| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sheila |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 02:41:16
Hello everyone. I am new to the forum but have been logging on for the past few weeks. I have found all your stories really supportive.
I discovered Dr Sarno a month ago. I had been having lower back pain for 8 months - and just about all the other TMS symptoms for a long time before. After reading Dr Sarno's MBP book I felt immediately better. I then got his lectures on video and his other book Healing Back Pain. I have made great prgress and have had almost pain free days.
Last Friday the back pain started again. I have ignored it and carried on gardening all weekend. I cannot work out what is causing it. It is moving from side to side and is pretty sore. It refuses to go away despite my trying all of Dr Sarno's approaches.
Any suggestions please?
Sheila |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| sheila |
Posted - 08/25/2004 : 06:51:08
Dear Anne and Tennis Tom,
Many thanks for your support. It really helps to know that other people are going through this experience.
I am carrying on as if there is no pain, having accepted that there is nothing wrong with my back. I don't panic when I bend down and the pain kicks in.
I am keeping a daily journal and trying to deal with the emotional problem that triggered this attack. That said, I was limping when I took the dog for a walk this morning and this particular episode shows no signs of abating.
Best wishes,
Sheila
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| tennis tom |
Posted - 08/24/2004 : 09:35:39
Welcome to TMS-land Sheila. Don't worry about your board skills, it will come. I learned how to use a computer just so I could access this board, and it's opened up a whole new world for me. I realized that when I screwed up my posts and felt inadeaquate, it was evidence of my TMS perfectionist personality.
I live in San Francisco and there is not a single Sarno doc or psychologist here. You would think that in such a new age vortex they would be on every steet corner. But TMS apparently is such a difficult concept to embrace that even psychologists, who you would believe would be the most receptive, are not. Sarno said few would accept his theory and he is right. It requires exploring our dark side-the truth about ourselves. Most people don't want to look into that mirror.
I am in pain today. I played six hours of tennis on Sunday and my right hip really hurts. But thanks to the Good Doctor's theory I am not in a state of fear that I destroyed whatever cartelge I have in my right "arthritic" hip. Instead I will take it as it comes and continue playing and work through it. Perhaps the greatest message of Dr. Sarno is not to fear that our bodies are fragile. They are amazing recovery machines.
TMS will never be accepted by the medical/industrial complex. It would result in it's economic collapse. There's just no money to be made in telling people there's nothing physically wrong with them. All the bodyworkers, physical therapists and snake oil salesman would take a dramatic cut in income. There's too much money to be made by keeping the "pain" waters churning and muddled. How many people would get massages just because it feels good. I used to get a massage, chiro, accu, or other therapy weekly or more because I thought it was necessary to "heal" me. Now I only get an occasionlal treatment because it feels good. I'm saving a lot of money. |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 14:43:19
Don't be too disappointed, Sheila, the pain went once and it will again. What happened to you is pretty typical. It might be worth while for you to read some of the old posts here to find out just how typical.
You are right about the UK not being well served with practitioners who are knowledgeable about TMS. I went internet searching one time and I couldn't find a single one in the whole of Europe! On the other hand, the way our NHS operates there may be financial savings to be made in linking pain to psychological causes. I have noticed in the past few months there have been several reports in the press of studies being undertaken in this field (Manchester University to name one).
I could be wrong, but I think that we'll be hearing more about the link between negative emotions and chronic pain in this country. |
| sheila |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 13:21:06
Hi Anne,
As you will see from my reply to Dave I am still trying to get to grips with the mechanics of the forum. It is nice to hear from someone from the UK where we appear to be even less well served than the States in terms of tackling TMS.
Thanks for your support. I had not driven for 7 months but have now started again. The weekend was a real disappointment as I thought I had got on top of the pain. Obviously it needs more work and I think that you and Dave are both absolutely right about working on 'deconditioning' the unconscious.
Best wishes
Sheila |
| sheila |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 13:04:45
[quote]Originally posted by Dave
Your experience is very common. The immediate relief you felt should be a confirmation of the TMS diagnosis. Don't let the recurrence derail your efforts.
Your brain is fighting your newfound discovery. It wants to continue the strategy that has worked for so long. It won't give up easily. It is important to take a long-term view and not focus on the day-to-day variability of symptoms.
All you can do is keep reading the books, and do the psychological work (list your sources of rage, journal every day, etc.).
[Dear Dave,
Many thanks for your help. It does seem that most people have similar problems. I will keep working at it - the forum is such a great help.
regards
Sheila] |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 11:40:11
Hi Sheila
My experience was very similar to yours - lower back pain - immediate relief on finding out about TMS fifteen months ago. In fact, I hadn't driven for months because of fear that it would make my problem worse - I drove the first day I read the book. I couldn't believe the improvement I experienced by having confirmation of what I had suspected for some time - that my pain was psychological in origin.
I agree with what Dave says; TMS does not give up easily. I have had relapses, but gradually as the fear of pain subsided, they have become far fewer, less severe and don't last long. My last one was just over a week ago. I was stung twice on the arm by a wasp and the shock of the sudden pain, I didn't see the little pest coming, brought on painful lower back spasms. In the past, this would have been the start of days or even weeks of pain and misery, but it was gone by the next day.
In Dr Sarno's books, he says that most of his patients get better simply by acquiring the knowledge of what TMS is and does and I am sure that this is the case for some people, but you'll find that most of us who post here have taken quite some time to 'de-condition' our brains, in order that we lose the fear of pain.
Kind regards
Anne |
| Dave |
Posted - 08/23/2004 : 08:22:55
Your experience is very common. The immediate relief you felt should be a confirmation of the TMS diagnosis. Don't let the recurrence derail your efforts.
Your brain is fighting your newfound discovery. It wants to continue the strategy that has worked for so long. It won't give up easily. It is important to take a long-term view and not focus on the day-to-day variability of symptoms.
All you can do is keep reading the books, and do the psychological work (list your sources of rage, journal every day, etc.). |
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