One of the first rules we learn in yoga therapy ethics might be that we do not … diagnose. That is up to the medically trained professional and we hold a supportive role in the mind-body healing journey. We complement the Western medicine with a more holistic approach to give client the support and care he/she needs.
While we should not and would not diagnose ever, I think given this intensive training in which we are given the overview of integrative and functional medicine, we can be a pretty good guesser. But that’s just it – an educated guess. Not a evidence based medical diagnosis given by the trained professional in the field of medicine. Today, I pretty much knew that what this student was suffering from based on what she was describing …Sounds like … Tronchanteric bursitis. But one cannot just generalize as other diseases or conditions may be the cause – that may include ” rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriasis, thyroid disease or an unusual drug reaction. In rare cases, bursitis can result from infection.” So it’s best to consult medical advice first but upon that, yoga therapy is very beneficial in alleviating the pain if you don’t want to pop pills. There’s no magic – one must practice and make the lifestyle changes still but … it’s worth it, isn’t it? To be pain-free is worth a little effort.
According to Baxter Bell, MD & Yoga Therapist, “Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa (fluid-filled sac near a joint) at the outside (lateral) point of the hip known as the Greater Trochanter. When this bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, it causes pain in the hip. This is a common cause of hip pain.”
How can yoga help? Yes, done right, it can. I can show you.
