On 3/17/12 I was involved in a serious car wreck. It caused a broken neck(C2&C3) and multiple compound fractures in my left hand. I am starting this post 11 weeks after the incident, to share my journey back to yoga.
About 3 weeks after the wreck I was able to start doing some leg stretches. I was wearing a "halo" brace around my trunk and attached to my head-leaving my neck completely immobile and arms only able to lift part way. I would sit in the wheelchair and put my foot up on the bed(hip and bed level) and stretch a TEENY bit forward with each leg, a few rounds on each side. The other stretch I was able to do was a very slight twist(while seated), to the left was a bit easier.My left hand was totally un-useable at this time.
At 4 weeks i went home. At home I started using the the carpeted stairwell. I would put my leg up 4 stairs and hold onto the railing with my right hand. This caused a very nice stretch and i would alternate legs 3 times for 30 seconds.Next i bent my knee on the 3rd stair and braced myself with the other foot and did a type of "lunge" there, trying to bring my opposite hip closer to the stair.repeat both sides 3x.
At about 5 weeks i discovered i could get my leg/foot up one step higher and then turn away from the stairs and create a really good inner thigh stretch. Then adding the teenyist lateral stretch(the vest brace didn't allow for hardly any lateral movement).
I also used the bottom step to create a calf stretch and top of foot stretch and to practice going up on tippy toes.
At about 6 weeks I really needed to figure out how to stretch my quads(as I have been sleeping half seated this whole time). I could manage facing out on the stairwell and lifting and placing the top of my foot on the 4th stair and my knee(of the same leg) on the 2nd stair. I used the forearm of my left arm and my right hand to steady myself. The other side was a bit trickier but I was able to do it, and it felt delicious! On many days I then went into the kitchen and used the counter for a gluteus/hamstring stretch. I lifted one leg up to the counter and placed the shin in-line with the edge of the counter, then leaned forward and ahhhhh.... :)))
And now i am at week 11. The halo has been off 2 weeks. I continue with the above routine and now have added many other poses.
About 3 weeks after the wreck I was able to start doing some leg stretches. I was wearing a "halo" brace around my trunk and attached to my head-leaving my neck completely immobile and arms only able to lift part way. I would sit in the wheelchair and put my foot up on the bed(hip and bed level) and stretch a TEENY bit forward with each leg, a few rounds on each side. The other stretch I was able to do was a very slight twist(while seated), to the left was a bit easier.My left hand was totally un-useable at this time.
At 4 weeks i went home. At home I started using the the carpeted stairwell. I would put my leg up 4 stairs and hold onto the railing with my right hand. This caused a very nice stretch and i would alternate legs 3 times for 30 seconds.Next i bent my knee on the 3rd stair and braced myself with the other foot and did a type of "lunge" there, trying to bring my opposite hip closer to the stair.repeat both sides 3x.
At about 5 weeks i discovered i could get my leg/foot up one step higher and then turn away from the stairs and create a really good inner thigh stretch. Then adding the teenyist lateral stretch(the vest brace didn't allow for hardly any lateral movement).
I also used the bottom step to create a calf stretch and top of foot stretch and to practice going up on tippy toes.
At about 6 weeks I really needed to figure out how to stretch my quads(as I have been sleeping half seated this whole time). I could manage facing out on the stairwell and lifting and placing the top of my foot on the 4th stair and my knee(of the same leg) on the 2nd stair. I used the forearm of my left arm and my right hand to steady myself. The other side was a bit trickier but I was able to do it, and it felt delicious! On many days I then went into the kitchen and used the counter for a gluteus/hamstring stretch. I lifted one leg up to the counter and placed the shin in-line with the edge of the counter, then leaned forward and ahhhhh.... :)))
And now i am at week 11. The halo has been off 2 weeks. I continue with the above routine and now have added many other poses.
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