Relax - 2

CHAPTER 2

For the next two days, Natasha would come and go, as would the nurses and Dr. James. The nursed and doctor would poke and prod, offer medication for my discomfort and attempt to feed me, but my appetite was severely lacking. Once per day, Dr. James would return to the knob on the wall and tighten the pull on my already stretched spine. Each time, his only comment was, "We're getting there."

The lack of information and not knowing why I had to go through all this was driving me crazy. Dr. James was an intimidating man and his nurses although rather attractive, all acted as though they didn't have time for my "trivial" needs. So, I laid there and conjured up thousands of ideas as to what they might be doing to do with me.

The pull on my head was so uncomfortable! I was sure that the top of my head would pop off. My hips felt as though they were about to slip out of their sockets. Oddly enough, my back was feeling a lot better, but my neck seemed to be taking the brunt of the pull and I wanted desperately to wiggle and move it around.

Tasha spent as much time with me as she could. Mostly, she was busy with finals at school and working at the department store. On the third day, Tasha showed up around 10:00am. I asked her why she wasn't in her anthropology class. She replied that she was doing some "favors" for the instructor and was sure to ace the class. I knew what she meant by "favors" but I wasn't sure if she was serious or not. So, I let it go.

Just then, Dr. James poked his head in and asked Tasha to step outside with him. For about 20 minutes the curiosity was killing me. What would they be discussing? I could be sure it was about me, but what? Was it bad news? Was it one of those, "I'm sorry Miss, your boyfriend will be an invalid for the rest of his life and you will be stuck caring for the poor slob."

Just when I was ready to scream at Tasha to let me die instead of burdening her with my useless body, she returned. I was amazed to see her with her shirt off, wearing only her shorts, a bra and her sandals. Atop it all was a Milwaukee Brace with straps all over and a fairly high chin piece. I was in awe and very aroused by the sight of her in her bra and all that aluminum and restrictive leather and plastic. My jaw must have been resting on my chest because she shot me a nasty look and said, "Settle down tough guy. It's just a Milwaukee. You'll get yours!" I didn't know what she meant by that, but she looked GOOD.

She came over to my side and asked what I thought. I asked where it came from. She reminded me that she had worn a similar brace for four years, starting when she was 11, to treat scoliosis. She went on, saying that Dr. James felt that her curve may be starting to return and that if they caught it early and she wore the brace for 18 hours per day for 9 months to a year she would finally be home free. Again she asked what I thought of the device. I told her it was fascinating and I asked her to come close. I ran my hands along the pelvic girdle and the aluminum rods. Then I whispered in her ear that I found it very erotic and exciting.

Just then, she reached into my boxers and caressed my testicles. I was already getting aroused and her touch really lit me up. She told me that I would certainly get mine. What did that mean, "get mine". She had said it twice. Did she mean that once I was released from this medieval Rack apparatus, she would "give me some?" I certainly hoped so.

Just as Tasha withdrew her hand from my boxers, Dr. James returned and excused Tasha. A nurse soon followed. I immediately noticed that the nurse was wearing Reverse-pull Headgear. She caught me staring at it and smiled a smile that said, "This is nothing, compared to what you are getting."

I was now officially scared and still somewhat aroused. Dr. James broke the silence and informed me that today I would be released from the traction, if everything went well. The nurse supported my thighs as Dr. James carefully disconnected the ropes from the pins in my thighs. The relief of not being pulled so hard was wonderful. Next, they removed the ropes from the Halo and allowed me to rest my head on the pillow, but only for a moment. Then Dr. James asked if I thought I could walk. I said I didn’t know. He ordered me to give it a try.

After three days of traction my coordination was poor, to put it lightly. I struggled to my feet, the pins still protruding from my thighs and the weight of the steel Halo teetering my head a little. After I took a step or two, I asked if they would remove the pins from my thighs. The nurse looked at the doctor and he replied that he was sure I would'nt be needing them anymore. I was instructed to sit in a nearby wheelchair. The leg rests were raised and I settled in. Dr. James began to look at the openings in my legs and moved the pin in my right leg just a little. I about jumped through the roof! The pain was incredible. With a disappointed look Dr. James reported that my bone had already begun to grow in around the metal pins. I was informed that due to other treatment plans for today, they could not give me any pain medication. Instead, my legs were strapped to the chair, followed by my arms. The nurse went to the cupboard and returned with what appeared to be a football-type mouthpiece. I was told to bite down on it and the nurse held my head back.

