Maybe it was just a matter of time. I reached to rub my lower back, right above my tailbone. I gingerly fell back into my couch with my hand pinned between the cushion and my body, rubbing incessantly as I desperately tried to rub the pain out. I knew it was futile. My back had been feeling stiff on and off for a few weeks and trying to move this couch had finally triggered something.
I had played sports my whole life and grown accustomed to enduring minor injuries and nagging pains, and perhaps developed this invincible mindset. Now that I was getting older - and probably more significant, not nearly as active - the bruises and muscle aches seemed to linger. Still, I was too stubborn to do anything about it.
I spent the rest of my Sunday watching football alone on the couch. I tried a heating pad to alleviate the pain, but the relief was pretty negligible and it was difficult to find a comfortable position. When the game ended, I decided to call it an early night.
The next morning, I could immediately tell it had tightened up even more. I could feel it as soon as my eyes opened and felt it stiffen when I tried to get up. I awkwardly turned sideways and rolled out of bed and determined right away that I would have to surrender my ego and get some medical attention.
When I got to work, I went straight to my coworker and asked if he'd been to a chiropractor. He asked what was wrong and I downplayed my injury, trying to salvage some pride. It felt pathetic to admit to getting injured by a couch by myself in my apartment. He had never been to a chiropractor, but my other coworker Sharon overheard us and chimed in.
She immediately started to rave about her chiropractor, Dr. Horn, and how he had miraculously fixed her back. She told me she would email me a link to their website and added, "It doesn't hurt that he's hot, too." She giggled as I thanked her with a shake of the head and a smile. None of my coworkers knew that I am gay and I doubt Dr. Horn would be my type if he was attractive to straight women. My type was not the men people typically swoon about publicly. And I really didn't care what he looked like if he could fix my back.
I opened the link from Sharon and looked into their site. I really wasn't too concerned with Dr. Horn's appearance, but I must admit Sharon's comment did have me a little curious. As I browsed the site reading about prices and details before making an appointment, I kept an eye out for a photo. The site was pretty basic and there were no photos to be seen, but it did mention that they could usually book same-day appointments so I gave them a call. The receptionist sounded young and pretty and was very friendly as I explained I was a new client hoping to schedule a same day appointment.
"We are actually booked today. I'm so sorry. We usually are able to accommodate same day appointments. Would you be interested in an appointment tomorrow?"
I considered my options for a second and heard some noise on the other end. Suddenly she interjected before I could reply. "Actually, the doctor could meet at 5 o' clock if that works for you."
"Oh, thank you! That would be perfect." I was relieved to not have to wait.
Work was eventful, which was fortunate for me in speeding up the time. The pain in my back wasn't too intolerable but as 4:45 rolled around, I was excited to see if the chiropractor was all Sharon cracked it up to be. She wasn't my favorite coworker and I was skeptical that the doctor's magic hands that healed her so easily may have more to do with her hots for him than the actual results. As I left the office though, I thanked Sharon for the recommendation.
"Oh, tell Dr. Horn hello for me!" She winked and laughed.
"I will," I joked along, certain that I would not be passing her greeting along.
When I opened the door to the office, I was greeted by a pretty receptionist whose face matched the picture in my mind formed when we spoke on the phone.
"David?" She asked with a smile.
"That's me!"
"Welcome! If you could just fill these out for me, we'll get you right on back." She really was a great, friendly front desk worker.
I filled out my insurance information and then a little questionnaire about my back pain. For some reason, I lied on the form and wrote that I hurt my back while helping my friend move. I finished the paperwork and brought it up front.
"Let me go grab Dr. Horn." She disappeared around the corner briefly and returned with the doctor.
My dick twitched and my heart began racing as I saw him for the first time. Suddenly, I had a new appreciation for Sharon - a woman of fine taste. With grey hair, a friendly clean shaven face, and a strong but heavy frame, Dr. Horn was exactly my type. He looked to be in his fifties and had me turned on even though I have a weird distaste for scrubs. He beckoned me to follow him to the back and said goodbye to his receptionist, who I assumed he was kindly allowing to leave on time while he volunteered to stay late for me.
"Thanks for making an extra appointment for me."
"You're welcome! I know people who call for same day appointments are usually in need of some immediate attention. Did you lose any sleep last night?"
"No, thankfully. But I almost couldn't get out of bed this morning."
He took me to a room that was dimly lit and subtly smelled of lavender and, with serene orchestral music lowly playing, created the most peaceful ambiance. He invited me to sit in the black leather massage chair and turned towards a machine on a table just to the left.
"It was the lower back, right?" Dr. Horn asked as he glanced again at my paperwork on the clipboard.
"Yes, sir."
