| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| larkascending |
Posted - 07/09/2006 : 21:42:10
Hi all,
Have you had a doctor diagnose your TMS and did it help the healing process?
I am pretty sure I have TMS - I have had sciatic and shifting upper and lower back pain for 2 years and didn't sit at all for the first year and a half. The pain started after a very stressful period in my life, when my father was undergoing a life threatening stem-cell transplant. I had an MRI and was diagnosed with a moderately herniated disc at L4-L5 and mild degenerative disc disease. Surgery was not recommended. I tried chiropractors, physical therapy, osteopathy, homeopathy, naturopathy, psychotherapy and acupuncture, without much success. I read Sarno's book when the pain first started two years ago but wasn't ready to accept that TMS was my problem. I picked up the book again this past April and suddenly saw myself all over it. I am a perfectionist, a goodist and am prone to anxiety. I've had other mindbody symptoms in the past - allergies, asthma, tennis elbow, chest pains (not related to my heart), unexplained stomach pain. If I press certain parts of my neck, I can induce a cramp (TMS pressure point?).
The thing is, I've been journaling and focusing on the TMS theory for two months, I've read all the TMS books out there and am now listening to the Schechter CDs and DVD, and although I do see some slight improvements, I'm wondering if I need a real, true doctor's diagnosis in order to really belief that what I have is TMS. I have alot of fear when it comes to sitting again (although I am sitting for 20 minutes twice a day now - Yay!), walking long distances and bending down normally. If I link an activity to a later episode of pain, I have a really hard time doing that activity again. I am wondering if a diagnosis would help to break that fear cycle.
Seeing a TMS doctor will be expensive and require an airplane ride (I'm in Canada - no TMS doctors here!). The not-sitting part will also make an airplane ride interesting...But I am willing to do it if will help me to overcome my pain.
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| PeterW |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 13:24:07
Thanks Wolf. Just ordered 'Healing Back Pain' audio cd off Amazon. Quite inexpensive too, less that $10 US plus shipping etc. I already have the book but it'll be good to have it penetrate this way as I'm really more of an auditory person.
As far as I could see that's the only one of his books available in audio format. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but being a TMS personality I was quite thorough in my investigation . . .  |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 11:08:18
quote:
Originally posted by PeterW
I'd like info on the Sarno audio cd's also
I got mine off ebay. You can search on there for "John Sarno CD" as I saw a couple this morning still available. I believe Amazon has it also. It's a 3 CD set and it's Sarno himself narrating most of his book. It comes in handy when I don't have the time to just sit and read. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 11:01:41
FOR TMS STUFF SEE :
http://tmshelp.com/books.htm |
| PeterW |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 10:22:18
I'd like info on the Sarno audio cd's also . . . last time I looked there was no such thing on his site. |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 09:45:54
I hear you Jay, I have every intention of doing the 40 minute walk tomorrow as well...I think it's great that you listen to the Sarno CD's on the way to work..I am wondering if there is anything on them that is not on the video tape...When did he record those cd's..how long ago? Maybe i will get them as well...Yes we do need the repetion, no doubt about that...I am about to go journal and read and then hopefully paint...I received an anonymous email to my regular account today that I was posting too much and my life must be so empty...I cannot relate to some of the mean spirited people out there...really i can't...I mean, no one is forcing anyone to read ANything that anyone ever posts...We all have free will...This person was such a chicken because she (have a feeling it's a woman) wouldn't let me know who she was! At least I speak up for myself and I am not afraid to write to someone directly...Oh well..what are you going to do? There are way more wonderful people on here, overall..So I won't let one or two bad apples spoil the whole bunch...I know inside that once i am past this acute attack phase..my postings will be sparse and I will be writing mostly to help others who still suffer... |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 09:37:37
Hi Karen,
I listen to the Sarno Audio CDs on my lovely 1 hour commute to work each day in NJ traffic and it helps to hear it over an over again in my opinion. We've so conditioned, whether by traditional doctors or the media that it's a physical problem that is running rampant, that I think we need to hear about TMS over and over again. Withing reason of course because just hearing about it and not buying into it doesn't do one much good.
Congrats on walking for 40 minutes. Just say to yourself that you expected to hurt and that you know why. When I've picked heavy things up and my back has hurt I have just laughed at myself and said to myself that of course it hurt because I expected it to. I ridicule the pain and it does subside.
