| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| 2scoops |
Posted - 08/05/2004 : 20:54:32
My aunt was just diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and I cannot remember if Sarno said anything directly about it. Has anyone been treated for MS and have you had success from Sarno. I bought MBP for her back pain about 3 months ago, she was told she had a herniated and that caused her back pain. But with this MS she is not allowed to ever drive again, so I would appreciate any info if someone could help, thank you. |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| JosephB |
Posted - 08/07/2004 : 01:32:48
Multiple Sclerosis
Please refer back to the Old TMSHelp Message Board, at the hyperlink www.tmshelp.com/bin/tmsboard.pl View Earlier Posts at about previous page 9, where Gwenieve had MS Scare on 12/21/2003. JosephB responded about his MS experience in great length on 12/23/2003 and 12/25/2003. Others also responded on the subject of MS at that time.
In answer to your question about Dr. Sarno’s thoughts on the subject of Multiple Sclerosis, I repeat here what I posted on 12/23/2003:
I (JosephB) have now come to the conclusion that my permanent cure of MS came about through a mindbody process. But I was very disappointed that Dr. Sarno did not elaborate much on this disease in his books. Healing Back Pain mentions MS only briefly on pages 156-157, where he states, “autoimmune disorders (like MS) are among the most problematic and poorly understood of all categories of disease. …. and the brain MIGHT play a role in the treatment of these conditions.”
Furthermore, The Mindbody Prescription mentions MS only briefly in Chapter 8, Disorders in Which Emotions MAY Play a Role, Autoimmune Disorders, on pages 127-129, where he states, “It is beyond the scope of this book to describe these diseases (like MS)”.
Note that my past post on 12/23/2003 coincides with JoeW’s recent post, which states:
There is brief mention of MS in MBP (chapter 8) and HBP, but only as a brief speculation that it, and other auto-immune disorders are emotion related.
I also agree with JoeW’s recommendation to read Norman Cousins’ book, Anatomy of an Illness, since his was a permanent cure of another serious autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis.
The following is my true MS story repeated again (with editing) as further therapy for me for this serious autoimmune disease.
To Gwenieve and other TMSers:
Note that Multiple Sclerosis and Tension Myositis Syndrome must definitely be of the same psychogenic origin, because their acronyms, MS and TMS, have two same letters, look the same, sound the same, and they rhyme. Seriously though, I truly believe that MS and TMS do have the same psychogenic origin and that MS is definitely another form of TMS equivalence, based on my own personal true story which follows. Yes, I had been diagnosed with MS and I eventually overcame it. I would certainly appreciate comments from other TMSers, to reinforce my own thoughts on MS and so that others concerned about MS could draw those same conclusions.
I first experienced MS in early 1967 (37 years ago) with weakness, numbness and tingling in my extremities, both arms and both legs. I went to my family doctor at the time, and he considered my case a medical emergency and ordered me to report to then Wesleyan Memorial Hospital in Chicago for a myelogram. The x-rays showed that I had no structural deformities in my spine, and the “good” news was that I would not have to undergo surgery. Instead, I was immediately referred to a neurologist who prescribed a series of eight daily shots of ACTH, a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. I was diagnosed as having Demyelinization of the Central Nervous System, now commonly called Multiple Sclerosis (MS). A simple explanation to me was that inflammation of the spinal cord puts pressure on the outer myelin sheath, causing the sheath to crack, and causing irritation to the protruding nerves, which results in the above described symptoms. After the inflammation subsides with anti-inflammatory medication, then the myelin sheath must rebuild itself if it has not been too severely damaged in the process. During the remission period, the healing process may take about six months, since any nerve irritation and damage takes a long time to heal, not as quickly as muscle damage.
After the six month remission and healing period, I then had another MS flare-up. But this time I understood better what was happening and I reported immediately to my neurologist for additional treatment. These flare-ups, neurological symptoms, medical treatments, remissions and healings, then occurred on a cyclical regular basis, like clockwork, every six months thereafter for a period of seven years, between the years 1967 and 1974. Those were certainly trying times for me!
During the year 1974, while I was going to a chiropractor who was giving me spinal adjustments for my chronic sinus headaches, I told him about my periodic MS flare-ups and asked him if he thought he could help me. He told me that he had, in fact, helped two other people in the past to overcome serious MS, and he told me to report to him as soon as I was about to have another flare-up. When it came, I contacted him immediately and he came out on a Sunday, just for me, to give me a spinal adjustment on that day, and repeatedly thereafter for a period of about two weeks. But he also cautioned me and told me to report to my neurologist, who authorized a prescription for Prednisone pills, another steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, but in pill form. That flare-up in 1974 was the last and final MS flare-up that I have experienced.
