Hey there, awesome readers!
Hold on. I need to catch my breath…
Phew
Okay, thanks for waiting.
What. A. Week.
As some of you may know, I’m a competitive hip hop dancer.
EXCEPT…
I couldn’t dance last season due to a sciatica flare-up.
Couldn’t dance? Who am I kidding? I could barely vacuum.
If you’ve never suffered the hell that is sciatica, let me paint you a picture…
The pain starts somewhere at the bottom of your spine and goes down your leg. For me it started in my left ass cheek and went down to the bottom of my calf. There were days where if I was alone and didn’t have help putting on my shoes, it would take me close to 20 minutes if not longer. And then I had to somehow find a way to fold my body into my car.
There were a few days where after sweating and swearing through the pain of getting my clothes on, it was simply impossible for me to get in my car. Feeling defeated, I had to give up on my plans for the day and hobble my way back into my house.
In case you’re wondering, the answer is, “yes, I spent those days in bed, contemplating my life. Chronic pain makes you question EVERYTHING.
And now here we are. I’m finally on the healing side of this journey. I still feel it to an extent but NOTHING like it was four… six… nine months ago. It’s been a long and slow recovery but I’m back to dancing. Along with my regular team classes and practices, this year I decided to take two extra dance classes. The problem is the classes are all clumped together.
So, this is my dance calendar this season:
Mondays
- Team Class/Practice: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesdays
- Skills N’ Drills Class: 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Hip Hop – 17+ years old: 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
In case your math is as broken as mine, that’s four and half hours of intense dancing within a 24-hour period. And then there’s all the at-home practice that’s required because, as one of my dance teachers said last night, practice is evolution. (Totally love that. It’s my new motto and I may even get it tattooed on my body. Forehead probably.)
Fun fact: I’m 60 years old (until my next birthday).
SIXTY.
And the Tuesday Hip Hop class is 17+. Well, you don’t need a calculator to figure out that there’s a problem here. And it’s not a math problem.
When I walked out of the dance studio last night there were voices screaming at me from all parts of my body.
Left Knee:
YO! Do you even own a calendar! This is 2025, not 1995!!! What the hell are you doing to me???
Lower Back:
Ummm… Excuse me, but I think your birth certificate is laughing at you. Also, don’t bend down anymore today. If you have to pee, do it standing up. Begging over here.
Neck:
Why do I hear popcorn? Is someone making popcorn???
Thighs:
Who am I? Where are we? Has someone been chewing on me? I feel numb.
When I got home last night, I did what any sensible sixty-year-old would do: I went to bed.
My point is this: If you want to dance, go ahead. I encourage it at any age. Just remember that if you’re close to my age, you’ll soon discover that your body has some serious opinions.
Meanwhile, if you need any more inspiration, I’ll just be over here… lying down.
For me, it was my right ass cheek. Lasted longer than imaginable. I was just glad yo be able to walk after it finally subsided. So proud of you for dancing!! Go easy on that knee tho!
Sciatica really is terrible. Since sharing this, I’ve had a few people reach out. Apparently, we’e not alone in this hell. And yes, hoping my knee isn’t my next issue. Aging. It’s awesome.
I’m the furthest thing from a competitive hip hop dancer–can’t even dance. But I am active and at almost 61, I’ve had my share of physical issues. I’ve tried everything: Massaage, kinesiologist (expensive!), traditional acupuncture, PT. My latest is a combo chiropractor and sports acupuncture which seems to be moving the needle. Wish I could dance!
Isn’t it great to be “this” age and still active, despite the issues. Not a real question. I think the trick is to keep moving.
I love dancing. Just because. Not competitively.
I’m with you there! Dancing in the kitchen while making (or burning) dinner… that’s my jam! 🙂
((empathy hug)) Bonnie Prudden and Pete Egoscue described some self-treatment techniques that work for some people with sciatica. I used them when I strained the hip along with the ankle in 2009. They worked. They took time, and pressing lightly on the key trigger point HURT for a minute or so before everything started to feel better, but recovery was complete with no side effects from pain pills.