I spent the most wonderful two weeks in Italy, celebrating my sister's 50th with her and her excellent friends in a Tuscan villa for one week, and then visiting Florence and Venice for another week because I was there anyway. When one finds oneself in the vicinity of beauty and history one does not question one's path. All roads lead to Rome. Well, no that's not quite right is it? Although all the roads that are straight in Italy probably do lead to the capital city, my path ran a little curvier (being a twisted sister) to encompass those two cities deserving of way more than a mere week. But we take what we are given and are thankful for it.
But I digress. Being on that side of the Atlantic I included a visit to my in-laws and an appointment with Scoliosis SOS for a reassessment of my back and body condition. I had finished my 4 week course in May 2013, and this was July of 2014 so it would be reasonable to expect a positive change n'est ce pas?
However,
I had fallen down the stairs in a previous episode about 6 months ago and contracted a nasty hip bursitis. My physio and doctor and pilates teacher all told me to be patient, do my exercises and slowly add in new challenges over the months.
Doctors in general have my deepest sympathy when dealing with grown adults suffering a fall or a hit or other similar accident. I really do. They know what they are doing. The exercises prescribed are no doubt the bee's knees of exercises for whatever condition they are presented with. But some patients (and I'm not going to name names here, a lot of the men in my life!) seem to question the diagnosis and prescribed plan of action, responding as if a plumber just returning from a long day clearing a stubborn clog in the pipes of the local high school had decided to practice what he had learned on TV and hazard a guess by looking at you and maybe poking you a bit with his monkeywrench. I would not be surprised if a few doctors take to the bottle when dealing with someone who argues over what they have vs. what they think they have, or over what they are told to do instead of what they actually do.
But I am not one of those patients. If I am told to do something or take something you can jolly well expect that I will do just that. Complete a series of contortions every morning upon rising? Done. Add a few minutes to the daily constitutional each week? Okey-dokey. Don't rush to the next level of exercise until the body is secure in the previous level? You betcha. But even the best patient in the world (and of course I won't exaggerate, but I really am the best!) starts to wonder if this thing is ever going to get better and what's it all about Alfie?
I approached the familiar door at Scoliosis SOS's site in London's still not charming Tower Hamlets will a little trepidation. Having had to exchange a lot of back exercises for a lot of hip exercises for the best part of the spring, would my back receive any positive news at all?
The answer I received was No. Well, not really. A bit actually. ????
Measurements indicated my lumbar curve had not changed one bit. This, I was told, should be no surprise as lumbar curves are the hardest to move and take a long, long time of hard work. My height had not changed, nor my weight (which was pretty awesome news actually after two weeks in Italy!).
However, there were a few minor shifts to the positive here and there. My lordosis had improved slightly. My waist came in a little bit on my convex side. My shoulder blades were a little more defined and the skin over them had softened slightly. Not exactly barn breakingly fabulous news but ok, I'll take it graciously. This was all to the good. But as soon as I told my physio du jour about my fall and Bursitis, he sucked in his breath and said "Ooo, that's a nasty injury. Better be patient with that one. It will probably take a year or so to heal. In that case you are really doing well!"
So back home I go, looking at another 6 months of work, hoping to get back to where I was just before I fell, if not better. I can now walk about 20 km during a day of sightseeing, as long as I include a few sit downs here and there. My next challenge is biking at the gym and swimming, only one at a time, and only for 10 minutes to start. Dancing is the last thing to add, unfortunately, as I miss it the most.
But good patients don't complain. We do what we are told and keep climbing. The meek will inherit the earth but the patients with patience will be able to rush ahead hold the door open for them.
