Feb19

the miracle worker.

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dealing with a bad sciatic nerve episode

over a few days

i tried waiting it out

only getting worse instead of better

to the point where it affected my leg

shooting pains

hard to even sit down

 a knee refusing to bend

after trying many strategies to solve this

 all to no avail

i sought out an expert

a therapeutic massage and body work practitioner

did a lot of reading

found just who i needed

a strong eastern european therapist

with a small practice

close to home

personalized for each client

luckily she had a spot for me

when i arrived we talked for a while

she explained

what she could offer

how she worked with olympic swimmers

and others whose lifestyles or vocations or circumstances

led them to have body pains and challenges

how the body is all connected

one thing impacts the others

it would not be easy

but i would find relief

me explaining

my medical history

current issues

goals for the visit

she assessed

how i

walked, moved, sat, stood

 then we began

in a quiet and warm room

 calming music and dimmed lighting

i had booked an hour and a half visit

knowing that i needed a lot of work

like nothing i’ve ever experienced

she was very physically strong

moving and realigning my body

in ways that i didn’t know it was possible to do

some of it hurt, as expected

she told me to tell her if it felt like too much

but i really wanted relief

so knew i had to try to endure it

i fell into a kind of relaxed state

lost all sense of time

in spite of the intensity

when it was all over

she mentioned a few things:

she had gone a little over our planned appointment

it had actually taken 2 1/2 hours

my body was so resistant

that i fought her much of the time

why she had to take water breaks

 i had even inched up off the table

trying to escape?

survival instinct?

i asked if it was like wrestling with a bear

she laughed

covered me with hot towels to relax my muscles

i’m quite sure she must have been exhausted

told me all of the places that she could tell were tense

including my feet

 not even mentioned in our conversation

also clear that i drink a lot of coffee

 i now should feel better

when i stepped off the table

it was like a miracle

i was no longer hobbled

i could bend my knee

put weight on both legs

 move without pain

 all pain was gone

we had a conversation after

where she told me

the best ways for my body

to sit, stand, walk, run, eat

to keep it healthy and strong

told me to drink water after this long session

no extra charge

for the hard work, extra time, or helpful conversations

she had me stand again

 i thanked her profusely

for taking my pain

changing how i treat my body moving ahead

i almost cried

maybe i’ll even become an olympic swimmer.

——

“massage is the study of anatomy in braille.”

– jack meagher

 

 

 

—

photo credit : catster

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110 responses »

  8. Aaawh, ppl like her are worth their weight in gold! I’ve suffered several times in my life like this and didn’t have that invaluable help. Starting reading I thought you were talking about the kneading cats‘ paws and how they massage whatever they fancy! What a great tale and I totally agree with Jack Meagher‘s fine quote. What a great feeling to feel fine again…. (Fine choice of words too, don‘t you agree?)

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  12. I loved your description of trying to escape the massage. Glad she kept you captive.

    Again and again I am amazed how we have to be reminded about our bodies connections as if we see them all as separate. I’ve an acquaintance with MS and just doing deep breathing exercises twice a day is relieving the pains and some of the symptoms.

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  13. How wonderful! So glad you are no longer in pain. 🙏🏻 The body wants to find its way to balance, it’s up to us to support it.. and use the resources available to us. Make it a regular practice and you should not have full blown sciatica ever again! 😎

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  28. Wow! Truly a miracle worker! So glad you found her to ease your pain and taught you how to prevent a reoccurrence. That’s the key right there…most just do the session with no preventative education.

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  32. This is an amazing story. I agree, everything is connected – physically and mentally. I am so glad you had such profound help to make it past the pain. I have been dealing with an offended sciatica for about 10 months. For 7 months I know that the cause is a herniated disc. It takes a lot discipline and patience. So, I understand you so well, when you were painfree. I am not completely painfree yet, but the fist time I was, I too cried from gratitude.

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  35. I’m happy for you. My wife has tried everything for her sciatica pain. It comes and goes without logic, often moving along the nerve from place to place from one day to the next. She’s tried massage with some relief.

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  37. It’s always so nice when you can find somebody like that who genuinely knows what they’re doing. I’ve given up on chiropractors and acupuncture after too many ups and downs. I get better results with an inversion table. :) 

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  42. A good massage therapist is worth their weight in gold. I swear by them and chiropractors, If you can find the good one out of so many to choose from. Go regularly and you will never have another day like that. I have gone in sitting in a wheelchair and walked out. Dr said I would be in bed 6 weeks. Ha! Wish she was closer. Glad you are doing better.

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  46. Fantastic, Beth!

    I’m big on any natural approach/treatment that will avail our bodies’ needs.

    Yes, there is upkeep, or you will be back sooner than planned.

    Too many want a quick fix, and just turn to a pill, and I think that is part of the opioid problem.

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