My story in the last three months:
Three months back, I suffered from palpitation and high blood pressure in spite of my medication for hypertension. My mom's cardiologist, who was willing to study my case history, suggested I get an echo-cardiogram and TMT (Tread Mill Test) done. He observed variations in my TMT graph and suggested that I get an angiogram done. During this period, I had also developed a lower back pain (lumber region) + occasional pain at the base of my neck. While these aches and pains are common for people above 60, what worried me was the numbness and tingling sensation in the toe region of my right foot.
When the angiogram report was normal, I asked my cardiologist the reason for the numbness...by now it had spread to my left leg also. This condition did not hamper the normal functioning of both feet, but if the feelings aren't 100%, then it certainly felt very odd. Back of my mind I was scared that I would loose all sensation from ankle to toes and who knows it could spread in the reverse direction. Would I become wheelchair bound? These fears are real and can be extremely unnerving. The cardiologist in Apollo hospitals asked me not to worry and said it was as a result of the pinched nerves in the lumbar region which caused loss of feeling in the toes. He said it was as if I was walking on a bed of cotton. He was right; there couldn't be a better explanation of that feeling. Bed of Roses, I had heard, bed of thorns, I've lived it, but bed of cotton...this was a first!
I asked him if I need to worry about it and he categorically said 'No'.
While I stopped worrying for a few days, the nagging doubt persisted and I did the next best thing...I went online to see what the net had to teach. It said exactly as my cardiologist had diagnosed. Pain in the lumber region; the vertebrate sections pressing each other; pinched nerves and the resulting numbness in the region of the toes. It also said, possible Vitamin B12 deficiency. I understand this is the major cause of numbness + tingling sensation in most people. But I didn't come in that category of "Most People". Another reassuring fact was these nerve ends which had stopped sending signals to my brain which resulted in numbness, eventually regenerate once the pinched nerves are released free. The time taken to regenerate could be 3 to 4 months at the very least.
For the next two to three weeks I did some self medication of Vitamin B12, but that didn't help. Its funny, the same medicines, if prescribed by a doctor, Works, but self medication... Aha! They just don't obey the patients...
I waited for another two weeks, worried a lot more about my deteriorating condition and went back to Apollo to meet a Neurologist, as was suggested by my Cardiologist. By this time, I had also developed severe vertigo. The spinning sensation was so severe that I would close my eyes hoping for the spinning to stop, but it wouldn't. This feeling would also be present when lying on my back...indeed it was awfully scary.
The neurologist at Apollo turned out to be an empathetic listener (a very rare quality in most doctors, these days) and he patiently heard my full history before doing some basic checks with a hammer having a plastic head. He hammered all my joints to check if the nerve system was active. He found them to be in order. On his instructions I was able to walk forwards on my toes and on backwards on my heels. And this made him conclude that the case wasn't very serious requiring surgical intervention! The numbness could be because of either Vitamin B12 deficiency or pressed sections in the lumber region vertebrate column, pinching the nerve cables.
Regarding vertigo, he said it was related to my 'out of whack' inner ears that controls "stability" and would be come normal in three days with medication. Truly, it did disappear after 3 days of medicines. But for numbness, he suggested that I get my blood tested for CBC (Complete Blood Chemistry) + a test for Vitamin B12 count. For my lumber & neck, he suggested an MRI. Already in a panic mode and wanting to get to the bottom of the problem, I got both these done the same day at Raghav's and went back to the doctor the following morning armed with all reports that sounded gibberish to me. Vitamin B12 was certainly low, sitting at the lower point in the range.
The MRI report wasn't scary but for bulges in neck and lumber vertebrate sections. These apparently were pinching the nerves causing numbness. Neurologist suggested a course of medicine for reducing the bulge/swelling and walking + weekly injection of neurobion to build Vitamin B12 in the body.
I asked the neurologist if physiotherapy would help. He suggested walking for the time being, but I went to an acupressure specialist for a second opinion. After three sittings with him, I asked him if I could join a Yoga center...and would that help? He immediately endorsed the idea and suggested that I join the Therapy Yoga at Rashrottana Yoga Fitness Center at 5th block Jayanagar (behind BSNL telephone exchange). In fact my Homeopathic doctor had also recommended that I do Surya Namaskara on a daily basis as part of a holistic approach to wellness. She suggested Surya Namaskara, as this is a combination of 12 yoga postures done in a particular sequence and is tantamount to a complete body work out.
I did join this centre and have been working out in a 15 members batch in the age bracket 50 to 65 years. It is conducted 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) for a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Tomorrow, Monday will be my eighth day of Yoga workout, but I have begun to see some benefits, although it is a small baby step. I also firmly believe that the medicines are helping, but the fact that I am able to stretch and do the Surya Namaskara, (although imperfectly) has soared my positive spirits! 😅
The numbness isn't as bad and its like removing a heavy burden from my mind. I am now encouraged to do the Yogasanas in exactly the manner as the yoga instructor tells us. Breathing is the core of all yogasanas. The bending and stretching all revolve around the correct method of breathing. If done exactly as the instructor says, then I am certain that this will be extremely beneficial. But, for the full benefits to be felt or seen, this has to be a lifelong activity which means, a commitment to discipline. I am told that the present problem of mine, can only be corrected by Yogasanas and I should become normal within the next eight to twelve months time, if I am sincere about applying myself to do the yogasanas at least 5 days a week, if not on all seven.
For now, I am committed and hope this mood prevails in the days and limited years ahead!
