Doc, can you check me out?

          I get checked out a lot by men — even those that hold a stethoscope. Hear my heart beat, doc.

Thump. Thump. Thu-thump. My heart skips a beat.

I enlisted in the help of a chiropractor who also does physical therapy to alleviate my IT-Band syndrome. I met him after a race in March. I was so impressed that he knew my problem without me giving him much information. I was sold on going to him when he did Active Release Technique on my IT-Band. Wow! It was amazing! I really felt a difference. I told him I’ll definitely pay him a visit.

I kept my promise. I went to see him last week and he remembered me. Who can forget this face? He remembers me as the “laughing runner”. Who can forget this laugh? I’ve never had so much fun at an appointment before! What I love about him is that he actually has a personality (a rare trait of doctors)! I felt like I was talking with a friend. We immediately established rapport. I was very open with him. I admitted my running/exercise addiction, which is something I do not tell doctors because I know they are going to curse at me with the “r” word: rest. Since I trusted him, I felt comfortable enough to tell him. I was ready to hear it. I needed to hear it from someone who has been there and someone who will punish me if I don’t follow the treatment plan. He advised —no— ordered me not to run this weekend. 

I ran a 5K that Sunday. I placed first in my age group. The only reason I did that race was because it was in my neighborhood. I couldn’t resist running with my fellow hood rats. He doesn’t know that I relapsed.

      He said I should take two days off a week. “Off” meaning…

      “Doing nothing!?” I whined.

“Yup! Absolutely nothing!” 

He had to be joking. My back cracked up when he said that.

     He worked on my quads, IT-Band, and my lower back and showed me some stretches to do at home. I had to bend down in front of him three times. (You know what that looks like.) He put an electrode stimulator (massage) on my lower back (lumbar…oh yeah) and on my butt cheeks! He pulled my shorts up and shoved two massage pads on my butt! I did not expect that. My eyes were O_O Good thing I was face down. 

I got a butt massage for 12 minutes. It relieved the abuse from all that spanking.

The doc and I cracked jokes (in addition to the snap, crackle, and pop of my back). I can see myself going out for a drink with him. I never thought I would say that about any doctor. He’s just that cool! I know there is a boundary. I struggle with this same issue as well when I counsel hot students. It’s not fair! 

He’s married with a kid though. That doesn’t mean anything these days. It’s just hot when he touches me. I love physical therapy! I compare it to sex. No wonder it’s called “physical”.

“This is going to be fun,” he said.

I grin and nod.

 “Three times a week,” he said.

“Do these stretches three times a week?” I asked, holding my stretching homework sheet.

“No. I want to see you three times a week,” he smiled.

Is this a date?

Keepin’ it real,
   Realist