Upper abdominal area in spasm, prevents me from breathing.

[CrunchyChocolate555]

I asked about this topic before, but I decided to start a new thread because it's still not improving no matter what I do.

 

I believe the problem started when I was about 8-9 years old, I was lying flat on my back and another kid was ran across me stomping me right in the solar plexus.

 

My vision went black for a second but I felt relatively OK, didn't think too much of it.

 

It's only now that I realize I think that accident was more serious than I thought.

 

I have ENORMOUS difficulties breathing despite all my best efforts in trying to correct it. In fact, I have spent at least 1 hour per day in the past 3 months consciously working on my breathing, trying various methods of correcting mechanics, posture, refocusing on which areas to tense and which areas to relax, overall relaxation, awareness, etc. drawing from the best sources I could find.

 

But it has barely helped at all.

 

The problem is basically that I feel a huge stuck "ball" in my solar plexus area, actually a bit lower, in the upper abdominal area, and right behind my left rib.

 

It feels like theres a grapefruit sized chunk of dried glue that is preventing anything from moving in that area. It restricts my breathing range of motion to about no more than 50% of what it could be, judging by my estimation, and so as you can imagine, this causes me a whole range of difficulties.

 

I have been able to successfully release this ball at least partially on a number of occasions, during very deep and relaxed meditation, but within about 1-2 hours after the sessions, it goes back to usual, and I feel even more frustrated. Imagine only being able to use half of your lung capacity, it's like being constricted by a boa!

 

Of course things like stress and caffeine (both of which I try to avoid as much as possible) make the problem worse, but it is still always there regardless.

 

I'm getting extremely frustrated about this whole issue and my frustration is only making it worse. I don't know what to do anymore!

 

I'm to the point where I am starting to think this could be a neurological issue where my brainstem is unable to coordinate all the different parts correctly, as when I focus on releasing tension in my brainstem and relaxing that area, my breathing gets significantly better- this idea is reinforced by Mantak Chia in one of his books... and it makes sense, but I don't know if it's the problem in my case, in fact I could be way off.

 

I also have a subloxated vertebrae behind the area where the spasm is located, which could be making it worse as well. I don't know.

 

I am thinking about seeing an Alexander technique teacher but I'm unsure if he would be able to help me. I guess I won't know 'til I try though.

 

I'm thinking about trying things outside of conventional breathing correction techniques, as that has almost never worked so far. Something outside the box. Any ideas?

Edited April 23, 2013 by CrunchyChocolate555

[Maddie]

Hmmm well I suppose its hard to say conclusively or not if that incident as a child is related to your difficulties now, but the reason the solar plexus is call the solar plexus is because there is a large "plexus" of nerves there right in your diaphram area. Now its possible that one of those nerves might have been damaged when you got stompped on. Since nerve damage does not repair like other tissue damage, its possible that an injury here as a child could still be causing difficulties to you now.

 

My recommendation would be to see an acupuncturist as acupuncture has a postive effect on nerve damage, which is why its so sucessful in treating stroke victims. Being that this is likely a chronic case involving nerve damage, I'm pretty sure you will require several treatments, Hope that helps.

[CrunchyChocolate555]

I noticed it gets better after eating because the added weight in the stomach helps push that area down..

[CrunchyChocolate555]

I have seen 2 different acupuncturists on a number of occasions, one of which is now my teacher.

 

I would have thought by now he would have tried using needles to help correct the issue, as he correctly diagnosed me with the problem without me telling him about it specifically (he told me I have a "ball" in my upper abdomen).

 

He is however treating me for liver qi stagnation using herbs, but that has not helped so far. I don't know how much the liver stagnation has to do with it.

 

To compound the problem, since I've had the issue for such a long time, all the ligaments and fascia in that area have shortened and atrophied, so stretching it out requires an enormous amount of tension and causes a lot of pain.

 

What I have found the most effect for stretching it so far is: sitting down, bending down my upper back, taking a deep inhale, feeling the ball descend, holding the breath, and sitting back upright, I can feel by neck pulling up on the ball, stretching it out and causing discomfort.

