11.17.16 Traction OR 2 Octopi

Luba looked over my knee after she unsnapped my pants once I was on the table.  She furrowed her brow and put on the “thinking face” that I’ve seen at Barwis so many times. She looked at me and kind of asked, “Traction?”  I shrugged a little and told her whatever she thought.  She looked at my knee longer and then nodded and got off the table to get the “seat belts.”

I call them “seat belts” because that is exactly how the look.  Beige seat belts.  I think she had two of them.  Seeing them immediately reminded me of the first time I saw Parker, the first time I went to Whittker Therapy. My first naturopath referred me to him to help with my spasticity.  My legs were SO tonic then that while he worked on one leg, he strapped my other leg down.

Luba fastened one end around my ankle and I assume she attached the other end to something under the table.  Then I felt the seat belt pull and it felt REALLY GOOD on my knee.  I was in traction for a while and Luba rubbed my knee out the rest of my time before she set me up with ice and stim.  Luba told me that when my stim. was up, she would tape me again.  I really liked the thought of that!

I wouldn’t be at physical therapy on Monday because I had my MRI appointment scheduled so I looked forward to having tape on my knee again and would wear it all weekend!  Luba taped my knee up as I laid back feeling relaxed after the traction, rub, ice, and stim.  It wasn’t until I changed at home that I saw that this time, I had two octopi.  They started high up on my quad and cross-crossed over my IT band to my mid calf.  I really admired Luba’s handiwork!  She hoped it would help with the swelling.  I do too!