This week has been a bad back week. After a great weekend of being nearly pain-free (except for that embarrassing incident that involved reaching for a pretty purse while shopping), I returned to work and found that by mid-week, I was waking up with pounding headaches that originated in my upper back. During my daily session of acupuncture with my doctor on Wednesday, he placed his hand on my back and in broken English said, "This side (left), smooth. Good. This side (right) rough. Bad. Today traction." What?!?
After my regular suction cup, needle, hot pad therapy, I wandered my way over to a large contraption accompanied by two nurses and the doctor. I sat down in a chair close to the machine, and one nurse gently placed my head into a mesh mask that was hanging from the machine, and Velcro-ed me in. I felt a little like Hannibal Lector at this point. Then she handed me the emergency release button and I knew I was in for an adventure.
After asking me how much I weigh so he could calibrate the machine, the doctor pushed the start button and he and one of the nurses walked away leaving my favorite nurse to watch over me. I felt the mesh mask start to slowly lift up until it reached a point that honestly scared me a bit. I can only assume this is designed to stretch out your spinal column and release any bad tension. Just as I was starting to panic, the machine stopped.
All of a sudden it quickly, but smoothly raised another centimeter. Then, I heard a pop and I began to feel an odd sensation of relief spread from my upper neck all the way to my temples. My eyes widened in surprise which was mis-read as panic by the nurse who promptly grabbed my hand and asked, "OK??" Any attempt at a vocal response was crushed as my jaw was vice griped together by the vertical pull I was experiencing. I tried to smile, but as all my facial flesh, fat and musculature was also experiencing an upheaval I have the feeling I more resembled a close-lipped Cabbage Patch doll. Note the picture at this point. White-paint-mesh-face-basket my addition :P Somehow though the nurse understood this pudgy faced attempt at communication, smiled back and the therapy continued. I feel like a million bucks today.
2 Comments
3/2/2011 09:46:02 am
you can find what you want to in here,make your life full of color ,it's a perfect website.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Recently Updated...03.25 - Two posts! About Me...Out and about in the world, teaching others and educating myself. Stuff I Like...Traveling. Cuddling a cat. New toothbrushes. Friends. Socks of the Joanne Younes variety. The smell of sun-dried laundry. Baking. Archives
March 2008
|