Back and neck pain during meditation

[shimuno]

Hello,

Since I have started to meditate, I have experienced severe back and neck pains. The pain usually starts between my shoulder blades and quickly climbs up to my neck, and sometimes leads to huge headaches. I have tried several things, like meditating on the pain itself (it only made it worse). I also tried to meditate lying down, which brings only limited comfort. On the medical side, I have seen a few physiotherapists and osteopath, who were not able to solve my problem.

The funny thing is that, before starting to meditate, I used to experience similar back and neck pains during the day which I've been able to get rid of. So it's extremely frustrating to experience them again when I meditate. It kind of ruin the meditation.

I noticed this morning that my back seems to tense when I inhale and focus my attention on my nostrils. Focusing on my belly reduces the pain, although it's far from perfect.

What would you suggest? I had a look at other posts in the forum but I wasn't able to find a solution to this problem.

Thank you very much for your help.

[pollyanna]

Hi shimuno and welcome to the community

It's always best to have a check-up with your doctor if you suffer from back pain or any other continuing pain even though you seem to have had no explanation with the two you have seen already.

Here's something Bob posted about pain...
"Two months of meditating and using this audio technology has really had some positive effects with me too. Most notable to me was a relief in some chronic recurring pain in my neck. I hardly feel that pain anymore whereas I've been dealing with it for 30+ years. I sure don't miss that pain and it's good to not have to take pills for it. Another benefit, I'm not a person who shows anger much but it comes out when I drop something or bump into something. Since becoming a meditator w/Lifeflow I don't seem to get as irritated when those things happen--AND I don't seem to be bumping into things very much!... to read more please click on the following link...

Let me introduce myself.

There are a selection of guided meditations freely available here. Here is a link to the guided meditation to help relieve physical pain...

Guided Meditation - Relieve physical pain

Hope this helps and wish you much peace and joy

[rubyanderson]

Hi shimuno,
First of all the main reasons for back and neck pain is usually your posture while meditating. Its very important to maintain the correct posture. I am a physiotherapist assisting the top orthopedic surgeon suffolk at OSALI for the past 5 years and have come across such cases of back and neck pain many a times. Your pain reduces when you medicate lying down because it stretches your body in reverse of the slouching position which are very good. I would recommend you focus on releasing tension in the upper back, shoulders, chest and hips. Do not over stretch the neck. Hope this benefits you!

[HemantM]

The back pain and neck pain is due to our unconscious habit of scrunching our shoulders up and lifting them towards the ears, even mildly.

[sapna]

I think you should try these:

1. Try changing position/posture/chair. If you sit on a chair, try the lotus position. If you're used to lotus position, try a chair.

2. Try to relax yourself one part at a time. For example, you can begin with your feet - imagine a mist moving through your body and relaxing it. Then move upwards till you have relaxed every part (or portion) of your body till the head.

3. Consult a doctor/physiotherapist. Getting yourself checked up won't hurt and you may actually find some insight into your problem.