In this week”Pilates for Busy People Weekly Show” I talked to Lisa Hilton, a client of mine who has had a prolapse disc high up in her spine the effect was dramatic but Pilates has helped her after this injury.
Lisa’s story
This is what happened to Lisa “it was the beginning of last May. I woke up one morning, and I had pins and needles and numbness down one side. So, I ignored it for a little while thinking I slept funny or whatever. But it didn’t go away, and went to the doctors. After various tests, including an MRI, they discovered that I had a prolapsed disc, it was quite high up in my neck. So, it was pressing on my spinal cord, and it affected, you know, my whole body.
Lisa had to wait three months for the for the operation. And she described what happened “ in that three months, I went downhill quite quickly. And towards the end of things when you saw me just before the operation, I couldn’t walk very well. Couldn’t raise my hand. So, my husband had to wash my hair, and I couldn’t hold a knife and fork very well. You know, so it was quite catastrophic, really towards the end?
Lisa had surgery and the transformation was amazing, but she was definitely weaker one side. Lisa had physio for 6 weeks and about 3 months after the operation she was back at Pilates.
What made Lisa come back to Pilates after her Operation?
“I really think what was in my head at the time was core strength, I’d lost it all. It was a bit like having a baby. Because there I was, you know, not paralyzed,but you know, numb, basically all over really towards the end. I could notice it more in my stomach. I felt very, very heavy. It was like I was dragging 20 to 30 Stone around, you know, so I knew I had to strengthen my core. I was just very, very stiff especially n the top half. I just knew that it would it was the right thing for me do. I can’t exercise anymore. I can’t run?”
What changes have you noticed in your body since you started doing pilates?
“I’m not so wobbly. So overall strength, particular core strength is now coming back and I have strengthened my legs. But not only that, that sort of physical side. It’s that mental mindset that that changes a lot as well. I never I don’t stop thinking about pilates now. All the time throughout the day.
It’s like walking the dog, you know, walking along, and I’m holding my stomach. Yeah, in in the in the queue in the supermarket. I’m sort of, you know, trying to be in absolutely fab.
How has your balance improved?
“I call it balance. But it is not an inner ear thing. I don’t feel dizzy or anything like that. It’s just it’s like, I suppose because the pressure on the spinal cord, you know, was such it affects your whole body. And I just find it’s like a slight delay in moving my limbs. If you say for instance, do a lunge, you would say, put your right leg forward it., I’m thinking which is my right leg but then how do I get back up from that? It’s just, everything’s a bit more difficult for me now.”
How often do you do Pilates?
“I do a weekly class with you and I am walking the dog. Personally, for me the class during the week isn’t enough, you know, I need to do other stuff. And certainly, there’s a couple of your 10-minute Pilates videos that I absolutely love. You can find more about the 10 minute Pilates online membership HERE
I also love the Desk to Stretch that you have on your blog page. I do them in the morning. Actually I did it this morning. I just fell out of bed this morning and did it!”
I hope this week’s show has inspired you that even after a bad injury you can still get yourself back to being able to do the things you want to, all with determination and Pilates!
