Recently, I felt very lost. My instinct was telling me I needed to search deeper for an answer and time was not on my side. I was facing a major surgery, scheduled within 3 weeks and could not find a compelling argument against having it, other than it just didn't feel right. Then karma stepped in and gave me a map.Fate is a very slippery step to rest upon. Drawing too many conclusions just might find one lying flat-on-your-back in a cold, wet stream. Believing too much in signs can heighten your hopes and lead to disappointment. But when events fall into place as smoothly as the past weekend did for me, it's hard not to feel like you're standing on the Rock of Gibraltar.
On my drive to Lincoln, NE, to attend my second seminar through the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI, this one on Postural Respiration), a class for physical therapists and specialized personal trainers, my driving-mate, a Lincoln native, opened-up my travel info and pre-seminar reading material. This friend, by the way, is a recent divorcee and just happened to have the weekend off from job and kids to keep me company during the 7 hour drive (Fate #1 - happenstance). Nonetheless, she looks at the author's name and tells me that he was her PT after her car accident several years ago. This PT is none other than Ron Hruska, the Intellectual Creator and Guru for PRI theories (Fate #2 - coincidence). Small, small world and we continued down I-80, tumbleweeds tumbling and farmer's harvesting their third cut of hay.
Everything goes well, no bad weather or car problems and Saturday morning I arrive at the seminar taught by Michael Cantrell, MPT, PRC. Cantrell looks a little like Ron Howard except with hair and a Georgia accent. He's attentive, caring, humble, witty and intelligent. The gentleman, which obviously I cannot say enough good things about, greets the class and we, in-turn, share who we are, and the what & wherefore about us. I try to make my introduction quick, telling the class I am not a PT, although I hold a degree in Kinesiology, and that I am searching for an alternative to surgery for cervical-rib-induced Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). I seemed to have piqued some interests (PT nerds, mostly); nevertheless, the class continues.
We all learned some amazing stuff. Many participants called it groundbreaking and life-changing. But, I was still not convinced PRI could help in my case. You can read about my apprehensions, blog: "When you Yield..."
Notwithstanding, towards the end of class, I was called upon as "patient" for class demonstration of a technique called an infracalvicular pump (IVP). In a simplistic description, this is a manual procedure where the PT literally guides your rib cage right/left, down and in, and verbally coaches your breath cycle. During the procedure, it felt like I could actually take a deep breath (a new experience to me.) It also seemed to target every tight place in my shoulder carriage. This awesome feeling lasted about 10 minutes. Actually, this is expected. PRI-PTs hope, with training, the adjustment (aka repositioning) will last longer and eventually become permanent.
I am positive that Mr. Cantrell left the seminar with a full stack of 5 star evaluations, he's good. But, between class and his departure, Mike asked to talk with me some more. Seriously!?! No need to ask twice! He asked for a little more detail and I told him the main points: surgeons want to perform a scalenectomy, a pectoralis minor tenotomy and cervical and first rib excision. And the imminence for this surgery is a matter of when my subclavian artery will occlude, not if it will occlude.
I then mentioned that I really wished we had taken my radial pulse before and after the IVP, to see if this manipulation changed my blood flow issues, i.e. did I lose my pulse after the repositioning? "Jump on the table and let's find out." Mike suggested. Again, no need to ask twice! He proved to himself that my pulse indeed disappears, then preformed the IVP (ahhh, twice in one day - heaven!) and then checked my pulse again, and again, and again. It was pulsing and had worked!My assertion is that with a correct therapy and exercise protocol, I should be able to change my body to accommodate my extra rib and eliminate TOS. I mean, that really is what I have already done, accommodated for it, and given myself TOS. Cantrell and I decide I should schedule an appointment with Ron Hruska, El Guru, and, if at all possible bring my local PRI-PT to Nebraska for additional training. Why not Mike? Well, he lives in Georgia and I live in Colorado and Hruska is only a 7 hour drive (and less by plane) in Nebraska and, well He Da Man!
Then, Fate #4 happens. I am leaving after our meeting and who shows up? Oh yeah - Da Man! In fact, a classmate leaving with me admits she was a little star-struck! (PT nerd.) Anyways, I introduce myself and explain The Plan and Hruska was able to tell me right then and there what I needed to bring for the appointment. Rockin'! And, at that very moment, my friend pulls-up and gets to say "Hi" to Ron. After all, she did spend two years under his care (Fate #4 & #5 - timing.)
No, I did not skip Fate #3 - serendipity. I could have had any speaker (they have several excellent ones), and one that could have done his or her gig and packed up and left. I could have gone to any one of the many locations across the country. But, I was where I was supposed to be and I was meant to meet Michael Cantrell. He was the right person for me to ask directions from. I was truly lost in my search, and at the end of My World. But, now my compass has been re-set, and I at least have a map I can read that shows where the stepping stones are. I know it's going to take a lot of dedicated, physical work and I know nothing is completely guaranteed.
Except, just maybe, a little karma called Fate.
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