From Sciatica to Yoga

About two months ago I got a shot in my lower back to help alleviate my sciatica. I’ve been dealing with this constant sciatica pain since Thanksgiving.

Before the shot, I would gauge my sciatica pain to be around 6 or 7 on a scale of 1 to 10. The pain greatly reduced my mobility. I wasn’t even comfortable when I walked and the pain was my 5:30 am alarm clock every morning.

After getting the shot, my pain level went down to a 2 or 3. I felt pretty good. I felt good enough to try yoga. Several people including my yoga instructor said that they took up yoga because of lower back pain.

For the past six weeks, I’ve been taking one 50 minute yoga practice per week. Specifically, I’ve been going to a beginners class on Sunday afternoons. The results have been phenomenal. My sciatica is almost completely gone.

At this point, the pain reduction could still be the result of the epidural, but I really think the epidural just helped me get into the yoga studio. I’m not naturally flexible, but the poses, stretches, and breathing has really helped.

I had another shot scheduled for tomorrow, but I canceled earlier this week and I’ll be at beginners yoga again this Sunday afternoon.