Where Oh Where Is Anne?

Five painfully-long years ago my physically-active, vivacious self was turned upside down and inside out. In early 2010 I suffered a misdiagnosed, debilitating gym injury. In a period of two months, my mobility declined rapidly as I packed up to leave New York. Religiously doing my physical therapy, I was not improving and but also unable to invest further in finding a new doctor until I was resettled.

Convinced that I was doing better, I found myself in Philadelphia and taking my first walk without a cane in April 2011. Six blocks from my apartment, I tripped over an elevated manhole cover in the street, literally careening into a concrete curb the first week I had my new Aetna insurance policy.

Afraid of somehow losing my insurance, even though Obamacare was in effect, I refused to go to the doctor, even though two individual parties observing my fall called 911. Bruised and battered, I iced my purple face back to normal, promising to go to the emergency ward if I had an ounce of dizziness.

Feminine Wisdom From Elle Gayda

In July 2011, my good friend Ellen Gayda noticed during a massage that my pubic bone was dislocated, causing the most searing part of my pain. I guess it’s no surprise that a male sports therapist was treating the wrong body part. Ellen’s snapping me into place ended the most excruciating aspect of my mobility problem. Agreeing that I must get medical treatment in Philadelphia, I began weekly treatments with a new doctor to restore my alignment and mobility.

During this period, the scar tissue took hold in major muscles around my right hip. My doctor explained retroactively that I probably should have had a procedure called MUA (manipulation under anesthesia) which he did not perform. The procedure is as it sounds; a medical professional rips the scar tissue one or more times until the muscle and ligaments are free to heal properly.

Iman Olujimi To My Rescue

By fall 2012, the scar tissue and muscle atrophy on my right side was a very serious problem, and I worried that I might never recover. It was time for an intervention, and she came in the form of my dear friend Iman Olujimi, who gives stunningly effective Thai massages.

Iman and I embarked on a uniquely intimate relationship in which she spent one night a week with me for about three hours. ‘Just do it,’ I told her, ‘even if the tears are running down my cheeks. If I can’t take it any more, I’ll tell you.’

It was Iman who month by month broke down the scar tissue in my pelvis and right hip muscles and ligaments, working lovingly and diligently with me even when the pain demanded that we both stop for a deep breath. Between Iman’s consistent efforts and my being back in a world class gym, I was nearly pain free and walking beautifully by July 2014.

Together Iman and I accomplished what my doctor couldn’t, and he said so, advising me candidly that I might have to accept a 95% recovery.

Death, Recovery and New Decline in 2014

2014 was a very difficult year for me, one that began with the death of my best friend and business partner, who left our affairs in quite a state of disarray. Each day became a disaster and few worse than the day I learned that my GlamTribale.com website url was not set on auto-renew, a policy that I always had in place for critical urls. In a heartbeat, my online jewelry and gift business was no where to be found. The price to buy back the $10 url? $2000.

Prepared to start over in a new environment, I left Philadelphia in August 2015, visualizing a bunch of balloons being released into the sky as a close friend advised me to do. Saying goodbye to the adversity that plagued me in 2014, I was stunned to learn that the universe had one more zinger in store for me. It came in the form of very serious second-degree burns on my right foot and four months of swelling so bad that I couldn’t wear but a single pair of shoes. The doctor was worried that I would get an infection, and despite seeing her every other day for three weeks, she was right.

I’ve agreed not to discuss the details of my burn. Mired in depression over all the events of 2014, I hobbled around my new apartment as my recently recovered strength, posture and mobility declined all over again.

My world class gym in Philadelphia was no longer available, but in January 2015, I began stretching exercises, leg lifts, standing tall against the wall and a host of other exercises to improve my strength and body alignment. A consistent but minimal amount of progress was apparent, but not enough to get me moving normally and without the pain that caused me many sleepless nights.

Anne Embraces Whole Body Vibration

One night in February 2015, the universe decided to smile on me again, pointing me in the direction of vibrating machines. Intrigued, I looked at the $6000 price tag and sighed ‘not in my budget’. On a hunch, I moved over to Amazon.com and searched for vibrating machines.

Within days the $250 Confidence Fitness Vibration Plate Power Plus machine was delivered with free shipping, prepared to help me undo years of muscle atrophy, scar tissue and declining strength.With 971 customer reviews and 4.5* rating and 139 answered questions, this machine is the top-selling vibration machine on Amazon.

After five long years of pain, a loss of mobility and a growing concern that I might not recover my former self, my life suddenly turned a corner when I fully embraced the science behind whole body vibration.

Thrilled with the reality of my own incredible and rapid physical, psychological and emotional recovery, I’m committing myself – a non-credentialed, non-medical, non-authoritative voice on whole body vibration – to sharing with AOC readers all that I’ve learned in my own hands-on experience and extensive research on whole body vibration machines. ~ Anne

Health Warning

Please note that whole body vibration therapy is comparatively new and should be approached with caution. This week I will share the best of available research on vibration therapy. which is overwhelmingly positive. Understand, though, that even an entry-level machine like the Confidence Fitness Vibration Power Plate Plus machine has a wide range of motion controls. As well as I’m doing, I’ve already ‘overdone it’ and scaled back the intensity of my vibration workout.

Vibration therapy may be dangerous if the intensity of the vibrations is too high. This can cause lumbar injuries and severe back pain. You should not use vibration therapy without first consulting your physician if you have any of the following conditions:

* You are taking blood thinning medications.
* You have advanced diabetes.
* You have heart disease or use a pacemaker.
* You are pregnant.* You have existing joint problems.