 

The idea is that it should remain in that descended position regardless of wether I am bent down or upright, but its like it physically can't go down that far.

 

It's driving me nuts, seriously. It's actually seriously pissing me off, and I bet that's what's causing the liver stagnation!

 

 

Hmmm well I suppose its hard to say conclusively or not if that incident as a child is related to your difficulties now, but the reason the solar plexus is call the solar plexus is because there is a large "plexus" of nerves there right in your diaphram area. Now its possible that one of those nerves might have been damaged when you got stompped on. Since nerve damage does not repair like other tissue damage, its possible that an injury here as a child could still be causing difficulties to you now.

 

My recommendation would be to see an acupuncturist as acupuncture has a postive effect on nerve damage, which is why its so sucessful in treating stroke victims. Being that this is likely a chronic case involving nerve damage, I'm pretty sure you will require several treatments, Hope that helps.

[hydrogen]

Have you tried to self-massage that area daily?

[Seeker of Wisdom]

See a doctor... allopathy is hands-down best for things like long-lasting blunt force trauma injuries.

 

 

[Maddie]

I have seen 2 different acupuncturists on a number of occasions, one of which is now my teacher.

 

I would have thought by now he would have tried using needles to help correct the issue, as he correctly diagnosed me with the problem without me telling him about it specifically (he told me I have a "ball" in my upper abdomen).

 

He is however treating me for liver qi stagnation using herbs, but that has not helped so far. I don't know how much the liver stagnation has to do with it.

 

To compound the problem, since I've had the issue for such a long time, all the ligaments and fascia in that area have shortened and atrophied, so stretching it out requires an enormous amount of tension and causes a lot of pain.

 

What I have found the most effect for stretching it so far is: sitting down, bending down my upper back, taking a deep inhale, feeling the ball descend, holding the breath, and sitting back upright, I can feel by neck pulling up on the ball, stretching it out and causing discomfort.

 

The idea is that it should remain in that descended position regardless of wether I am bent down or upright, but its like it physically can't go down that far.

 

It's driving me nuts, seriously. It's actually seriously pissing me off, and I bet that's what's causing the liver stagnation!

 

Yes Liver qi stagnation can cause tightness and oppresion in the hypocondriac region, so that makes sense. As you've stated since this has been a long term thing, its might take some time to see results, which I know is not what you want to hear when your feeling crummy. Liver qi stagnation is a weird and trick monster. It can cause you to feel bad, and then once you do feel bad and that makes you upset it further causes your Liver qi to stagnate, thus a vicious cycle. :-/. The primary set of points we typically use for Liver qi stagnation are Liver 3, and Large Intesting 4 (the four gates). Perhaps try doing acupressure on those points for a good 15-20 min massaging in a counter-clockwise motion.

[CrunchyChocolate555]

Yes, I have, but not daily. The times I have done it, it didn't seem very effective, although it did stir up some emotions. I say it didn't seem effective because I wasn't able to find any trigger points or anything particularly out of the ordinary. Seems like the target area is hidden behind the ribs.

 

If I can provide some more information, here's what seems to happen:

 

When I exhale, my upper abdominals quickly and strongly collapse inwards, and stay strongly contracted on the next inhale. It seems like I have little control over what the muscles do in this area, and it becomes a struggle to let them go.

 

It's like it's extremely hard to just let everything relax in that area. It takes about 30 minutes to get into a ballpark range of where I can just let it to "let go" and begin working on my breath (inhaling with the sides, back, and upper lungs, etc.).

 

Have you tried to self-massage that area daily?

[CrunchyChocolate555]

I'll check it out. I've thought about seeing a specialist but I don't know which would be the right one for me.

 

I have also thought about looking into biofeedback training for real-time feedback. Does anyone have any experience with that?

 

 

See a doctor... allopathy is hands-down best for things like long-lasting blunt force trauma injuries.

