| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| saga |
Posted - 01/17/2006 : 17:11:30
What's the difference between TMS & Fibromyalgia?
Can anyone explain the difference(s) between these two disorders for me?
I really appreciate it thanks. |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Jim1999 |
Posted - 01/20/2006 : 23:05:08
SamTheFish,
Thanks for the compliment! I am on the fibro boards to try to help people, not for theraputic reasons. There's the danger that it can be anti-theraputic: because people complain about their symptoms so much (making it harder to think psychological) and because some people are so convinced that Dr. Sarno is wrong. I wouldn't recommend the boards for people who are in the process of recovering, as it could set them back.
You're right about fibromyalgia being like "cough" rather than "cold". Fibro is a syndrome, meaning that it's a collection of symptoms which tend to occur together and do not have a widely-accepted cause.
Jim |
| samthefish |
Posted - 01/20/2006 : 07:20:54
Also Jim1999 - I think that's great you're still helping out on the boards so long after recovery from the symptoms of TMS. Do you do this for some therapudic benefit or is it just the "goodist" in you :) |
| samthefish |
Posted - 01/20/2006 : 07:16:35
Dwinsor - very good point, one I agree with, I don't consider myself to have Fibromyalgia, I have TMS. If you look at the medical definition about Fibromyalgia it's all about describing the symptoms: pain in the fibrous tissues and whatnot. I think being "diagnosed" with Fibromyalgia is the equivilent of being diagnosed with "Fever" or "cough" instead of a cold.
I think it's a good strategy to not use the term to describe oneself.
SamTheFish |
| dwinsor52 |
Posted - 01/20/2006 : 04:45:53
I carried the diagnosis of severe fibromyalgia for almost 20 years. My doctor was a renowned expert in the syndrome. I was told I had to live with it and given many medications. I got better when I stopped identifying myself as having fibromyalgia. I never use that term anymore. I tell myself and others that I have TMS. This shift has helped me to alleviate pain in and of itself. I used to have so much pain I couldn't stand the feeling of my clothes on me. I wanted to die. I can honestly tell you that most of the time I am pain free. I have had two relapses in the past year, the second one was resolved much more quickly than the first. When I get a relapse I ask for help on this board. I watch my video of Sarno and I re-read my books. I think psychological. And most important, I NEVER use the word fibromyalgia anymore. Hope that helps.
Debby |
| Jim1999 |
Posted - 01/19/2006 : 22:31:33
SamTheFish,
I've also been active on fibro boards. You're right that some people get angry about Dr. Sarno, so it can be difficult to gain an audience. The people who are anti-Sarno can ruin the discussion for those who might initially be interested in Sarno. Some boards are worse than others, so I don't think it's all a lost cause.
Jim |
| samthefish |
Posted - 01/19/2006 : 05:53:03
Hi Jim - trying Sarno's approach was a real turning point for me in managing my pain. I think I'm a severe case of TMS, which ties into the Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I'm not pain free but I used to obsess about pain and was severely limited in what I could do. Now I'm not limited whatsoever in my activities and recently started psychotherapy to try to get at the root of my remaining symptoms. At times I'm nearly 100% pain free, when I used to be in constant severe pain and obsessed about it to no end.
I agree about the Fibro boards- no doubt people feel comforted about talking to people with similar symptoms. I once made the mistake of gently bringing up Sarno in a Fibro board and got some very angry replies of the "he's just saying it's in your head" type, they were as a rule very unlikely to accept an idea such as Sarno's.
SamTheFish |
| Jim1999 |
Posted - 01/18/2006 : 23:08:11
quote:
Originally posted by samthefish
The books I read on the subject really focused on the physical, stretching, etc., and almost all of them said "you'll have this for life", a very fear inducing idea! ... If you go to a Fibromyalgia support board (something I do NOT recommend) you have a lot of people using the board to talk about how much pain they're in, their frustration, etc - a very negative experience and something likely to make your symptoms worse. Sarno's approach has been very effective for me and seems to be exactly the exact opposite tack from many of the current Fibromyalgia texts.
Sam,
Back when my fibromyalgia was bad, I was obsessed with physical treatments and limitations. I used to think that sitting was bad, so I tried to do more standing. But, if I stood too long, that would be bad and I'd have to lie down. If I laid down too long, I'd start to stiffen up, so I'd have to stand up again. I had to constantly try to keep track of where I was in this process.
