“Yoga and herniated lumbar disc”
I have been suffering from low back, hip, and leg pain for months. It's not always on one side or another. Sometimes the pain is bad on left and right. Sometimes it's both sides. When the pain gets bad, it is very difficult to walk. I also have numbness in my big toes. I have been on oral steroids, muscle relaxers, antiinflammatories, and steroid injections. Unfortunately, the pain wouldn't stay controlled for long. Eventually, I began having pain in my shoulders and neck. I have some nerve damage in my neck from an old injury. Throughout my treatment the pain has gotten worse. I saw an orthopedic surgeon about a month ago. My doctor informed me it's most likely a herniated lumbar disc. I am currently waiting for my insurance company to approve a lumbar MRI. The MRI has been denied four times but should be approved soon. I do yoga regularly. I have read which poses to avoid and modifications to avoid aggravating it. Over the last two weeks I have noticed the pain moving up my spine more. Today I am having a bad pain day and it's very difficult to walk. Is it safe for me to do restorative poses while the pain is a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10?
Female | 29 years old
Complaint duration: 4 months
Medications: Meloxicam, amitriptyline, mothocarbam, Abilify, Duloxetine, nuva ring, levothyroxine
Conditions: PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, nerve damage in neck, hypothyroidism
3 Answers
doing the yoga poses. Therefore, I would hold off until you get the MRI.
Instead focus on isometric core exercises.
Hope it helps!!
Dr. Bose
I would first think about your old neck problem and assess how the neck is moving, the pain in it, and any headaches or numbness and tingling into the upper extremities.
Has there ever been trauma or injury to the lower back?
The lower back is so complex (the muscles and nerves around it and the number of pain fibers in the tissues around the lower back) that obtaining a good history and physical examination are important aspects when trying to figure out a practical approach to the problem.
When was the last time you underwent formal physical therapy for the lower back? I would recommend that over yoga. I would also suggest finding a comfortable position in bed for 24-36 hours to relieve some of the back pain. A heating pad can also help.
Ultimately, strengthening the muscles around the lower back will diminish the pain and perhaps make you feel a lot better during activities of daily living.
I hope the MRI is approved and that you can follow up with an orthopedic doctor soon. Stay positive and determined to feel better.