[liminal_luke]

Abdominal massage could be great. Is there anyone who does chi nei tsang (a form of taoist abdominal massage) near where you live? Also check out the book Unwinding the Belly, a self-help chi nei tsang book that will teach you how to do the massage yourself. You might try finding a tender point on your belly and keeping your finger right on that spot making gentle, superficial counterclockwise circles until you start to feel some release. Then move slightly to the next tender spot and repeat. This self-treatment could take up to an hour or so a day and help a lot over time. Also, similar gentle circling around the rim of the navel (covered in Unwinding the Belly) might help a lot.

 

A similar idea you could also try. Make the same kind of gentle circles starting at the center right below the sternum and then working right below the lowest rib slowly towards the periphery. Then come back to the center and work towards the periphery on the other side. Be patient and work slowly releasing little by little. If emotions come up that means it's working.

Edited April 23, 2013 by liminal_luke

[CrunchyChocolate555]

WOW! How have I never heard about this??!!

 

I just ordered the book, and will try to find a qualified practitioner in my area. Seems like it might just work..

 

 

Abdominal massage could be great. Is there anyone who does chi nei tsang (a form of taoist abdominal massage) near where you live? Also check out the book Unwinding the Belly, a self-help chi nei tsang book that will teach you how to do the massage yourself. You might try finding a tender point on your belly and keeping your finger right on that spot making gentle, superficial counterclockwise circles until you start to feel some release. Then move slightly to the next tender spot and repeat. This self-treatment could take up to an hour or so a day and help a lot over time. Also, similar gentle circling around the rim of the navel (covered in Unwinding the Belly) might help a lot.

A similar idea you could also try. Make the same kind of gentle circles starting at the center right below the sternum and then working right below the lowest rib slowly towards the periphery. Then come back to the center and work towards the periphery on the other side. Be patient and work slowly releasing little by little. If emotions come up that means it's working.

[liminal_luke]

Great, hope you find it helpful. You might also be interested in checking out the practice journal of Eric23 a fellow bum who worked with Unwinding the Belly over a long period of time and wrote lots of entries about his experience

[CrunchyChocolate555]

Sweet. Thanks again

Great, hope you find it helpful. You might also be interested in checking out the practice journal of Eric23 a fellow bum who worked with Unwinding the Belly over a long period of time and wrote lots of entries about his experience

 

 

[Harmonious Emptiness]

If you haven't tried already.. putting left hand on dantien and right hand on chest while lying down and breath naturally while relaxing the chest so that only the left hand moves up and down.

 

I suggest the Ocean Qi Breathing on this video: link

Also do the warm up and holding dantien leading up to it. If you have time, the whole set is superb ime.

[eye_of_the_storm]

What is your diet like?

You talk about a glue feeling inside?

Stuckness

Funnily enough just posted in another thread about gluten / wheat and the Taoist Bigu diet (abstaining from grains)

http://thetaobums.com/topic/28056-bigu-or-daoist-low-carb/

Do you eat a lot of bread / wheat / grain / gluten products?

I would try for a couple of weeks just eating fresh fruits, greens, veges etc (natural) + lots of water (filtered / as clean as you can get it)... a few litres at least per day.

Cut out diary and gluten totally.

You have to get your body flowing again.

See if that makes a difference.

Edited April 24, 2013 by White Wolf Running On Air

[ragamor]

I have a problem with a rash around my eyes that I just can't get rid of.

It has been there for so many years, sometimes getting worse, other times going away just to come back.

I have used many different treatments, nothing works.

In deep meditation the rash goes completely way like magic, just to come back... like magic, in a few hours time.

 

Thats kinda weird, why would a physical problem come a go like a bad thought?

Because deep down it is.

 

Let it go, some diseases have roots far to deep for you to uproot.

[CrunchyChocolate555]

I havn't had any gluten, casein for a couple of months and right now I'm following the GAPS diet to repair a leaky gut..

 

What is your diet like?

 

You talk about a glue feeling inside?

 

Stuckness

 

Funnily enough just posted in another thread about gluten / wheat and the Taoist Bigu diet (abstaining from grains)

 

http://thetaobums.com/topic/28056-bigu-or-daoist-low-carb/

 

Do you eat a lot of bread / wheat / grain / gluten products?

