuts with pain, and that you have an even better recovery than I did!