| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kavita |
Posted - 11/01/2004 : 09:43:19
I know Sarno dictates that you stop all physical therapy, but I had an appt that was already paid for, so I went. The physical therapist immediately identifed the area on my right side that has been the crux of my pain (quadratus lumborum), and believes there is joint restriction in my rib that is causing the pain. Because the pain has always been in this location, I still hold on to the belief that there may potentially be something (mechanically) wrong. My physical therapist referred me to a specialist who he trained under, who has been able to help many people that have not previously had good results from physical therapy. I feel that I need to see this individual to rule out once and for all that there is no mechanical problem and that my pain is due to TMS. I have been using Shecter's workbook while reading the Mindbody prescription, and have already read Healing Back Pain multiple times. Unfortunately, I have not made significant progress, and I think it's because I have not accepted the TMS diagnosis 100%. The two principles I do adhere to are 1) no pain medication and 2) continue to exercise. I have absolutely no fear of exercise, which I think has served me well, but I'd love to have a decrease is pain.
If anyone else has had a similar experience, I would love to hear about it, and any advice you might have. Thanks! |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| leegold |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 19:09:38
BTW- 'no pain meds' is not at all what dr sarno advises. he beleives they are ok as long as they are just for pain, not for therapy, and that you know tms is the real culprit
Lee
"A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones" |
| leegold |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 19:07:53
i read sarnos books many times while still seeing the chiro- sarno told me no matter how much i read and believed, as long as i was doing anything medical the tms would continue.
Lee
"A tranquil heart is life to the body, but passion is rottenness to the bones" |
| waystone |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 17:04:39
quote:
Originally posted by Kavita
The physical therapist immediately identifed the area on my right side that has been the crux of my pain (quadratus lumborum), and believes there is joint restriction in my rib that is causing the pain.
Hey there, Kavita. :)
There's something you're not taking into account:
TMS and joint restriction in your rib can occur at the same time. In fact, Sarno cites more than one example in his books of folks who, by the time they'd had TMS for a while, had been wary of the pain, limited their movements, and ended up with extreme restriction of movement in their shoulders or other joints (i.e., a frozen shoulder).
The point is this - whatever other tense muscles, creaky joints, and so forth have developed as we've tried to adapt to the pain, the underlying cause is TMS. Solving the TMS, and only the TMS, will affect a long-term cure.
Just my two cents. :)
WayStone |
| anirishguy |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 12:16:55
Hi Kavita, I found myself in a similar position to yourself. I tried the Sarno technique for a week, but the pain was so excruciating I could not sit down and being impatient I raced off to an Osteopath for a five week physical treament course. I was no better off at the end of the sessions. By the end of the five weeks I was clutching at straws and came to my senses when I found myself wearing a support corset, wearing a blessed rope whom an old Irish lady "who had the cure of the sprain" gave me, I had purchased several wedge shaped cushions, and had ordered an Inversion table. At this point, I said to myself "feck this for a life" and firmly decided to go back to the Sarno technique, threw away the cusions, binned the blessed rope, handed back the corset to my friend, handed back a Penns pain killer machine back to another friend, put away my kneeler chair and put back my old one and cancelled my order for the inversion table, stopped putting a pillow between my knees at night. I know what caused the problem in the first place, extreme stress at work as a busy lawyer, sitting 10 hours a day at the office, coming home and sitting another 2 hours, getting no exercise and not being able to handle my work load.
Since I gave up all the above supports, gadgets etc. two weeks ago the pain has got better to the extent that I can now sit down at work without my left leg going into spasm. I commenced walking to work and back each day, which totals four miles,so I get 20 miles extra exercise each week. Here is what I have learned so far:-
1. Ignore the pain if you can, take a painkiller if it gets excruciatingly sure but only on the grounds that the painkiller is treating the sympton, not the cause.
2. Speak to your mind and convince it that there is NO NEED for the pain. My mantra is "there is nothing wrong with me, there is no need for this pain, stop it".
3. Tell you mind to stop the pain because it is serving no purpose.
4. Challange and confront the pain. If you have started getting into your car backwards, then grit your teeth and get in and out twice the way you always did. If you have difficulty climbing the stairs, climb it twice and so on.