Two years later, in 1976, I started to have lower back pain and sciatica in my left leg. I went to my chiropractor, who then took new x-rays, which showed that I had a couple of herniated discs, and that this might very well be the cause of my pain. He gave me spinal adjustments, but he again cautioned me and told me to report to my neurologist, since he also thought that I might very well be having another MS flare-up, in addition to herniated discs. I reported to my neurologist, and after a thorough examination, he told me that I was symptom-free of MS, and that I should continue seeing my chiropractor for spinal adjustments in the future. Interestingly, my neurologist asked me if I would be willing to participate in a trial with other MS patients, who would be given raw sunflower seeds to eat in an experiment. I told him that I would certainly be interested, but that trial never came about. But guess what, I then started to eat a handful of raw sunflower seeds every day for many years thereafter, just in case it could help me nutritionally. And I now keep raw sunflower seeds in my freezer and occasionally have a handful as a snack, instead of carbo-loaded cookies.
So for many years afterwards, I have asked myself and I have been asked by others, how was I permanently cured of MS. Note that this was years before Dr. Sarno even wrote his first book and years before his TMS theories came into my life.
Was it the chiropractor’s spinal adjustments, which I now consider a placebo?
Was it the raw sunflower seeds which provided me the proper nutrition for healing?
Was it my constant prayers for healing?
Was it my devoted and caring wife’s support and prayers during those trying years?
Or, was it the combination of all of the above?
But after becoming aware of Dr. Sarno’s three books on TMS, and after reading and rereading all those books numerous times, I have now come to the conclusion that my permanent cure of MS came about through a mindbody process. But I was very disappointed that Dr. Sarno did not elaborate much on this disease in his books. Healing Back Pain mentions MS only briefly on pages 156-157, where he states, “autoimmune disorders (like MS) are among the most problematic and poorly understood of all categories of disease. …. and the brain MIGHT play a role in the treatment of these conditions.”
Furthermore, The Mindbody Prescription mentions MS only briefly in Chapter 8, Disorders in Which Emotions MAY Play a Role, Autoimmune Disorders, on pages 127-129, where he states, “It is beyond the scope of this book to describe these diseases (like MS)”.
In conclusion, I truly believe that MS is definitely another form of TMS equivalent and that it too has a psychogenic origin. Unfortunately, Dr. Sarno only speculates briefly on this theory, but that may be because his medical background has been predominantly in the treatment of back pain, and not in autoimmune disorders. I would certainly appreciate comments from other TMSers, to reinforce my thoughts on MS and so that others concerned about MS could draw these same conclusions.
In answer to Rick (2/1/2004) as to whether I really had MS, since MRIs were not available during those early years 1960s and 1970s, I will explain. My Neurologist, Dr. Joel Brumlik, used a small rubber hammer to tap just below my kneecaps to measure motor response. He also pricked a needle along all my extremities to measure sensual response. He examined my eyes by looking directly at the retina of my eyes, since this is the only place in the human body where inflamed nerves can be seen directly. As a Neurologist, he concluded that I really had Demyelinization of the Central Nervous System, which later became commonly referred to and known as Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
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| JoeW |
Posted - 08/06/2004 : 23:57:05
There is brief mention of MS in MBP (chapter 8) and HBP, but only as a brief speculation that it, and other auto-immune disorders are emotion related.
A book that is mentioned by Sarno, and Candace Pert, in this regard is Anatomy of an Illness, by Norman Cousins. I haven't read it, but I intend to. He was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune disorder, like MS. He cured himself by checking out of hospital, and checking in to a luxury hotel, armed with a number of Laurel and Hardy videos. Basically he laughed himself well!
I was diagnosed with a 'benign' form of MS a few years ago, and have become convinced of the influence of emotions on it. In my case, my worst attack coincided with a change of job, and also with a sudden realisation of what MS could mean. The more I read about different symptoms, the more of them I actually got, ending up bed-ridden with motion sickness for a week.
I've been lucky and have been clear of attacks for a couple of years now, and only have residual bladder control problems. Interestingly, after discoverying TMS about 6 months ago, I thought about the connection, and worried briefly that as my TMS arm pain subsided, the TMS might move to an MS attack. Sure enough, I started to experience MS-like numbness in one leg. I continued to think TMS, and luckily it died away within a week.
All the best to your aunt, try to keep her positive, and not fearful.
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| 2scoops |
Posted - 08/06/2004 : 08:13:57
I thought I remember him mentioning it in MBP, but I've been wrong before. I do have a book called Deadly Emotions that I want her to read, which says MS can be caused by self hatred or unforgiveness. In the past her husband left her for someone else, so I think that has something to o with her condition. THe author states that MS is an auto-immune disorder and that our emotions affect our immune systems then emotions play a part. Maybe since Sarno says the same thing about emotions and immune disorders or diseases, I was wondering how Sarno would feel about it. Maybe I'll never know. |
| goodguy |
Posted - 08/06/2004 : 07:33:17
Sorry to hear about your aunt. Don't remember ever reading about MS in Sarno's books, but you may want to look into Deepak Chopra's books. Somewhat similar to Sarno, he belives (based on Ayurveda) that all disease can be traced to psychological/emotional imbalance. By imblance, I don't mean mental illness, just a veering off course from one's true self.
He has had a lot of success treating "incurable" diseases including cancer and heart disease using lifestyle changes, diet, meditation, and emotional release work/changes in thinking patterns.
So, not the same as TMS, but worth exploring in my opinion.
Good luck. |
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