Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Mr. Physical Therapist

Black and white chair

 

As Mr. Physical Therapist man-handled my wrist north, south, east and west I asked him, "Do you have any friends?

Knowing from experience that I throw out comments like darts he hesitatingly asked,"Why?"

"Well," I said between breathing out and grinding my teeth, "Usually, we met friends at work, and at this moment I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be your friend."

He laughed.

So I continued.

 

 

Fork and knife detail

 

"You know you might as well wear a black mask and carry a knife, it suits you."

He laughed again.

I was not laughing but trying my darnest to keep my humor as he pulled my thumb to the moon.

 

 

Spool-red-twine

 

I continued without shedding a tear though wanted to scream: "STOP!!!" Instead I said… "You know how we do things we love, and how that brings us joy?"

He stopped, and said, "What are you going to say now?"

I said, "If I don't say anything are you going to stop until I do?"

"No. But tell me anyway."

"Well you must love seeing people wringing with pain, and somehow must get off on torturing people."

He laughed again.

I told him his laughter wasn't helping.

He said, "The end result is what I focus on."

"Blah Blah Blah" is all I could muster.

 

Harpist music medal

 

In France it is not unusual for Doctors, Dentist, Hair-dressers, Therapist, etc. etc. not to have secretaires. Often in the middle of a session their phone will ring, and if they are very good, such as Mr. Physical Therapist, their phones will ring constantly.

 

My. Physical Therapist's ring tone is:

"Papa je t'aime comme un prince charmant" (in English… Papa I love you like a Prince Charming) with each ring it sings louder and louder.

Torture!

Prince Charmant my foot, or in this case my wrist.

 

 

 

Holding hands

 

Finally, at the end of the session I asked him… "Has anyone ever hauled off and hit you?"

He laughed again.

I told him his laughter wasn't making matters easier.

I asked him, "Have you ever broken a bone?"

he shook his head.

Trying not to cry I asked, "Do men come in here and cry?"

He smiled, "All the time, and you are one brave lady, your jokes tell me that you know how to deal with your emotions."

And with that I started to bawl.

 

 

Comments

26 responses to “Mr. Physical Therapist”

  1. Lisa Yates

    Oh Oh Oh I loved this. It made me cry…………it amazes me just how strong a woman is! I too have been in situations where a man has told me that I am very strong emotionally after what I was just put through. Very beautiful this story is!
    Blessings
    Lisa

    Reply
  2. Amy Kortuem

    Good for you, Corey. Give it right back to him.
    This reminds me of my relationship with my chiropractor. I only see him when I’m in the worst pain (after a weekend of harp playing…or basement cleaning…), and he puts me through such contortions with no sympathy. But I always feel better afterward. I think he knows this, and knows how tough I am.
    (He schedules me during the afternoon when he has no other clients because he knows I will yell when he’s busy cracking my spine…)

    Reply
  3. jend’isère

    Touché!

    Reply
  4. Bev

    He’ll never forget you….

    Reply
  5. Marilyn

    You are very brave for sure. I once had my dentist tell me I was very brave for not taking numbing shots to block the pain. I can’t keep my mouth shut here – I once had a physical therapist intern actually fracture my leg with physical therapy. I didn’t know it at the time, only that I yelled with pain. Later my doctor’s xray revealed the fracture. I won’t recommend a pt student for anyone.

    Reply
  6. Denise

    Perfect post Corey! You are a master blogger. Your photography, your imagination, your words and your sense of humour combine to create a masterpieces for the senses and for the soul.
    Merci mon amie.

    Reply
  7. Zosia

    Great dialogue! I’m sorry it hurts so much. Maybe think of it like labour pains… it hurts so much, but then you have a beautiful baby. Here, it hurts so much, but then you’ll get the use of your hand back. Warm hug.

    Reply
  8. Dorian Fletcher

    Your sense of humor will serve you well, Corey. Hang in there, lady!

    Reply
  9. Rhonda P.