5. Exercise your whole body and don't do any specific exercises.
6. Ignore all advices and suggestions from friends. Tell them all pain is gone and that you are cured to stop them annoying you with "helpful" suggestions.
7. Discuss your physological problems with your subconscious mind, tell you s. mind that you are aware of them but that your s. mind and myself must live with them and get on with life. Tell you s. mind that you will try and improve your lifestyle in the future but let the past be and that there is no need for the past problems to make life difficult in the future. THE GREAT THING IS THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO SOLVE YOUR EMOTIONAL AND PHSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, just be aware of them.
7. Go back to the lifestyle you had when you were pain free.
That's about it for now, best of luck. An Irish Guy.
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| julia mann |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 10:55:32
I think that the question of 'structural problem' needs looking at. My therapist points to the psoas muscle as being the root of my problems but I guess many other people get told that various other named muscle areas are a problem too. One thing which my therapist said was that 'soft tissue can be changed can't it?' - as opposed to bone which cannot, except with surgery etc.
This is true, whether that be by someone massaging it day in and day out until it softens or by your brain not telling it to jam up and become tense! The fact that you think that your problem is to do with a muscle does suggest that there are no 'structural' problems - don't you think? Even if you do have a 'bone alignment problem' even this is probably due to tense muscles pulling them this way and that.
I am forever being told by therapists that my muslces are tight but I ask WHY???? No one can say and I think that TMS is the answer. By all means have the treatment as you may always be wondering in the back of your mind. Just be wary that you don't end up latching on to soemthing else after this one etc.
I am determined to 'come off' my treatment but I do agree that part of the acceptance process has to include a genuine letting go of existiing treatment and if you can truly say you have tried this one and failed then you will have a much better 'case' to put to your TMS brain than if you have a small doubt - which is what the TMS wants doesn't it?
Julia |
| Dave |
Posted - 08/28/2005 : 10:40:07
quote:
Originally posted by Kavita
Unfortunately, I have not made significant progress, and I think it's because I have not accepted the TMS diagnosis 100%. The two principles I do adhere to are 1) no pain medication and 2) continue to exercise.
It doesn't matter what principles you adhere to if you still seek physical treatments.
Step 1 is repudiate the structural diagnosis and stop all physical treatments. There absolutely no point to treating TMS if you do not complete step 1.
If you go the physical therapy route, then put all your energy there. Don't waste your time treating it as TMS until you are truly ready to stop physical treatments. |
| aodwolfpack |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 19:57:03
kavia, I am having a similar problem as you, if you would can you please contact me at kwolfslau@hotmail.com, I would like to ask you a couple of questions, thanks!!
Karl |
| Kavita |
Posted - 11/02/2004 : 07:29:29
Thanks Tom, that helps a lot. I needed to hear that someone else had difficulty with the same muscle. I really want to give my TMS work my 100%, but I know that I need to go this therapist once. If I don't feel any better, then I do believe I can fully eliminate any doubt from my mind. I know you would like to save me the time, but we have to come to acceptance in our own way. I am a scientist by training as well as a lawyer, so it is harder for me to step outside of the mechanical based thinking. I appreciate your guidance, and think of your words when I do my daily Sarno/Schecter. |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 11/01/2004 : 20:52:56
Hi Kavita,
Alright, you asked for opinions, so here goes. From my examinatiion of your quadratus lumborum, from cyberspace, my conclusion is that it is TMS. Thanks for reminding me of the quadratus lumborum. It was one of the many muscles and other body parts I suspected and fixated upon looking for the physical source of my TMS pain. As I recall it is very deep and difficult to palpate. I always enjoyed masseuses and rolfers digging around trying to find it. Quite deep. Most things that aren't TMS fix themselves in a week or two by themselves, with or without PT's, meds or anything else. The body is a wonderful self-healing machine.
Keep reading your Sarno or you can write him. The Good Doctor doesn't do phone but he does answer questions briefly and to the point. I have a letter in my copy MBP to prove it.
Good luck Kavita, hope this helps and give it time.
tt |
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