I've been meditating for over four years (on and off) now. Since I began, I have been unable to sit in the half lotus position without my foot/feet becoming numb after approximately fifteen minutes. In the past I would hold the form until I was done meditating, but the pain and inability to walk for at least five minutes afterwards eventually led to me sitting in a chair. Despite going to two doctors, both of whom said I am probably hitting a nerve, there has been no reduction in the pain.
I've read several people who explain that the pain eventually goes away, but in my case it hasn't and, overall, I think takes away from meditating. Does anyone else have this problem?

Wow, four years? That’s a toughie. For me, the longer I sat, the more I got used to it and now I have no problem. Perhaps you should try sitting more consistently, instead of just off an on. Perhaps if you try to do it for a certain amount of time, at the same time every day, your body will begin to adapt. What do you think?

DreannaNZ

I also had this problem! For me as well, the only thing that worked was sitting in a chair to meditate. Do you still feel pain when you sit in a chair? If not, perhaps you should just keep working with that route.

CarolC

Some of my yoga students that cannot do lotus enjoy simply sitting cross-legged (sukhasana) or in hero’s pose on a block.

ShantiB