Realization

   Just to let you know, today is day 4, yes yes that reads 4, that I have been off the narcotic pain meds (mine was Norco) and day 2 that I have been off all narcotics (I was taking a muscle relaxer). SO, I am only taking Tylenol. Hell yeah!! Just an exciting tid bit of info. Anyways....
   I last left off telling you about how my back got to its "breaking" point. I was still in Austin when it was happening, and my schedule I had created for myself was not one for someone with a very hurt back. I would work at the gym all morning and afternoon, workout, then teach dance classes til nighttime. So I talked to all the owners of the dance studios I was teaching for and told them what was happening. I felt horrible because the teaching dance part was one of my favorites, but I had to stop it to help myself. I went to only working at the gym and was able to give my body a tiny bit of relief. It was nice to get off work and be able to lay down, something which was unheard of to me. I guess I am one of those "go go" people. I don't particularly like to sit around and do nothing.
   While this was going on, I was trying to figure out (well me and my parents, who are the absolute best)what to do. I went and saw a chiropractor, and that just didn't work for me. I then searched all over Austin, and found a very good orthopedic doctor. This doctor was so hard to get an appointment with that I had to see one of his physical medicine doctors first so I could be referred to him. When I went to have my xrays done at his office for the first time, the xray tech said to me, you don't even look like you have scoliosis. Haha, that's because of my lovely dance- can't be crooked looking while dancing. But once she ran the xrays she said, goodness gracious, you certainly have it! DUH
   The physical medicine doctor was the first person to tell me my spine had started to twist. This scared the crap out of me. When I was little, my pediatric doctor (who I still think is the #1 doctor in the world)told me that when my spine's curvature got to 60degrees and it started to twist, surgery for me was no longer optional. The physical medicine doctor measured my curves to be in the mid 60s. I sat there and it hit me, I had to do this for myself. Did I have any idea how hard it was going to be? NO WAY. Does anyone? Hell no. But have millions of people pushed through it to where their lives no longer are impacted by what their back can and can't do? YES. And that's what I decided I had to do. 
   I had my time being a professional dancer. I got to pursue a dream young girls think is mythical. I got to be on stage when you no longer have to think about the movements you are making, and you really just get to dance. I got to bow and no I had just killed it. I did what I had worked my entire life to do, even though it was short, I did it. 
   That day, in that office, I realized, now is the time I have to step back, and let science take over and do what it needs to do so I can live the rest of my life without pain. I could say it was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, but to be honest, the decision had been made for me the day I said, "I am going to go out there and be a dancer." When I made that decision, I also made the decision that I would do this for myself when that time came. And so April 7th, 2011 the time came. 
 More to come on the good stuff!!