Heidi Jo Scoliosis Lean

Ever since I gave birth to 9 lb 2 oz Clara, my back has been bothering me. Andy has always called me "the princess and the pea" when it came to beds....I think Goldilocks would have been a better reference, as I am much more apt to say "This bed is too hard...this bed is too soft...this one is just right :) We are currently on the second bed in the Goldilocks scenario...but I have been promised a King size "just right" this fall. Originally it was going to join our family when we moved from Fort Irwin, but I was nasty and pulled the "I'm not trying to squeeze all of us (whenever Lean Baby part 2 shows up) into one bed...because you know Clara will ninja her way in here half the time"....so by pulling the baby card from the deck, he agreed a new bed could be purchased.

Back to the point of the story, my back has been bothering me, and I kept thinking it was my pillow top bed that is now too soft. It's moved around, had two large people and a small person..okay and Ju-Ly spending quite a bit of time on there. Ever since I had Clara, I have had 5 different series of lower back muscle spasms (throwing my back out) that have completely immobilized me. I had gone to the clinic here and was given low dose muscle relaxants, and those helped a little, but didn't even completely take the edge off.

I finally went to a chiropractor. One of my favorite people in the world, Kelly Watson, just became a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Therefore, I did not even want to tell her I went. But, as it would have taken a week just to be seen to be referred to a PT...I figured I'd just avoid her. She lives in Florida, how hard can it be? I broke down and emailed her that night. ALSO, Mind you, Andy's father had a horrible experience with a chiropractor, and since he is Captain America to Andy, that means chiropractors do not do anything good. I am actually really sympathetic for my father in law, back pain is nothing to make fun of. But I WILL make fun of my husband, who flat out "doesn't believe in" a chiropractor. When I asked him, "Andy, how do you think they have stayed in business for so long?" I am not even joking, his reply was " Well, psychics have been in business a long time too Heidi".

So while my husband was trying to convince me the chiropractor was akin to a psychic, I made my appointment and made the uncomfortable hour drive to Barstow. The chiropractor was awesome, especially for getting me in the same day I called, and he also took x-rays for free since I was the spouse of an active duty soldier. While he is taking my x-rays he says, "Oh, you have a bit of scoliosis huh?" And I laugh and say "Oh ha ha ha, my back just hurts"...

In which he replies, "No seriously, you have scoliosis"

 My back is on the right.

 Or so I thought for the last 25 years.

 Nope, that is my back on the left! Crazy!

My right hip is also higher than the other hip... But this is not what was making my back hurt. Granted, there are quite a few things that could be worked on, some tension and pressure released here and there that would probably help my back NOT to have spasms. The chiropractor did a few adjustments and I left feeling better, but still with pain in my back. I came home and was excited to show Andy, proof that I wasn't just whining as he so dared to mention in the conversation that included physic chiropractors... He had the nerve to ask me "were you in the same room when he took these?" "um yes, Andrew, clearly you have never received an x-ray". But THEN he asked me if I was sure it was my back! "I mean, did you see him print the exact photo?"
Holy cow Andy.

He just could not believe that my back could look like that without him noticing. Since I don't walk around with my hands touching my toes, I doubt he would notice...and even when he made me bend over and touch my toes so he could feel my spine (super painful with muscle spasms going on by the way) He still was not convinced.

Now granted, I understand that my is not the same as the photo to the left, as mine is blown up to be focused on my lower back, but I still think that is a significant curve. Perhaps that it was it was so hard to have Clara? It took that kid forever to make it down to the right area...no wonder, that little adventurer was squeezing through maze!

He also did not think it was very funny when I said "Hey, look how skinny I look in my x-rays"

Side Note: I was born this way. (Gaga style). There is a chance that the curve become more pronounced during my huge growth spurt (like 4 inches)  in high school. But I do not need surgery. I scared Reba and Mo pretty bad when I send them the photo. Sorry girls :) If anything, I hope to get in to see a Physical Therapist to learn stretches and exercises that will help my particular back and keep it from getting too tight!