Dr. James turned the first pin 90 degrees and began to pull it out as my eyes bulged and I tried to scream despite the rubber mouthpiece. The procedure was repeated on my left leg and I laid my head back into the nurse's arms. "He won't feel like walking now. Would you wheel him down to the fitting room, Michelle?"

With that, me, my Halo and the nurse, Michelle went into the hallway and down a few doors and into a room with even more ropes, metal "racks" and pulleys. "Just relax. The doctor will be here in a minute." The nurse told me softly. "You handled that very well. It hurts really bad, doesn't it?" Still rattled by the pain and stressed out by all the strange "treatments" I snapped, "How would YOU know!" The nurse ran her fingers through my hair and replied that she had received similar treatment about a year ago. "Does it work?" I queried. "You bet! You just have to be patient."

Dr. James arrived and turned to Michelle and ordered, "Get him hooked up." Michelle helped me out of the wheelchair and walked me over a floor to ceiling, metal rack with ropes hanging down to brackets. I was told to stand in the center of the rack. Michelle made a comment about my height and retrieved a step stool from the corner. She stood atop the stool and fastened the brackets to my Halo. I knew what was coming more stretching. "I haven't be stretched enough, eh?" I commented. "Were casting you to make molds. This will only last three or four hours." Dr. James said roughly.

When Michelle was finished she stepped back and Dr. James checked her work. He then went to a control panel and instructed me to look straight ahead. I heard him flip two switches and a motor began to turn. Once again, the slack went out of the ropes and I was stretched to the point of pain and the motor stopped. I was told that I needed "settle" for about 30 minutes and so there I hung, by four pins augured into my skull.

Dr. James returned and let out a sigh. I was afraid of this. Your muscles are too tight in your back. I don't like doing this, but we've got to get the plaster on you, today. He lifted a phone and I heard him tell someone to bring an "Epidural." I knew that women in labor are given epidurals to ease the pain of birth, but I am not in labor nor am I a woman. I asked what he was going to do, just as a nurse walked into the room with a huge hypodermic needle.

Dr. James explained that he had to get my muscles to relax and elongate my spine for casting. The epidural would be inserted like those used in childbirth, but mine would be done much higher, between my shoulder blades. "Relax, this will hurt some." Dr. James ordered. I felt the chill of the antibiotic on my skin and then the most painful needle prick I have ever felt. I felt a tingle go throughout my body and my face must have shown the discomfort. The nurse informed me that the needle was now inside my spinal canal and the medication was being administered. I felt a slight burning as the needle was withdrawn and the nurse and doctor left the room.

For about 20 minutes, I hung there, wondering what the effect would be. Then my legs began to tingle and ceased to respond to my commands. I then realized that I was essentially paralyzed from my chest down.

A few minutes later, Dr. James and two nurses returned with a bucket of water and rolls of plaster. My feet were strapped to the floor and the ropes holding my head were tightened once more. I was wrapped in stockingnette and the nurses began at my neck and covered all of my torso and legs with plaster. My arms stuck straight out with plaster down to my elbows. A second layer was added to my body cast as I began to feel claustrophobic.

Dr. James came and checked the nurses work and placed two pills in my mouth. "These are a sedative, it will keep you from feeling trapped or closed in." A dixie cup was held to my lips and I swallowed the pills with a little water. Dr. James informed me that it would take two to three hours to dry and they would return later. I was alone again. I imagined that I looked like a huge snowman and that made me giggle. Then my mind drifted to Tasha and her Milwaukee brace and I began to get excited again. Until I realize that I didn't have "room" to get excited. I couldn't wait to get my hands on her and that brace.

to be continued.