What if I forgot and ended up sitting (or standing or laying down) too long? Would I cause irreparable "damage"? All of this seems almost silly now, but that's how I used to think. Fear plays so much of a role in fibromyalgia.
I also agree with the way you describe the fibro support boards. Patients do feel comforted to talk to people who understand what they're going through. On the other hand, the process of sharing setbacks and fears could really be a problem for someone who is trying Dr. Sarno's approach.
How much better do you feel now that you have tried Dr. Sarno's approach?
Jim |
| jilly_girl |
Posted - 01/18/2006 : 10:21:19
sam i really agree! my precious mom was constantly focused on her body. she hurt so bad and doctors either didnt believe her (one even barked into her face I DONT HAVE A MAGIC WAND). all she heard or read on it were gloomy reports of misery and suffering. the medication helped her but she died shortly after going it from another cause.
Jill |
| samthefish |
Posted - 01/18/2006 : 08:30:07
I've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Sarno's approach has helped me -
When I was first diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (several years back) I tried a number of things to get better. The books I read on the subject really focused on the physical, stretching, etc., and almost all of them said "you'll have this for life", a very fear inducing idea! They also focused on the pain, I remember one section where the author was saying that she exhaustively charted where all her "tender points" were, was in excruciating pain as each one of them got touched, and categorized over 100 of them or something. One comment I remember in a book is that "every movement should be a stretch" or something like that. Talk about getting you to focus on the physical! If you go to a Fibromyalgia support board (something I do NOT recommend) you have a lot of people using the board to talk about how much pain they're in, their frustration, etc - a very negative experience and something likely to make your symptoms worse. Sarno's approach has been very effective for me and seems to be exactly the exact opposite tack from many of the current Fibromyalgia texts.
I agree that Nancy Selfridge's book "Freedom From Fibromyalgia" is very good - unlike most other Fibro texts they buy into Sarno's theory. She provides a lot of structure around what you specifically need to do to get better.
SamTheFish
SamTheFish |
| jilly_girl |
Posted - 01/18/2006 : 06:58:24
My mother had fibromyalgia. It may very well be a form of TMS. I do believe patients with this hellish pain need medication, yes even narcotic pain relief. They can work on the TMS issues at the same time. My mother couldnt lift a coffee cup to her mouth when she was put on methadone and got the first relief she'd had in years. Pain this bad needs medication, along with inforation about TMS. Just my 2 cents on it.
Jill |
| Jim1999 |
Posted - 01/17/2006 : 22:49:35
Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis which is widely accepted by medical doctors. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, according to mainstream medicine.
TMS is a diagnosis created by Dr. Sarno. Only a tiny percentage of medical doctors are willing to use this diagnosis. TMS is characterized by musculoskeletal pain, which may be widespread or localized. The TMS diagnosis implies that the physical symptoms have a psychological origin.
According to Dr. Sarno, all patients with fibromyalgia have TMS, but not all TMS patients have fibromyalgia. This means that TMS is a much broader diagnosis.
Have either of you (Saga and Saf) been diagnosed with fibromyalgia? That was my diagnosis in 1992. I made a full recovery in 1999 using Dr. Sarno's books, Healing Back Pain and The Mindbody Prescription.
Hope this helps,
Jim |
| Stryder |
Posted - 01/17/2006 : 19:10:15
Many of the un/misdiagnosed pain syndromes that do not have a physical cause fall into the TMS camp. If your doc has not been able to find anything seriously wrong with you and you are in no danger give HBP or MBP by Dr. Sarno a spin. You have nothing to loose but your pain.
I used to have frequent migraines as well. Headaches are a form of TMS as well. Maybe only 1 or 2 a year now that I'm on the TMS bandwagon. I quit caffeine 100% and that helped a lot!
Take care, -Stryder |
| n/a |
Posted - 01/17/2006 : 18:02:51
Dr. Sarno considers Fibromyalgia to be an extreme form of TMS and he uses the same treatment program for fibromyalgia patients as all his other TMS patients. Please also pick up Nancy Selfridge's book "Freedom From Fibromyalgia" as she uses Dr. Sarno's methods. She, and her co-author had fibromyalgia, but have fully recovered. You can find it on Amazon.com or just type in Freedom from Fibromyalgia into google. |
| Saf |
Posted - 01/17/2006 : 17:38:02
I am brand new on here today, I just got Sarno's book.
Havent had a chance to read it because my Fibro migraine kicked in.
I would also like to know on a personal level how Fibro and TMS compare and also where the migraines fit in.
thanks.
Saf |
