The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling that everybody kutuk

When I was much younger (read: primary school), I was the ugly duckling amongst my schoolmates. Why? Because I look like Ugly Betty with my nerdy plastic-framed glasses and above all, I walk funny ... like a duck. When I walk, both my feet will point inwards. Those "friends" of mine would purposely call out my name and make me walk towards them, and then they snickered behind my back in front of me. Yes, kids can be cruel too!

At that stage, even my parents was puzzled as to why am I walking like that. At one point, they were even seriously contemplating to either send me for ballet or those model-catwalk classes they should have cause I may have become a model by now because at that time, they thought that it was my bad posture which caused me to walk like a duck.

It wasn't until much later in my college/university years that I found out the actual reason of me walking like that - I have bunion on both my feet. Bunion is the bone that protrudes out from the side of your big toe. It causes the toes to constrict together looking like a fan (yes I know .. very strange metaphor I'm using). Bunion will usually cause flat feet as well. Because of the bunion, when I walk it tends to point inwards - like flippers. Common sense la, since all the toes points inward like a fan. Also, I tend to trip on my own feet. Weird I know 0_o

I think my bunion is bigger than this

This disorder was caused genetically. We didn't see a doctor specifically to check out the condition, it was so-happened that I was at Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Centre (KLSMC) to check-up on my spinal cord (will come to that later) that the doctor pointed out to my condition. The bunion doesn't cause me any physical pain .. just that aesthetically it doesn't look too pretty and of course naturally I have a hard time looking for shoes/heels as the bunion tend to "be in the way".

Now you know how it looks like

According to Dr. Low Tze Choong (highly recommended!) who specialises in foot and ankle problems, he recommends that I go for a micro-surgery to correct the problem. Thereafter, I would need to wear this ugly special sandal for 6 months during the recovery. Of course being the wuss that I am on all things hospitals and surgeries, I have been delaying for years. Heh~



Dr. Lee Tze Choong

Back to why I was at KLSMC in the first place, aside from my duckling feet, I also hunch very bad. Yes, bad posture yada~ yada ~ I look sloppy yada~ yada~ ... I've heard it all. And at one point in time, I really did try to be cautious of my posture. Making sure that I stand and sit straight all the time. But everytime when I do that, my back tends to be quite sore (almost like a backache). I couldn't understand why that I find hunching relaxes my back. My parents couldn't either they thought I was talking cock.

Hunchback of Notre Dame

This all changed when one of those random days I followed my parents to the physiotherapist and she pointed out that my back is crooked. And I was like huh?! o_O. It didn't occur to me at all that I have a crooked back. And that is the cause of why I hunch so bad all these while. I promptly went for an X-Ray and voila~ I have Scoliosis. Scoliosis causes your spine to curve. This condition was also inborn and I have no idea why I so suey kena. 

And then it all fell into place, no wonder when I wear bra or spaghetti strap, the strap on my left always fall to my shoulders - it is because of the curve of the spine, which causes my shoulders to slouch to the left, which causes my left leg to be shorter than my right leg. This is also the reason why my right heels always wear off faster than my left!  

A normal straight back vs. the curve back

That was went we were recommended to see a chiropractor. I was a patient of Kiropraktis in Subang for a period of time until I've got too lazy to go under the charming and hensem Dr. Andre Abader who is a fair Muslim South African. Did I mention that he is cute? :)

He told me that the reason why I hunch is because my body is doing what is natural i.e. to support the curvature of my spine. There is no cure for Scoliosis unfortunately, however the damage can be controlled by visiting the chiropractor regularly and to wear the special insole (of which I also malas wanna wear already) which will help align your back. Nowadays, I have been reading the papers and apparently there is a special brace too to support your spine.

A female Scoliosis patient will have problem with pregnancy. Why? Because when you are carrying a baby, there is additional weight so it could cause backache. Also, it could be harder for us to deliver (read: more painful) as the pelvic bone is lopsided. Well, looks like I would need to contact my gynea when the time comes for me to conceive then. :) And I trust God that everything will be fine.

The cute Dr. Andre. This picture doesn't do him justice!

So now you know why am I the hunchbacked-duckling. Now that I have gained knowledge on my so-called "defects", I have learned to embrace my differences.

Love;

The-Not-So-Ugly-Duckling :)