Three months back, I suffered from palpitation and high blood pressure in spite of my medication for hypertension. My mom's cardiologist, who was willing to study my case history, suggested I get an echo-cardiogram and TMT (Tread Mill Test) done. He observed variations in my TMT graph and suggested that I get an angiogram done. During this period, I had also developed a lower back pain (lumber region) + occasional pain at the base of my neck. While these aches and pains are common for people above 60, what worried me was the numbness and tingling sensation in the toe region of my right foot.
When the angiogram report was normal, I asked my cardiologist the reason for the numbness...by now it had spread to my left leg also. This condition did not hamper the normal functioning of both feet, but if the feelings aren't 100%, then it certainly felt very odd. Back of my mind I was scared that I would loose all sensation from ankle to toes and who knows it could spread in the reverse direction. Would I become wheelchair bound? These fears are real and can be extremely unnerving. The cardiologist in Apollo hospitals asked me not to worry and said it was as a result of the pinched nerves in the lumbar region which caused loss of feeling in the toes. He said it was as if I was walking on a bed of cotton. He was right; there couldn't be a better explanation of that feeling. Bed of Roses, I had heard, bed of thorns, I've lived it, but bed of cotton...this was a first!
I asked him if I need to worry about it and he categorically said 'No'.
While I stopped worrying for a few days, the nagging doubt persisted and I did the next best thing...I went online to see what the net had to teach. It said exactly as my cardiologist had diagnosed. Pain in the lumber region; the vertebrate sections pressing each other; pinched nerves and the resulting numbness in the region of the toes. It also said, possible Vitamin B12 deficiency. I understand this is the major cause of numbness + tingling sensation in most people. But I didn't come in that category of "Most People". Another reassuring fact was these nerve ends which had stopped sending signals to my brain which resulted in numbness, eventually regenerate once the pinched nerves are released free. The time taken to regenerate could be 3 to 4 months at the very least.
For the next two to three weeks I did some self medication of Vitamin B12, but that didn't help. Its funny, the same medicines, if prescribed by a doctor, Works, but self medication... Aha! They just don't obey the patients...
I waited for another two weeks, worried a lot more about my deteriorating condition and went back to Apollo to meet a Neurologist, as was suggested by my Cardiologist. By this time, I had also developed severe vertigo. The spinning sensation was so severe that I would close my eyes hoping for the spinning to stop, but it wouldn't. This feeling would also be present when lying on my back...indeed it was awfully scary.
The neurologist at Apollo turned out to be an empathetic listener (a very rare quality in most doctors, these days) and he patiently heard my full history before doing some basic checks with a hammer having a plastic head. He hammered all my joints to check if the nerve system was active. He found them to be in order. On his instructions I was able to walk forwards on my toes and on backwards on my heels. And this made him conclude that the case wasn't very serious requiring surgical intervention! The numbness could be because of either Vitamin B12 deficiency or pressed sections in the lumber region vertebrate column, pinching the nerve cables.
Regarding vertigo, he said it was related to my 'out of whack' inner ears that controls "stability" and would be come normal in three days with medication. Truly, it did disappear after 3 days of medicines. But for numbness, he suggested that I get my blood tested for CBC (Complete Blood Chemistry) + a test for Vitamin B12 count. For my lumber & neck, he suggested an MRI. Already in a panic mode and wanting to get to the bottom of the problem, I got both these done the same day at Raghav's and went back to the doctor the following morning armed with all reports that sounded gibberish to me. Vitamin B12 was certainly low, sitting at the lower point in the range.
The MRI report wasn't scary but for bulges in neck and lumber vertebrate sections. These apparently were pinching the nerves causing numbness. Neurologist suggested a course of medicine for reducing the bulge/swelling and walking + weekly injection of neurobion to build Vitamin B12 in the body.
I asked the neurologist if physiotherapy would help. He suggested walking for the time being, but I went to an acupressure specialist for a second opinion. After three sittings with him, I asked him if I could join a Yoga center...and would that help? He immediately endorsed the idea and suggested that I join the Therapy Yoga at Rashrottana Yoga Fitness Center at 5th block Jayanagar (behind BSNL telephone exchange). In fact my Homeopathic doctor had also recommended that I do Surya Namaskara on a daily basis as part of a holistic approach to wellness. She suggested Surya Namaskara, as this is a combination of 12 yoga postures done in a particular sequence and is tantamount to a complete body work out.
I did join this centre and have been working out in a 15 members batch in the age bracket 50 to 65 years. It is conducted 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) for a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Tomorrow, Monday will be my eighth day of Yoga workout, but I have begun to see some benefits, although it is a small baby step. I also firmly believe that the medicines are helping, but the fact that I am able to stretch and do the Surya Namaskara, (although imperfectly) has soared my positive spirits! 😅
The numbness isn't as bad and its like removing a heavy burden from my mind. I am now encouraged to do the Yogasanas in exactly the manner as the yoga instructor tells us. Breathing is the core of all yogasanas. The bending and stretching all revolve around the correct method of breathing. If done exactly as the instructor says, then I am certain that this will be extremely beneficial. But, for the full benefits to be felt or seen, this has to be a lifelong activity which means, a commitment to discipline. I am told that the present problem of mine, can only be corrected by Yogasanas and I should become normal within the next eight to twelve months time, if I am sincere about applying myself to do the yogasanas at least 5 days a week, if not on all seven.
For now, I am committed and hope this mood prevails in the days and limited years ahead!
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