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