I know it will be some time before I have zero pain and that's ok. I'm working on it and I am not going to let the pain stop me from doing the things I like. Do not become a prisoner to your pain. You know that, but one can easily slip into becoming its prisoner. You know if you do that you are doomed.
Keep walking  If you did 40 minutes today what's to stop you from doing it again tomorrow and the next day? Nothing in my opinion.
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| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/12/2006 : 08:58:25
Jay,
I just watched the Sarno lecture videotapes last night...And lo and behold one of the people on the video was struggling initially w/ accepting the TMS diagnosis 100 percent..Actually several were at first...But once they did, they recovered...And one person asked him if she would have to get rid of ALL her fear b4 feeling better and he said no...Just keep working on it daily and consistently...do the program...Make a list of your personality traits that are indicative of TMS, make a list of your life pressures...review these daily...Then also journal twice a day and read the books daily until it all sinks into the unconscious mind...I just returned from walking 40 min. that is the longest since this acute attack began 7 weeks ago...it was not pain free..and the gremlin moved into my back and knee as well..but i kept going and I am glad that i did...
Hope you are doing well today,
Karen |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 20:47:26
quote:
Its a mind set, a brain washing that needs to be unlearned in order to recover from TMS.
And that can take some time. That's where I struggle. I believe I have TMS. I've seen the patterns of when I do and don't have pain. Yet, I don't commit 100% to that belief. I will but it will just take me time. Everyone is different and we must all work through our own stuff at our pace. As long as you're searching for answers I feel it's all good. As long as one doesn't dwell on the pain or use it for an excuse for too long.
Jay |
| Stryder |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 15:47:58
Hi larkascending,
I too have never seen a TMS doc. I had LBP and a host of other TMS equivs for over 20 years. Upon reading Healing Back Pain it just all made complete and total sense to me. I was not one of those who recovered in a a matter of days, it took me a couple years of steady progress to be 99% recovered. There was a huge decrease in overall pain after a few months, and then getting the last 10% took a couple years.
Its good that after you picked up the book(s) the second time that your conscious mind "seemed to get it". Thats a good sign. Its not uncommon for many to be so convinced by the medical/commerical complex that there is something physical problem that needs to be treated. Its a mind set, a brain washing that needs to be unlearned in order to recover from TMS.
Take care, -Stryder |
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 15:39:17
lark,
I was not diagnosed by a TMS MD. After reading MBP and doing some experimenting it was clear to me that I had TMS and I saw no reason to waste money and time confirming it, even though I am relatively near two TMS doctors. I had seen a lot of physical practitioners (for severe RSI, which was my main TMS symptom) and knew that I had no obvious physical problems except tight muscles and extremely mild Morton's Foot that even my PT said shouldn't be causing pain. In that way I was lucky compared to back-pain sufferers since you can't MRI the forearms for "degenerative" changes. :)
I did a lot of reading, carefully resumed activity, and started the emotional digging...and I am no longer a captive to my pain! (It did not take long for me to return to activity -- about 6 weeks in I was basically back into everything, but I am not quite pain-free. I just don't let it stop me anymore!) :D
--
Wherever you go, there you are. |
| Dave |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 14:44:37
I have a suggestion.
Please, try to omit the words "pain" and "tightness" from any future message. It's for your own good. |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 13:02:23
No you aren't rambling...I like what you have to say, it always helps me Jay! I feel your pain regarding loving to lift weights, i do too..And I have not been able to for 6 weeks, w/ the exception of lower body and that is very recent...I am worried i am going to lose some of my biceps/triceps from not working out this long...
I know Dr. Sarno says to start introduing physical activity again once the pain is either gone or almost gone..Mine is definitely not gone, nor is the tightness...but i am starting anyway..I have to find a balance and not push it to the point where i then think i hurt something structural..I am STILL not 1000 percent convinced i am not dealing w/ a combo of structural and TMS at the same time...I sure hope it is 100 percent TMS, really i do...But my darn intellect has always been a problem for me..And being IMPATIENT..wanting a quick fix...I just can't take being stuck in this house and soooo limited in doing even basic things anymore...I am feeling so depressed today about all of this..My therapist said just experience the feeling depressed...be in the here and now...So i am trying to do that...
