I know, I know. I'm a horrible blogger. At one point, sharing my scoliosis journey was so important to me. It filled every part of my life. Now, there are days where I don't even think about it or scoliosis. It's a stark contrast to where I once was. I'm so normal.
Today, a young twenty-something called me to talk about my surgery. She's considering it herself, and our doctor put us in touch. It reminded me again how important it is to share what I've been through, or at the very least, let everyone know how I am today.
Today
I am now 2 years, 4 months post surgery, and life is good. I am very active and love to exercise and run. There are some restraints there. My physical therapist said I shouldn't run more than 6 miles a week (although I plan to ask for a re-evaluation of that someday), but I can walk as much as I want. In fact, I walk most days to and from work, which is 1.3 miles each way. As for my other exercises, I just make adaptions here and there to fit my flexibility and comfort. But they're small changes. I even do P90X, an intense workout program, and yoga.
It's important to stay fit, as the stronger your body is, the easier it is on your back. It's especially important to keep your core muscles strong, as these help hold your spine and take pressure off of it when doing everyday activities. And it's nice to have a medical reason to work on my abs. ;) My PT did say that she would get me a 6-pack someday if I kept up my core exercises. It's definitely not a 6-pack, but I have lost about 25 pounds since my surgery & have some muscle definition. But most importantly, I truly believe exercise & core strengthening is what keeps me largely pain-free today.
Yes, I said it - pain free. Two years ago, when I was in the thick of recovery & I felt pain like I couldn't imagine, this would have seemed like a pipe dream (er...painkiller dream?). I may have a pain rarely, but this is always caused by my actions - when I sit or lay too long in an awkward position or carry something too heavy or do something I know my body can't handle (like a few months ago when I pulled a muscle attempting to do pull-ups) or when I don't keep up with my exercises. (Side note: Dr. Shaun told me to think of my core exercises like brushing my teeth - it's just something you need to do every day.) But there isn't pain just from going about my normal day.
The way I feel physically is only part of the new me. The biggest part is how I feel as a person. I am more confident now than I ever have been in my life. It's amazing when you go through life feeling kind of bad about yourself & how you look and then one day, after a lot of trials & tribulations, you don't feel bad anymore and what that does to you; when you go from feeling less than normal to feeling normal & like you can get through anything life throws at you - It affects ALL aspects of your life. Months after my surgery when I was starting to go out again & get back into life, different people and friends who knew me pre-surgery would tell me - sure, I looked different physically, but I was radiating something that I never had before. I seemed different - good different. It's hard to describe for them or for me.
Today, the twenty-something who called asked me if I would do the surgery again knowing all the pain I went through. Heck yeah. The surgery & recovery were hard. The hardest things I ever went through & I hope to ever go through. But I am so happy now about how I feel & look. If I hadn't have done this, and I was still stuck in that crooked body with that warped self esteem, life would have gone on, but it wouldn't have been as sweet. I wouldn't have been living to my full potential.... What a waste.
Happily,
Megs
P.S. Since I'm not good about checking this thing, if anyone out there finds this blog & needs to get in touch with me, find me at Facebook.com/crookedmegs and send me a message.
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