-
You are
looking a lot better Maria. Really, a lot!
This is Michael
talking. Michael is my chiropractor here in Umeå. He started his practice
pretty much when I started my now 27-year career as a back patient. He is the
one who has, by far, treated me the most.
I am a tough case.
Usually, when I see a new practitioner they are all optimistic and positive,
convinced that they will be the one finding the core of my problem, fixing me.
At the 5th-6th treatment I am sitting there comforting
them though. Telling them that nobody in this whole wide world has been able to
help me. So, please don’t be sad. And then I smile and move on to someone else
for a while, to give the poor person some space. Careful not to let them know
what it feels like inside of me.
I don’t know how
many have been treating me over the years. In Seattle, at least six different
people, my dear friend Randi being the most patient and loving of them all. In
Umeå I would say 15-20 chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, massage
therapists, acupuncturist and naturopaths. And then one in Northern Ireland.
And I am sure somewhere else. And it’s been hundreds and hundreds of thousands
kronor out of my wallet.
- You really do
look a lot better.
Michael was on
call around New Years. I hadn’t seen him for about four years, letting him rest.
But here we were again, like so many times before, only: I was worse than ever.
Michael is looking
at me with new eyes though, not intimidated or depressed about my sad
condition. He has studied, now working with a different technique then he used
to. And he tells me that he thinks my main problems are at the bottom of my
pelvis and in my neck. And that everything in between is secondary to that. And
in good spirits he takes on the assignment helping me out.
I have seen
Michael pretty much two times a week since January. A month later I got his
first “Maria, you are looking better”. In March he told me about his measuring
points, which told him I wasn’t as twisted as when I first came in. I didn’t
feel that much difference myself, but clinging hopefully to Michaels
testimonials, “Trust me Maria, you are getting better.”
I have never
before experienced the power in someone believing in me. I showed up in
Michael’s office many times lost in discourage and pain, frustrated about my
condition and situation, feeling like I did no progress at all. And I left with
his words ringing in my ears:
-
I have to
say, this looks fantastic.
At the very end of
May, the day for the funeral of my dear uncle Lennart, I found myself
forgetting my back support at the house, being up and about for a whole day
without it! This was the first sign of a turning point. It took my brain and
body that long to understand what Michael had been saying for 3-4 months: that
I was doing a lot better.
Since then I have
been more stable and I am slowly getting stronger. I have been able starting
working out with my upper body and can now do 4,5 kilo (about 10 pounds) with
my biceps and triceps (8 kilos = 17-18 pounds in my hay days)! I am so happy: I
never thought I would get my arms back again!! I still have to be very careful
about my lower back though, but hopefully, some day…
And I am driving!
Well, rephrasing: on a good day I am driving my summer car, the Le Baron which
doesn’t have a stick shift and is therefore more gentle on my pelvis. It also
has a power seat so that I can adjust the angles while driving, if necessary.
Also, I am only driving with a co driver, not ready to be alone in the car yet.
What is still
tricky is walking, since my pelvis is still unstable and often a bit twisted. I
am not doing more than 400 meter (0,25 mile) at a time, but 2, 3, or even 4
times a day, which makes me end up at a mile on a really good day, and that’s
pretty darn good!
And, in August, at
the time when most Swedes are returning to their desks at the office, I was
able to move my 9 months couch corner office down to it’s regular place at the
bottom floor! Oh the joy sitting up straight in my beautiful office with my
computer on my desk in front of me!! I can’t of course do 9-5, but 2-3 hours at
a time, and I just love it!
On May 5th
under the title You always have a choice. They say / Part 2, I was listing 77
more or less impossible dreams that I wanted to do. I am happy to announce that
9 of those dreams have this summer been achieved!
·
Go to a
concert (Sting!)
·
Drive (at least
semi driving)
·
Move around
without back support
·
Sit for hours
with my beloved neighbor Alida drinking tea and talking about life and death
·
Climb a
ladder (to get to The Treehouse / Kojan)
·
Stand up and
sit sown without the fear of being stabbed by a knife in the back
·
Change linen
in my bed
·
Cook (at least
semi cooking)
·
Have a shop
till you drop afternoon with a friend (although I dropped in about an hour, but
thank you Agneta and Agnes!)
Within reach are
Going to the movies and Going to a restaurant. And I am having my breakfasts at
the kitchen table or outside, and even doing a little bit of happy dancing on a
good day! Curios for the rest of the 77- item list? Look here of what to
expect: http://homeisawayawayishome.blogspot.se/2013/05/you-always-have-choice-they-saypart-2.html
It’s 9.30 PM and
it’s already dark outside. The day was beautiful. 70°F, perfectly blue sky and
a light breeze. I didn’t make it to the beach this summer (one of the dreams),
but I’ve spent many afternoons on my sun-bed on the grass behind the bakers’
cottage, and that’s good enough. Today might have been the last one. Late
August is usually early fall here on the 64th latitude, and so
having a tanning day August 25 is rare and wonderful, a late summer memory to
cherish when temperatures are dropping.
-
You are
looking a lot better Maria. You really do.
Yes, I am
beginning to believe that I do. And I can feel it too. It’s a bit magical that
it might be Michael, who has seen me for 27 years, possibly finding the roots
for my dysfunctional body. I feel like I have been moving in a big circle. And
I think Michael is as happy as I am about that circle.
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