| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| moose1 |
Posted - 08/03/2005 : 19:55:23
Hello All,
I’ve posted here many times before and have found this board to be of immense help and comfort, not to mention amusement and education. I’m still struggling with chronic low back pain, despite three years of Sarno, and I’m back for more advice. First I should mention that I’ve had all sort of classic TMS equivalents over the years, like:
GI stuff
Hives
Panic/anxiety
Insomnia
Fatigue
Brain fog
Obsessive thoughts
However, none of these have plagued me like the back pain. I think a *major* part of my problem is this. About 4 years ago, before I knew anything about Sarno or mindbody medicine, I was diagnosed with a ruptured disc at L4/L5 with the disc pinching the S1 nerve, blah blah blah...typical story, everyone knows it. At the time, the pain I was having was not back pain but rather blinding leg pain, also a tired old story. Well after months of useless PT, I finally went under the knife. Amazingly, the surgery resulted in a total resolution of the leg pain, and I’ve never had any leg pain since! However, about 6 weeks after the surgery, just as the remnants of the leg pain subsided, this dull ache that I have today set in.
Now what I have is a 24/7 nagging, grinding ache right where they made the incision for the surgery. It hasn’t moved around or changed in intensity since it began way back when, except that it's worse in the morning. Of course, I’ve been trying to convince myself that the "success" of the surgery has simply been a placebo all this time and the TMS has simply moved to where they cut me. But I’m pretty sure that I’ll never really believe that unconsciously because the leg pain has never returned. Sometimes I wonder if the leg pain *would* just come back that would be enough to get my unconscious to SEE that the surgery was a placebo and that all this really is TMS. Does this make sense?
Anyway, I read an earlier post from someone who said that chronic pain is the biggest red flag of all that the pain is emotionally rooted. I’ve tied to believe this now for three years but just can’t get rid of the pain. And this after intense studying of Sarno and having seen three "mindbody" therapsits. It's so clearly TMS, but I think I need a slightly different approach than what I've tried so far.
As always, I appreciate any advice on how to battle this dilemma.
Thanks,
Moose |
| 2 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| moose1 |
Posted - 08/05/2005 : 20:41:01
Thanks Laura,
Yes, it's very frustrating. It's frustrating because I know for a fact that this pain is TMS...if not all of it, than 90% of it. I get little glimpses of relief where the low back pain will abate and one of the other ones will emerge for a bit. For example, I'll go home for the holiday and the back pain might be replaced by, say, hives, stomach problems or wrist pain. Then I tell myself, "hey dummy, what more proof do you need?" Then when I get back into my old life and routine after the holiday, it comes back.
So I guess it's just a matter of doing more work and looking more closely at who I am and what it is that's making my brain...the bastard...do this to me.
Thanks,
Moose |
| Laura |
Posted - 08/03/2005 : 20:04:47
Hi, Moose,
I hear you. I've had the dizziness for over three years. I only started applying Dr. Sarno's techniques a year ago but I wish I was making faster progress. My current problem really fits the TMS profile (according to Dr. Schechter) in that the dizziness "waxes and wanes." I've had days where it wasn't even there. Now, I've been under so much stress that it's really flaring up again.
I wish I had some advice but rather I'm just here to commiserate with you. By the way, I've had most of the stuff you listed so I know how annoying this TMS thing is. I've been suffering from insomnia for the past two months and it sucks.
Good luck and hope you get some helpful responses.
Laura
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