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Home / Thoughts / Sean's Thoughts / Body Changes

Body Changes

Written by Sean on Sunday, September 18, 2005

As I was bathing, I thought about the changes in my body in the last 15 or so years. I don’t have the benefit of a wonderful body, though I am blessed with a metabolism that lets me eat whatever I want, in any amount, and remain invariably at the same weight. That said, my body is not pristine.

In fact, for a good twelve years I’ve noticed I have a leg slightly shorter than the other. Not by much, but enough to make it trouble when hiking with a hefty pack on my back. The hips would get painful. This was something an orthotist later commented on when I was having a back brace made. He said something to the effect that I should get a build up sole, as it would help with hip pains when I walked a lot. Hmmm. Well, I don’t walk a lot, so that’s that, eh? :)

But recently, I happened to take a self photo of myself, just about naked. I was in my chair. Looking at the photo, even sitting as straight up as I could, I noticed that I have a shoulder higher than the other (as well as the nipple). So I stood and looked at myself in the mirror, and definitely saw my hips weren’t at the same height. So I put a small book under my foot, and my hips were even. But my back certainly wasn’t.

So, without the benefit of a doc’s examination, or x-rays, or something, I’m pretty sure my back’s not straight…

Ironic, considering that as a growing teen, I so desperately wanted scoliosis in order to wear a Milwaukee brace. Now, my back’s going, but bracing is not the preferred option in adults.

All this sitting in a wheelchair probably hasn’t helped my back. I can’t blame wheeling entirely though, as I noticed short leg/hip pains well before ever getting my own wheelchair.

Am I worried about it? Not really. Part of me thinks it’s kinda cool. “A step closer to a real para’s experience.”

Oh hummm.