| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 11:15:51
Dear all,
I have had many medical tests (blood, x-rays, bone scans, ct-scans etc) done on me and nothing shows up. I am not going to list all these tests here as you have read all this stuff before. But I made the TMS diagnosis on my own without visiting a TMS doctor. Due to geography and finances it is not possible for me to go to a TMS doctor, but the description in Dr. Sarno's books fits me so well I came to that conclusion on my own. Dr. Sarno talks about people like me who have to do that. I have been doing the mental work and reading extensively for a few months. I also go to a phsycotherapist every week. I introduced her to TMS ideas and she is compleletly sold. In fact, she had back pain (which is just one of my symptoms) for 10 years until she got divorced from an abusive husband and it went away almost immediatly. She went to PT and Chiropractors (I call them Lie-o-practors) to no avail. She really believes in the whole idea of mind/body medicine.
My question is the following: Has anyone else on this board made the TMS diagnosis on their own without actually seeing a TMS doctor but have went through a number of medical tests in which doctors are left scratching their (mostly empty and hairless) heads trying to figure out what is causing such physical symptoms?
Orthodics, PT, drugs etc... Been there, done that...snore |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fredarm57 |
Posted - 07/06/2005 : 13:29:19
I diagnosed myself back in 1990. I had all the tests (except an MRI because I had no sciatic pain), which showed nothing wrong. I read "Mind Over Back Pain" (Dr. Sarno's first book) and said, "yup, that's me, now what do I do?". MOBP does not go into what to do about TMS, just what it is. There were no other TMS resources back then, so I made an appointment with the good doctor and went down to NYC to see him. He confirmed what I already suspected. I went to his lectures, didn't improve much, and he referred me to a psychologist in Boston (Dr. Siegel) whom I saw for a couple of years. I've been mostly pain-free (with a couple of recurrances) for about 13 years.
Fred |
| Carolyn |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 22:19:27
I also diagnosed myself and I think once I decided to avoid all doctors and pursue TMS, in my mind that meant event the TMS docs. By the time I stumbled onto Sarno, I had wasted so much time and money to have each specialist tell me something different was wrong with me that I had pretty much lost all confidence in doctors. TMS theory was so empowering to me- I have the power to cure myself!!- that I didn't want to share that with anyone.
Carolyn |
| Baseball65 |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 17:34:26
Hi Peter.
Yes,Doctor Marc Richards (me) based on an abundance of circumstantial and anecdotal evidence had no choice but to make it on my own.
Back then there was only Sarno and I think Schecter.Schecter was on a long vacation(I called)...and I had snapped at my chronic pain doctors.I refused to do any more Bio-feedback,Group therapy or take the MMPI again....I said I'd only talk to the shrink and do my P.T.
That was NOT OK with them.
.......so,without a shred of evidence and only one aquaintance's testimony(who was out of the country)...I ran to the bookstore,read the first chapter....and called workmans comp and asked them for a month and I Promised to be back at work.
By the time Schecter returned I had no more doubts left.
peace
Baseball65 |
| marytabby |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 16:59:52
Peter,
Like you, I read the books and just KNEW they had me written all over them. I got even more confident in my self-diganosis by visiting this board. Just for giggles I set up an appt. with a TMS Doc in my area. So he examined me, asks the typical questions about my health, history, etc. He looked at my MRI very briefly and said yes, it's TMS, keep doing what you're doing. Literally, that is what he said. He said I had already started my recovery on my own. I was supposed to make a follow up appt. with him 6 weeks later. I canceled it. I then canceled another one last week. Why? Because he's going to say: "Keep up the good work." and I don't feel like wasting three hours and a $20 co-pay to hear what I already know. So my suggestion is if you THINK you fit the TMS profile, you probably do and you have a LOT of support here. Nothing the TMS doc said to me was new news. I had all I needed right in the books. |
| johnnyg |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 14:16:24
I made the diagnosis myself as do probably most people who do not live in NY or LA. B4 even learning about Sarno I concluded that my pain must be psychological because I had seen so many doctors, pt's etc. during a 15 year period without any good result. After a while you just realize that chronic pain is something conventional doctors have no answer for. Then I read Sarno and all the pieces of the puzzle came together. For liability purposes they all put the disclaimer in the books that you have to go to a doctor for a proper diagnosis. But at the same time, they recognize the legitimacy of "book cures." |
| Stryder |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 12:26:41
Hi PeterMcKay,
I also have a small collection of my X-ray and MRI films that I had taught myself to read in basic terms. I still have them but I never look at them anymore.
I never saw a TMS doc, there are a couple within driving distance. When I read "Healing Back Pain" for the first time, I had the "A ha" moment. It was like Dr. Sarno was in my head as he described my personality type in so much detail is was almost surreal. By the time I finished the book there was no doubt in my mind what had been going on in my mind-body for 25 years.
I never had any docs that scratched their heads, but as soon as they realised I was not a prime candidate for the knife were quick to shuffle me off to P.T., a physatrist, or pain management.
Now, the cure for TMS did take me a couple years, and was very gradual. Even though I had latched onto the concept instantly it took a very long time to get 95% pain free. I still have to work at it even now, think of it as maintenance. Reading everyone's posts on this forum has been a great help.
Take care, -Stryder |
| LynnH |
Posted - 07/05/2005 : 11:58:33
I have not seen a TMS doctor, (though I am trying to get an appointment to see one locally - I think confirmation from a doctor will help me) but I know TMS is what ails me. My pain moves around, comes and goes, and I see so much of myself in Sarno's books.
Like you, I went the traditional medical route, and very little was found. Yes, I have bone spurs in both of my feet, but they did not appear overnight, and my foot pain sure did. The last doctor I saw was completely stumped, and actually told me I might just have to learn to live with the pain. As if! |
|
|
