First, to answer some of your questions, no, there wasn't any grand event that landed me in a hospital bed with five, three inch screws in my vertebrae. What began at birth with a small curve in my spine was exacerbated by year's of the usual wear and tear of an active girl. I lived a "semi" normal life, playing sports, jumping out of airplanes, surfing, climbing mountains, and roller skating. What? This is totally normal for California. My point is I didn’t take “the road less traveled” in fear that back surgery would be in the my future. I mean who does that anyways? We don’t seize our days like that, waiting for something to break in our bodies. Truth be told, if it wasn't for my tenacity coupled with my love of health and fitness, things could have been much worse. The reality is anything can happen to any of us, at anytime. No one is exempt. Our bodies are precious and powerful, and yes, undoubtedly resilient. Unfortunately sometimes we take for granted this gift we were given, we ignore the signs or go into denial that something could be seriously wrong.
I wasn’t in denial, rather, I was determined to find a solution through conservative therapy, like acupuncture, chiropractors, massage, to name a few. I fought for years before I reached my breaking point. I wasn’t worth it anymore and that’s when I asked myself this question, “What is my quality of life?” Wow, it had got to that? My answer was sad, but very honest. For the past six years I was consumed 24/7 in pain. It depended on the day, the weather, how I slept, etc. It was different degrees of discomfort as the years passed, but it was always present and at the forefront of my thoughts. It’s frightening when your body you rely on to help represent part of your strength and power begins to fail. The time sucking planning of where to sit at a movie, dinner, or on a plane, the constant pondering about how will I stand on my feet for a couple hours at an event, or where can I put my leg so it’s extended rather than bent, and driving, forget it. OMG, it was exhausting. Enter big white flag. I surrender! As terrified as I was to be sliced into, I was equally as excited at the thought of having any kind of relief. Sometimes it takes strength and courage to recognize when it’s time give in. Don’t misunderstand, I didn’t give up, there’s a huge difference. I made a choice to not be in pain anymore. Fortunately for me, and some spectacular news for you as members of the Megaformer club, I was very prepared physically. I pre-habbed, if you will, and continued doing my workouts, taking classes and training myself on the Mega. I had set myself up for success. Despite the obvious issues, ironically I was in the best shape of my life, strong and toned and internally healthy. All my doctors agreed that I was a perfect candidate because of my commitment to my fitness, and overall wellness, including that I eat like a champ. Mentally was a whole other preparation too and that’s another blog.
After it was over, I’ll never forget my doctor coming in my hospital room, pleased with his work I imagined, grinning, and he says, “you did great, you’re amazing, you have the abs of a 18 year old ”. I laughed, but at the same time I was thinking to myself, “yeah, that’s right, I’m a bad ass”. But he meant it, he had his hands on my abs, like he had to “move stuff around” (not to be gross) true fact, needless to say, I felt proud.
I was walking just 7 days after the procedure, that was all I could do for the first 8 weeks. When I was cleared for PT in July, my physical therapist worked on my incisions doing soft tissue. He started me in his office just doing very minimal leg extensions, bridges and a modified plank on elbows and knees, all of this was on the massage table. When was I going to use some of the equipment in the office I wondered? This is a prominent sports and spine center, pro athletes rehab here, what about me? “Be, patient”, he kept telling me. I had imagined using cables and weight machines, lunging across the gym and I would invasion myself back at The Studio taking class. But none of that was happening. I was getting antsy so, one day at home doing my prescribed floor exercises, I got out my skateboard, (I know, a day in the life) I did my own version of our Lagree exercise Bear. I videoed it and showed the PT. He was taken aback, happy for me, impressed, and at the same time thought I was insane, in a good way. That’s when I showed him some video clips of the Mega and what I teach. I needed him to see for himself because I wanted permission to start taking classes. I was bursting to go try, to see what my new bionic back could do. My first day back I modified everything, extra springs for support, lying on my side, only worked off the front of the machine, #modifiedbeardontcare, it was a great triumph, I felt incredible, all smiles. Little by little every exercise got easier, and you all know what I mean when I say easier, I mean, DO-ABLE. It never gets easier, I was getting stronger. My PT never had me touch one piece of equipment in his office, he said I was already doing all the rehab, all of the strengthening my spine, hips and core needed. His work was done. Cue fireworks.
