HOUSE DOCTOR

My son Alex walked into the living room where I was wincing as I tried to turn my head from side to side.
“Your neck is still bothering you?”
“It’s even worse today!” I tipped my head to one side trying to stretch the tight muscle as I massaged the spot that hurt with my fingertips. “I think I’m going to have to make an appointment with my chiropractor and get a few adjustments.”
“I don’t think you need that.” Alex shook his head.
“I’ve had this before and the adjustments helped.” I was trying to tip my head to the other side. “It’s not only the stiff neck but now my ear aches and I can’t get rid of this headache.” I rubbed the center of my forehead as I moved my head around. I could hear and feel the popping and cracking in my neck. “I just always get nervous going to the chiropractor.” I looked over at Alex. “I’m not a very good patient with him. All he has to do is say relax when he’s holding my head and I can’t help but stiffen up, thinking he’s going to snap my neck!”
“I’m telling you, what you need is heat.” He went over to the linen closet in the hallway and came back with his microwavable heating pad. “Pop this in the microwave for two minutes, wrap it around your neck and it’s going to feel better.”
I followed him into the kitchen and watched as he placed it on a plate and put it in the microwave. “I don’t think it’s going to work.” I said as I rubbed my neck with my hand watching as the navy blue heating pad spun around in circles in the microwave.
Two minutes later I had the heating pad draped around my neck. “Okay, that feels good.” I admitted as I leaned against the counter.
“I’m telling you, you carry all of your tension in your shoulders and neck.”
I nodded. “You’re right about that.” I adjusted the heating pad so it was higher up on my neck.
“You might have to reheat that a few times before it really begins to feel better.”
“I can’t believe I’ve been hurting for days.” I moved my neck from side to side then looked over at Alex and smiled. “It’s starting to feel better already.”
Alex nodded. “Yup. Heat is what’s going to work for you.”
Just then my husband Steven came into the kitchen. “I can’t believe I’ve been at my desk for the last four hours.” He leaned against the opposite counter from me. “I’m exhausted.”
Alex looked over at him. “You look dehydrated. When was the last time you drank some water?”
Steven thought about it for a moment. “You know you’re right. I haven’t had anything to drink since I had a cup of coffee when I woke up.”
Alex went over to the cabinet and got Steven a glass and handed it to him.
Steven went over to the refrigerator and began filling his glass. He looked over at me. “How’s your neck feeling?” he asked.
I adjusted the heating pad again and moved my head from side to side. “Actually, much better.”
I pointed over to Alex. “It’s kind of nice having a doctor in house.”
Steven took a sip of water. “It sure is.”
Alex shook his head and laughed. “I’m getting the feeling you two are going to be a lot of work when you get old.”
I looked over at Steven and laughed. “You know he’s probably not wrong about that.”