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Remembering why I do what I do

        I had the most wonderful experience yesterday.  I have to preface this with two pieces of information - 1) I have had chronic sacral pain for almost 2 years, and 2) I teach a continuing education modality for massage therapists called SMRT.

        I have chronic sacral pain because I have osteoarthritis in the MP joints of my big toes and my gait is chronically off.  It started this time at the beginning of 2012, several months before I had the MP joint of my left big toe fused.  At times it is a 14 on the pain scale, any movement is excruciating.  Those of you who have chronic pain know you spend most moments of every day dealing with it in one way or another.

        While this pain has improved since the surgery, it is still constant.  Yesterday I went for a massage.  I found this fabulous girl at a spa, and she is totally open to learning new things and breaking up her day.  She lets me boss her around and she learns new stuff.  I asked her to my abdomen.  She was nervous, doesn't do that much.

        I coached her, step by step, in how to do the entire SMRT abdomen workup.  Every step of the way I could feel my sacrum letting go, but it was when we got to psoas that the final piece fell into place.  It isn't often that I get to feel the work that I teach so fully, and it always reminds me of how powerful and amazing it is.

        Last night I realized that I was moving naturally with no pain!  And I still have no pain today! I am extremely grateful to this amazing woman and to this amazing work. 

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Permalink Reply by Neal Lyons on February 25, 2014 at 5:41pm

I think the underlying message in your write up is more important. The profession we are in has magic to heal and relieve others of pain. There is a level of satisfaction and comfort in knowing that alone.

Permalink Reply by Dawn Lewis on February 25, 2014 at 8:02pm
I agree Neal. I am getting more work done now. Sometimes it is nice to be reminded of the magic of a great treatment.
Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on February 25, 2014 at 11:56pm
This is why I do what I do. This happened maybe two months ago. It's on the attachment.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on February 26, 2014 at 1:38am

Within our license. We can have a very High Art(that's based on science).

Gordon J. Wallis said:

This is why I do what I do. This happened maybe two months ago. It's on the attachment.
Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on February 26, 2014 at 1:53am

This one really makes me feel good.  And thats why Im excited to go to work, most of the time. 

Gordon J. Wallis said:

This is why I do what I do. This happened maybe two months ago. It's on the attachment.
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Permalink Reply by Dawn Lewis on February 26, 2014 at 6:09am
Those are both glowing reviews, Gordon. Glad you were able to help them.
Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on February 26, 2014 at 12:11pm

The pain industry is a $638 billion dollar a year industry.  Massage therapists should be able to handle a huge percentage of that.  After all, we are the only ones left in the health care industry that actually palpate.  Everyone else depends on cat scans, MRIs, Xrays, and high level blood tests.   And that obviously was not good enough for those two women in the above testimonials.   

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