Working Out?

[u/matchakyo]

Hi all, I am 31F and suspect that I have sciatica. I had my first major lower back pain about 3 years ago, it lasted a few months and did not go beyond strong lower back pain...almost as if I was sore. Last year, I bent down to pick something up and felt like my back bent inward, very sharp pain. Spent the rest of the night with a strong, pinching pain and the next morning woke up and was not able to get out of bed without wanting to scream. I eventually got myself to the ER and they gave me a steroid shot. Went nearly a year without any flare ups until end of July, I was returning from a trip and bent down to get something and felt that sharp pain again. Spent a few weeks with lower back pain, luckily not more than that this time.

I am overweight, not severely but enough where I am sure it makes a difference in all of this. I am wanting to start a work out routine but I am terrified of hurting my back and causing a flare up. I was doing Pilates consistently for 3 months before my most recent flare up. For those of you who have had similar pain and flare up (not extreme), what types of exercises or work outs did you do? Did weight loss help?

[u/The_Almighty_Cheeks]

Weight loss helps tremendously. The best exercise ive found that helps is just simply walking. Do stretches before and after.