June 27, 2014
I can’t say that I’ve written much about my problematic legs – but over-the-course of-the-past-3-or-so- years (ever since I attempted to break up a fight in the juvi prison I used to teach at) my mobility in my legs has been diminishing: to the point that I can no longer stand up on a surfboard or even straddle my knee board.
Was it the old gymnastics injuries? Was it bad shoe wear (years of wooden clogs)?? Was it the mattress Giti got for us some 3-and-a-half-years ago (I think this had something to do with it)? Was it old age and creeping arthritis (definitely some of this!)?? Do I need hip replacement (not just yet)? Are there bone spurs in my feet which compromise any-and-all foot footwear (most definitely)?
God knows – I’ve had diagnoses from weak glutei maximi; sciatica; spinal stenosis; arthritis; kaput hips; gout; bone spurs and even thyroid problems. The enduring diagnosis, however, which seems to be born out on all of my x-rays is: arthritis and bone spurs; and, no matter what supplements I take and the stretches I perform – I can’t seem to improve my leg mobility and flexibility.
Enter June – no, not the month – but a brutal Thai masseuse who takes no prisoners; and, whose mottos are: It’s got to hurt if it’s going to help AND No pain no gain.
I elected to give June a try after an orthopedic surgeon twisted me up a bit and I discovered that my flexibility improved as a consequence. This, in turn, reminded me of an ortho-bionomist who treated me in the 90s and kept me moving very well. She, too, could twist me up – but she was a big strong woman: June is 5’2” – perhaps 5’3” tops. I doubted that June could apply the necessary and sufficient amount of force to kick start my flexibility.
Was I ever wrong!
June can toss me around like a doll (not a ‘rag’ yet) and inflict pain that the Marquis de Sade would be proud of. In a normal massage, I am “in heaven” from start to finish. Not so with June; as my body and mind screamed for her to stop…for the pain to be over…but like I have just stated, June says: “I’ve got to hurt you to help you.”
But after the tortuous experience – I moved better than I probably have in 3-or-so-years – though the following 2 days were a bit frightening as I experienced deep tissue pain (as a result of the bruising experience with June). Yet my new found mobility and flexibility persisted…so I’ll definitely keep my next appointment with the Marquis de June.
Which brought me round to remember that none-of-us is an island: we all need others to get through this gig we call Life. I thought that doing my own maintenance stretches would keep me in physical tune indefinitely; but throw in some new physical trauma on top of old scars, and a dash of age and arthritis (not to mention sleeping on a mattress not suited for my body); and I seemed to be headed for a wheelchair.
Thank god for June and this critical reminder that sometimes we need others to help us stay on an even keel – even if the truth they deliver — hurts us…