    Oh Corey, sweet Corey, I feel your pain in this post. Why does he have to hurt you? Good thing I don’t go with you to the Dr., I’d be on him like….well, you know.
    That’s my Chicago gal talking…tee hee

    Reply
  10. Kathie B

    I wonder if Physical Therapy is different in France from in the US, because when I was undergoing PT for my shoulder, my therapist didn’t manipulate my shoulder or arm at all.
    Instead, she demonstrated each exercise, then monitored my repetitions of them, while exhorting me to perform them ever-closer to the standard. However, whenever I’d reach the threshold of real pain, she’d have me stop, so that I wouldn’t reinjure the area.
    Not that my shoulder didn’t hurt like hell, mind you, but it was primarily after I got home. The area would absolutely throb from my elbow up to my neck, and from just above my breast in front, over my shoulder and down to the bottom of my shoulder-blades in back.
    It was such a relief when I’d fall asleep in the afternoon (the post-exercise electro-stimulation therapy would render me groggy about an hour later). I’d also take two aspirin to try to take the edge off my pain.
    But it was all worth it in the long run — compared to the prospect of having a painfully crippled shoulder and arm for the rest of my life.
    So please repeat after me, Corey: IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN, IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE LONG RUN…

    Reply
  11. Carolyn Mallin

    Sorry he’s hurting you. In the end you’ll be able to use your hand and you’ll probably have feelings of gratitude.

    Reply
  12. Helene

    I’m so sorry for your pain. And I don’t think anything can help except knowing that you are loved. It doesn’t make the pain go away, but we know how a mother’s hug can soothe the hurt. Let the tears come for a bit and accept as many mothers’ hugs as you can.

    Reply
  13. denise

    stick in there. you will conquer. it is all for the good. i appreciate the fact that he knows that you are one of a kind. Bestest,Denise

    Reply
  14. Cheryl ~ Casual Cottage Chic

    Oh, Corey. I hate that you are experiencing such pain! Hopefully it will be over soon and your wrist/hand will be moving with ease/

    Reply
  15. Jean

    Corey, you are a very brave person, but then we knew that all ready didn’t we? I was just reading about the upcoming wedding and your thoughts. Very brave lady indeed!
    Grin and bear it as it will be worth it!

    Reply
  16. Carol

    When I broke my elbow many years ago the physical therapist I went to actually had a cartoon sort of picture of a therapist with a person on a torture rack with him turning the crank.
    One day when tears I could no longer hold squirted out of my eyes I apologized for crying and he said “physical therapists are not affected by tears.”
    Hang in there Sweet Corey!

    Reply
  17. Nancy W

    Corey
    So sorry it hurts so much. I don’t know about brave but I can certainly see how smart you are! Without this therapy, you could have limited use of your wrist forever and that would not work at all for you. So, you are one smart cookie to fight through the pain and keep going. Cringing for you. Sending you healing thoughts

    Reply
  18. jackie

    Sometimes a good cry is just what you need…

    Reply
  19. Christine

    Oh Corey! You are a brave lady to use humor to distract you from the pain. I’d be a whimpering wreck. I hope it’s over really soon and you have full use of your hand back!! You’re in my thoughts.

    Reply
  20. Lindy

    Can’t you take a little something for the pain BEFORE you get there? and maybe something to help calm your nerves to you are not uptight while he is doing the manipulations??? ((((((((((((big hug))))))))))
    I know it hurts and I am sorry..

    Reply
  21. pam

    I had a similar reaction to a stressful situation too. Recently a friend of mine told me that she thought I was a very strong woman because of what I’ve been through, though I was feeling very inadequate and incapable of handing my life at that moment. Today something else was thrown at me and I became overwhelmed by it. I broke down and had a good cry and then a nap. Now I am trying to put everything in perspective, and when I wake up tomorrow morning I hope I will see that I will be able to manage this latest crisis, and I’ll focus on the result down the road when I am able to see that I made it through this too.
    Keep looking on the sunny side of life!

    Reply
  22. Gracie

    I must try and adopt your technique in dealing with pain…..

    Reply
  23. herhimnbryn

    Courage dear heart.
    Read your post having just got in from seeing the physio. He is very good, it hurts like hell and he’s young enough to be my son! However, he was pleased I have been doing my exercises and my shoulder is healing.
    You will get through this and remember physiotherepy is a VERY important part of healing. Onward ma brave, onward.

    Reply
  24. Gretchen

    Your post made ME laugh and cry! Fight through it because it will be worth it, but I am so sorry you are hurting.

    Reply
  25. Karen@PasGrande-Chose

    Mr PT will not forget you, certainly! This is a story to make us laugh and cry all together with you, Corey. Hope you can forget about the torture and focus on a beautiful wedding the next couple of days …

    Reply
  26. linda marcov

    I hope it helps at least to know how loved and admired you are by so many, moi included….

    Reply

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