The Whole Scooter Truth

I have had a few people ask me why I am using a scooter in the Seaworld Pictures. Well, anyone who has known me for a while knows how active and athletic I like to be. In Jr. High and High School I competed in Track, Volleyball, Gymnastic, Swimming and Diving. Competing in gymnastics was my favorite and also what I did best. But a funny thing happens to your joints, especially if you don't keep those muscles toned and firm. The abuse of years starts to wear on them and they give out a lot sooner than they normally would. I noticed it the first time in the spring of 1997. I woke up from a deep sleep and stretched my right leg. When I did an excruciating pain shot through my hip. I yelled so loud it woke Darryl up. There was a loud pop, and everything was fine. Later that year, while visiting Barbara Meddles and sitting on her very soft couch, I felt the shifting and the pain again. This time I tried to stand and nearly fell over. It soon popped back into place and all was well once again.

Over the next few years it had gradually become worse until the fated day in 2003 0r 2004 when I was walking and it popped out and I fell like a ton of bricks. The concerned looks of my family quickly gave way to laughter because I was okay, but it sure looked funny. The big entertainment over the years has become "See if you can get mom's hip going out on video" because they all think that hilarious! In 2007 I found a chiropractor who could adjust my hips so I had no pain. I would see him about once a month and all was well.

In order to save money and try to pay off my Chiropractor's bill (and because I was feeling so good), I stopped going to see him last August. By October I noticed my hip would 'pop' in and at quite regularly. I had to be very careful how I stepped, or what I sat on, or how I turned because the wrong movement would make it go out and cause me great pain. Usually Cody could get it to go back in, but by February he couldn't move it anymore. In March Darryl and Cody went to Romania and I was alone. The pain was so bad that when I got into a vehicle I couldn't lift up my leg and would have to reach out and grab it with my hand and lift it into the car. I tried to ignore the pain as much as I could but it was almost constant now. And several times a day I would fall, or nearly fall from the pain of walking. My life was changing and I was becoming handicapped.

I think that when Darryl and Cody arrived in Georgia they were surprised at how bad it was. I limped the whole week I was in Indiana for Erin's wedding. I realized that when I walked I no longer swayed my hips because they wouldn't move, but rocked side to side like a penguin. The night of Erins wedding I cried myself to sleep because when I danced it was so painful I could only do the smallest of movements.

A couple of weeks later our trip to the Georgia Aquarium was the real eye opener for everyone. After falling into people and being in so much pain from 1 hour on my feet we knew something had to change. Darryl was talking surgery, I decided to go back to a chiropractor. My visit to the Chiropractor was very revealing. The x-rays showed the signs of deterioration in my right hip and how badly out of place it was. But the real surprise was how much my SI joint had moved (tilted 17 mm out of place) and that it was locked up, which was the real cause of all the problems. I went for my first two visits and noticed a big relief from the constant pain. It was the first time in months I didn't wake up when I tried to roll over.

On his Saturday Garage Sale ritual that weekend Darryl found scooter for $50. We had planned our trip to Seaworld and he wanted me to be able to enjoy it. After 4 visits to the Chiro. I noticed that my hips were swaying again. And after a month of treatments I was excited to go to Stone Mountain and be able to walk all over and not have a problem. (We walked a couple of miles that day). I know that this will be something I will have to constantly take care of the rest of my life if I don't want to have surgery. It has caused me to make a few lifestyle changes. Little things like: 1. I don't sit with my legs crossed at the knees anymore. (This is bad for you anyway).

2. I will see a Chiro. regularly from now on.

3. I cannot sit on overstuffed supersoft furniture.

4. In order to avoid hurting, I wear good shoes whether they match the outfit or not.

(Except on Sundays when I wear my heels, which actually don't hurt my hip at all, only flat shoes.)

So for those who asked, (and those who were so shy to ask) that is the reason for the scooter. I don't need it right now, and I hope I will never need it again. But I thank the Lord for my Sweet Husband who was thinking of me and my comfort.