Why Is Abby Lee Miller Using a Wheelchair? Inside the Health Struggles of the Iconic ‘Dance Moms’ Choreographer

Pennsylvania native, dance mogul, and entrepreneur Abby Lee Miller shot to fame after following in her mother's footsteps from age 14. Miller landed the popular dance reality show "Dance Moms" on Lifetime in 2010, which gave birth to a few other replicas, such as "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition."

However, the former host of "Abby's Studio Rescue" hasn't graced the dance floor after a health condition ensued while she served her one-year and one-day sentence at a halfway house a month before being released in 2018. In April that year, Abby Lee Miller suffered severe pain in her neck and arms.

While health practitioners first concluded that her pain resulted from a spinal infection, Miller later received a cancer diagnosis, which left her to rely on a wheelchair for mobility. The choreographer, known for her strict approach to dance coaching, has since undergone several treatments and described her recovery journey as "rough".

How Did Abby Lee Miller End up in a Wheelchair?

Since the beginning of her cancer battle, Abby Lee Miller has used her social accounts to document and share her journey with her supporters. On April 13 this year, the anniversary of the onset of her health condition, Miller narrated the events of the day that led to her diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma.

According to Women's Health Mag, Burkitt lymphoma is the rarest form of lymphoma, accounting for about 1-2 percent of all known lymphomas. The disease is incredibly aggressive and frequently constitutes a medical emergency due to its "fast-growing" nature. It can be close to fatal if left untreated for weeks.

Per the American Cancer Society, Burkitt lymphoma begins forming in the abdomen, where it forms a tumor and proliferates. It can affect the kidneys, the ovaries, and facial bones and may spread to the central nervous system affecting the brain and spinal fluids.

In Miller's Instagram post, she explains how she felt "horrific pain" from the neck down and quickly rushed to the hospital as she immediately understood something was wrong. They took her for a sedated MRI, where her arms and legs flailed uncontrollably for several minutes.

As her blood pressure dropped dangerously low, the doctors performed an emergency back operation, where they discovered a tumor growing on her spine. Miller claimed that it took seeing ten doctors - whom she called out for their ignorance a year post-diagnosis - before her condition was taken seriously.

Thankfully the "Dance Moms" alum found a team that prioritized her recovery. Following her emergency spinal surgery in April 2018 was another in July, and Miller underwent ten cycles of chemotherapy, each lasting six days. Before her last round, she needed another back operation which ended successfully.

By May 2019, she was cancer free and hopeful for a future where she could do what she does best, which is to "create something magical out of nothing". However, the no-nonsense choreographer still needed assistance with her day-to-day routine and relied on a wheelchair for mobility.

Is Abby Lee Miller Still in a Wheelchair?

Entertainment Tonight invited Abby Lee Miller and the surgeon who was determined to save her life, Dr. Hooman Melamed. The pair opened up about Miller's battle with Burkitt lymphoma and her recovery journey, which left the dance reality show alum emotional and teary-eyed.

The day she underwent her first spinal surgery, Miller was sure her life had reached its end, even though she could still hear the medical practitioners present with her in the theater. However, Dr. Melamed maintained an optimistic and determined attitude and ensured that he wouldn't lose his patient on the table.

According to ET Online, Dr. Hooman recalled:

"I was like, 'You know what, not on my watch. It's not happening.'"

The surgeon remembered calling his wife that night, alerting her that he wouldn't be home as he planned to do "whatever it takes" to save Miller's life. Yet despite surviving her cancer battle with the help of her passionate doctor, Miller reflected on the instances she wished she wouldn't have during her recovery.

Per ET Online, the creative explained:

"This is weird, but there are days that I wish that I would've died. I know there's people out there fighting every day for their lives, yes, but it's been rough. It's not easy to live in a wheelchair. [...] It's very difficult to be handicapped [...]."

ET Online reported that Miller underwent two more procedures; one in September 2020 due to slipped vertebrae and severe compression of the nerves, and another where she needed additional screws in her pelvis, with bone cement placed on her vertebrae. However, she still experienced some pain.

Dr. Melamed acknowledged that having screws in the abdominal area can cause severe discomfort. However, he believed that Miller would be able to live a pain-free life once more, sharing his recommendation of months of physical therapy that would help Miller "get her life back".

In January 2020, Women's Health Mag reported that Miller had walked 86 steps since beginning physical therapy using an assistive device, demonstrating her dedication to walking on her own once more. That same month, she posted a video depicting her ability to turn around almost independently during one of her physio sessions.

The following year, in her shared interview with Entertainment Tonight, she revealed that she was able to take about 150 steps with rest breaks in between and continues to progress steadily in her mission to walk again.

Furthermore, she emotionally shared that good days were when she could bend over and put her pants on without assistance. Apart from dancing, Miller also disclosed that she was dabbling in other forms of creative expression behind the scenes.

These include a paranormal series for young adults and two reality tv shows; one about the experience following being released from prison and another dance show with teenage students only. The choreographer is determined to leave her wheelchair for good, and per Hollywood Life, she explained:

"I need me to coach me. I need an Abby Lee person to whip my butt into shape and make me the best I can be."

What Is Abby Lee Miller Doing Now?

Abby Lee Miller continues to chronicle the setbacks and milestones of her recovery actively on social media. Although she hasn't gone back to dancing yet, she continues to teach the art form in her studio. In August this year, she announced she was looking for new dancers for her Abby Lee Dance Studio studio.

The dance alum didn't reveal much, but she did disclose that she was filming something new, which, according to her caption, will include her "2022 Dance Moms Booty Camp". Miller also posted a YouTube video in which she cheekily expresses her desire to be part of the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills".

The former mentor of Mackenzie Ziegler was criticized for being harsher than usual in the last season of Dance Moms. Considering her persona on the show, Miller's supporters believe she would be an excellent fit for Andy Cohen's RHOB and would make it much more enjoyable.