'
It is even hard to look in the right rear view mirror..Driving straight is no problem I am not afraid of that..It's the dangers of not being able to check if someone is coming when i make a turn...that is why i went super early when there were few cars on the road..But here i sit again, in my PJ's back to being alone and house bound...I want to paint but i have to get myself a little out of this depressive state or i may mess up the big landscape i am working on...I am in a bad space today...It could also be partly sugar withdrawals...i have been eating bad the past week and struggling to get back on track again.. |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 12:18:16
Karen, can you move your body to use the side view mirrors when you drive? Is that also an issue? What I'm seeing here is you putting a lot of conditions on yourself for not doing it. And that would be a great injustice to yourself.
I'm now doing the exercises I was afraid of doing and yes I'm hurting afterwards. But if I kept saying to myself that I'll do A B or C exercise that I'm afraid of once my back feels better I will never get to it.
I agree each person has to do it at their own pace and in baby steps but I personally feel they have to challenge themselves physically to some degree. How I challenge myself will be different then the next person and that's fine as we each have different degrees of pain and fear.
But I feel if each of doesn't challenge our pain at a certain point, we never will. Even if you try to drive just around the block when traffic is very low, you will have taken some of those baby steps to prove to yourself that you can do it.
One of the biggest fears I have is hurting myself further when I lift weights. I've associated lifting weights, or at least certain exercises, with the potential for injury. Well, the truth of the matter is I can just as easily hurt myself bending over to pick something up if I had structual damage. So I've gotten to the point where I am getting pretty mad at myself (my brain) for restricting me from doing one of the things I love the most which is weight training.
I am feeding off that anger at myself to do the exercises that I have feared. Babying my back hasn't helped so that wasn't the answer. If anything, babying my back has made things worse because then I would start to think to myself that if doing nothing is causing me so much pain, what will lifting something heavy do to my back. Viscious cycle we must all break out of.
Not telling you to rush things, but if you don't challenge yourself at some point (consistently) you will be trapped in the long run. You've made some good strides but in my opinion you have to do it consistently to make yourself believe everything is, or will be, ok.
Rambling again, sorry  |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:56:56
Yes pools are a great way to exercise/rehab..for sure...The pool is at my gym and my gym is 15-20 minutes away so yes I would have to drive...It's still kind of dangerous cuz i cannot properly look left to right to make turns..So my roomie has been taking me to the gym on the weekend...I remember years ago 1996 after the whiplash accident and when they first discovered herniated discs, swimming helped me alot...even arms over head..but in a way, my neck feels more locked up now then it was then...I am still going to try it..I love the water, would prefer real water to chlorinated cuz my hair and skin doesn't like it, but oh well.. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:44:09
Hi Karen,
As an alternative to arms over the head, until you feel confident that their is nothing wrong with your nech and you can start moving it again, you can do water exercise, just holding on to a kickboard to keep you afloat with your head out of the water. I do this with an Aqua-Jogger belt but it can also be done just holding a kick-board or one of those "noodle" pool exercise device.
I swim without goggles but the water in my pool is not too chlorinalted--or you can try the back-stroke.
Where is the pool? Is there a pool where you live or do you have to drive to one.
The wonderful thing about water exercise is that their is NO impact and it will not jar your neck. |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:26:00
Oh sorry Tom, forgot to address that...I have to borrow my friends goggles, don't have a pair that fit right..I do have a great snorkle though...I have to go to the gym on the weekends when my roomie can drive me..He works during the week...It's hard to drive cuz i cannot look left/right...I did drive to the park to walk today a very short distance and it was great...I love swimming and it is a great idea you had to do it w/ a snorkle..etc..so i am going to call my friend and see when i can get her goggles to go and try it...A little concerned about the whole arms above the head thing...but...since it must be TMS i should stop worrying and just try it! |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:23:08
Thanks Karen,
Is the pool work activity feasible  |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:21:17
NJ is back in full operation so you can visit now |
| Singer_Artist |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:16:33
That is a good realization Jay...I am still working on that one...My therapist reminded me that even if i move my head to drive, i cannot hurt myself..Now I just have to believe that 100 percent myself...Yes the lottery..wouldn't that be great! Is it up and running again back there in NJ? |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 07/10/2006 : 11:13:59
The vacation thing does seem to be a pattern with me doesn't it Karen That's why I need to win the lottery so I can always be on vacation and be free of pain Of course I realize that's kind of running away from my repressed emotions.
I'm starting to believe more and more each day that the pain I feel can't hurt me regardless of what I do. It has helped some coming to that realization.
Jay |