 

I would try for a couple of weeks just eating fresh fruits, greens, veges etc (natural) + lots of water (filtered / as clean as you can get it)... a few litres at least per day.

 

Cut out diary and gluten totally.

 

You have to get your body flowing again.

 

See if that makes a difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[blindeye]

I have a simillar problem and was injured in the solar plexus. Emotions like fire and air get stop on their way to the heart. The thing I found working : intend lower emotion especially anger or fire upwards for the heart to resolve. There many lower emotion and upper mind states that can stop alchemical process up the spine. Any one may be unique and have to resolve specific experiences of emotion repeatedly. When the heart opens all the way repatterning happens immediately. The mind can repattern almost anything if the heart re-closes. The mind holds its shape or pattern from reliance on time lines. The heart absolves mind -no time. At some pont a choice is made between the two and having either a permanent open heart, or an ability by intent and will to open the heart when desired .. in either case freedom from crystalizations of the mind are overcome.

[Clarity]

You do have some non-physical weakness around breathing. A fear of suffocation comes up as a reaction to a karma of suffocation (from your spiritual experiences at the non-conscious level), coming from the past, resolved. Also, some weakness from the spirits on the receiving end of that karma (them wanting payback), resolved.

 

Re-integrate spirit, mind, body.

[eye_of_the_storm]

I havn't had any gluten, casein for a couple of months and right now I'm following the GAPS diet to repair a leaky gut..

 

 

Ah cool.

 

Any improvement since the change?

 

Depends how far along things are...

 

Perhaps a water or juice fast to speed up the process? give the body / organs etc a chance to rest and start repairing.

 

 

 

 

[CrunchyChocolate555]

Oh my yes. I look and feel much "healthier". I did get a juicer and I'm using it every day too!

 

I found a great new avenue of exploration that I started experimenting with and shows a lot of promise: the Buteyko breathing method.

 

The idea is that a lot of people are deprived of Co2 (yes, you read that right) and it causes all sorts of problems including bad posture and muscle rigidity (which is a large part of my problem).

 

I will try doing the breathing method more regularly and find out as much as I can about it and keep you guys posted.

Ah cool.

Any improvement since the change?

Depends how far along things are...

Perhaps a water or juice fast to speed up the process? give the body / organs etc a chance to rest and start repairing.

Edited April 24, 2013 by CrunchyChocolate555

[ChiDragon]

The idea is that a lot of people are deprived of Co2 (yes, you read that right) ....................

 

 

I will try doing the breathing method more regularly and find out as much as I can about it and keep you guys posted.

 

I know what that means by deprived of Co2 but do you....???

 

What kind of breathing do you have in mind......???

 

And what is the Buteyko breathing method.....???

[三江源]

And what is the Buteyko breathing method.....???

http://thetaobums.com/topic/263-buteyko-method-breathing/?hl=buteyko

[eye_of_the_storm]

Oh my yes. I look and feel much "healthier". I did get a juicer and I'm using it every day too!

 

I found a great new avenue of exploration that I started experimenting with and shows a lot of promise: the Buteyko breathing method.

 

The idea is that a lot of people are deprived of Co2 (yes, you read that right) and it causes all sorts of problems including bad posture and muscle rigidity (which is a large part of my problem).

 

I will try doing the breathing method more regularly and find out as much as I can about it and keep you guys posted.

 

Ah yes that is good news.

[SeriesOfTubes]

Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice, just adding a true story that might be similar to yours..

 

A few times I had severe spasms when I was really young which, at their worst, severely restricted my ability to breathe.. The first time was the worst and I could not pinpoint the trigger.. I also had a history of a few instances when the wind was knocked out of me..

 

On the third time it got really bad, I called a doctor who was not in the office at the time.. When he returned my call, he told me to take two Aleves which = one prescription dose muscle relaxant.. Same active ingredient.. Naprosyn/Naproxen I think it was.. whichever is the generic.

 

It did the trick, it relaxed the inner smooth muscle contraction and I could breath fully once again.. the problem never occurred again and I never had to take the medication again for it. Perhaps knowing I could rely on an OTC med for it was enough.

Edited April 25, 2013 by SeriesOfTubes