Conjugate
While working with a patient today, this person came up with an interesting word that piqued my interest. As a result of some complex, life-long jaw and mouth issues that were surgically altered a few years back, this person had been left with issues of jaw cramping, throat tightness that impacted both voice and swallowing, as well as a host of other issues. One of the more prominent issues is a self-described feeling of a milk bubble in the throat that hindered swallowing and speech. This relation of feelings was first said with some embarrassment, as such statements sound very, “unmedically”. However, one thing I insist on is allowing the patient their narrative and never trying to reframe their perspective. Milk bubble it is. The patient has shown some really nice changes in that the primary complaint of extreme jaw cramping has dramatically lessened and has taken a backseat to other issues, including the milk bubble feeling and all that it includes.
During re-evaluation and treatment (manual therapy/myofascial release) today, as I worked from a supported sitting position, addressing the area of complaints in the suprahyoid/sublingual region, and was able to engage the milk bubble sensation in a manner the patient found helpful. At one point my client said, It feels like you are conjugating the milk bubble.” That statement was immediately followed by an internal, through verbal questioning if the word was used correctly. Not being the most linguistically savvy person, I said, “It sounds good to me!”, but retained the word for later consideration.
The Merriam Webster website lists synonyms of conjugate to include, “interfuse, join, link(up), marry, unify, unite”. When my patient made the statement it all sounded correct, even though I was uncertain of the meanings of the word, “conjugate” beyond what we do with verbs. I do attempt to join feeling, symptoms, complaints, and hopes. I work to unite what they feel, in terms of relevance or familiarity, with what they want to feel, or expect to experience. I really like the thought of conjugating seemingly disparate symptoms together into one sensation; one that feels both familiar and helpful/helpful.
While I am not ready to call what I do, conjugation, to avoid any mistaking it with conjuring, I will now look upon myself as a conjugator. One who interfuses.
Allow the patient’s narrative a voice.
Cheers,
Walt Fritz, PT
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