I have not posted anything for almost three weeks (have you missed me?). In case anyone was wondering, here’s my story.
In 1971 Hasbro/Romper Room created small egg-shaped figures that “wobble” from side to side but return to an upright position. Their slogan for these toys was “Weebles Wobble but They Don’t Fall Down.” Inside each weeble is a small weight. When the toy is tipped to one side the weight will cause the toy to “wobble.” Gravity soon brings the toy back to an upright position.
For the past few years, I have experienced chronic pain throughout my body. At first, I just thought it was arthritis creeping up on me or perhaps damage done to my body from the many chemo and radiation treatments I had as a cancer patient almost 20 years ago.
Along with the pain, it has become more difficult for me to stand for any length of time and to walk any great distance. My husband and I have always been active, but this constant pain and difficulty walking was beginning to make me depressed. I began dreading growing old and living a limited lifestyle.
My clothes also did not seem to fit properly. My tops always hung to the left and anything with sleeves would find the left sleeve longer than the right. No matter how many times I tried to straighten my tops – they refused to remain straight and even.
Finally, my granddaughter told me “Grandma, you wobble when you walk.” I felt like those little weebles – bobbing from side to side as I tried to walk straight. On uneven ground or climbing stairs I even wondered if this “webble” would fall down.
At my last doctor’s visit, I pointed out to her that a rib on my left side was sticking way out. She gave a closer examination and determined that my left leg is shorter than my right and because of that my spine has slowly been tilting to the left. Thus, why my clothes do not fit properly and why I “wobble” when I walk.
Diagnosed with scoliosis, she sent me to their physical therapy department for further evaluation and treatment.
First order of business was to add an insert to my left shoe to begin to even out my legs. We have had to slowly raise the height of the left leg because my therapist said too much of an increase all at once would only make things worse.
My first few visits to PT were basically sitting, lying while they did adjustments to my pelvis, my spine, and my hips to try to bring me back into proper alignment. After four weeks of therapy, three times a week and more inserts in the left shoe, they have declared I am back in proper alignment.
I have four more weeks of PT where we are working on building strength into my muscles so that I can retain the proper position of my pelvis, spine and hips. My therapist told me I will need to continue these exercise three to four times a week for the rest of my life if I want my body to keep the right alignment. They can make adjustments to my spine, but it is the muscles that will hold that alignment.
While doing the physical therapy and learning to make other adjustments – such as losing my recliner for a more straight-back chair, using the right size pillows when I sleep, wearing shoes all the time (which I hate), adjusting my computer so that I am not looking up or down at the screen which is hard on the neck, I have been too busy to blog.
Honestly, I have thought about not returning to my blog and I have mixed feelings about it. But here’s goes my story of my absence – and I do hope some of my followers have missed me.
Grandma's Ramblings 
Oh I remember those weekends wobbles lol. Sorry to hear you are having health issues. I truly hope things get better soon. And yes, you were missed these past 3 weeks. If you decide not to continue with your blog you will also most definitely be missed. I hope you continue writing here but will also understand if you choose not to. Sending well wishes your way.
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Meant to say weeble not weekend
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I’m glad you were able to get an accurate diagnosis and that physical therapy was helpful. I hope you’re feeling better and will continue to improve.
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Thank you. PT is helping. I am getting stronger each week – and the pain is getting less and less. I think I can see a time when I have no pain.
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I wondered where you were but I just thought you were out gallivanting! So sorry you have been wobbling but I am glad to hear you are on the mend. Think of you every day and say a prayer.❤️🙏❤️🙏
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Thanks for the prayers
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I did miss you. And I am glad you know the cause of your issues. The older we get, the more time it takes to maintain our health – it seems. I will add you to my daily prayers. As far as the blog goes, is it all or nothing? Can you come up with a compromise or take a short sabbatical and then decide? Whatever you decide, I do wish the best for you.
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Thanks for the prayers.
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Thanks for the prayers. I think I will try to continue but maybe do less posts.
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I have missed you!! In fact I had just thought about reaching out by email the other day. Prayers for your continued improvement!
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Thanks!
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Hoping for your great success now that you are getting help. Hugs
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Thanks!
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I’m happy to see you again, Barb! And I must say, all things considered, and all the hassle (and losing your recliner–darn! and having to wear shoes all the time–that can be gotten used to, right?) it doesn’t sound too bad. I was fearing something way worse, like the return of your cancer or something. I’m relieved the solution is manageable! God bless you!
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And I am feeling better all the time. Getting those muscles strong so my spine stays in alignment. And yes, compared to cancer, this is much much better.
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You are essentially getting stronger and healthier as a result of this “setback.” Talk about God bringing good out of bad. 🙂
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YES! You are so right. Today at PT they told me my ROM in my arms which were terrible are very good and my hips which were so weak are much stronger. I have two more week of PT where they are teaching me more and more moves to get strong. After that it’s up to me. If I do these exercises faithfully 3-4 times a week they say I should be fine. Today was a day with NO pain. God is good.
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Wonderful! And having strong hips is particularly helpful! Great job, Barb! Keep it up! Tell us about it on your blog so we can help keep you accountable when those exercises become a drag. 😉
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I am so sorry you’ve been sidelined by pain! I also have scoliosis of the spine, have experienced bouts of sciatica, and received the same instructions from my PT: keep up with the exercises! That was in 1996. The one time I let them slide (we were on vacation) I ended up in urgent care with horrific back pain. As long as I’m faithful, though, to do the prescribed exercises, my back behaves itself and I can get on with life, almost without restriction. The benefits are worth the nuisance! (I listen to Christian podcasts while I work out–helps the time to pass quickly and feeds my spirit at the same time!)
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Your comments that the exercises do work is an encouragement. I finished PT last Friday. The evaluation comparing what I was able to do when I first came in two months ago and what I can do now were great! I’m a little nervous that not having any more PT my back will get bad again, but they assured me that if I will be faithful in exercises, I will be fine. Thanks for the encouraging words.
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Congratulations for achieving such improvement! I’ll think of you, Barb, as I do the crunches, bird dogs, leg lifts, wall slides, etc!
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🙂
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