| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| marytabby |
Posted - 11/13/2007 : 06:36:39
Hi all,
I'm not a newbie at all to TMS and I fully acknowledge all my pains to be TMS. I do have a challenge, and I'd like to know if anyone has any suggestions to the following annoying patterns:
I have two distinct flare-ups all the time. If my left upper back/neck isn't stuck/frozen, my right hand is hurting. It's never both hurting at the same time. It's like, my right hand will ache and ache for two months, then it will go away. Then my left back/neck will flare up for a week or two, then it will go away. Then it switches back to the right hand, then back to the left neck. This pattern is so annoying and regardless of all the work I do with my TMS reading, journaling, self-affirmations and ignoring it, it won't give up. So I'm constantly at odds with these two gremlins and I'm at a loss as to what to try differently. Can anyone chime in and offer a suggestion? Thanks! |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Allan |
Posted - 11/23/2007 : 13:08:41
Mary
Why not consider making an appointment with Dr. Sopher in NH?
He is just over the border in Exeter.
I am impressed with his chapter in Dr. Sarno's book, The Divided Mind. He is truly a TMS doctor who studied under Dr. Sarno in NY by the way. He seems to have a good technique with his patients. His biggest promblem (as stated in his chapter)is getting his patients to accept the concept of TMS. If you already accept the TMS philosophy, you two should really get along.
He also wrote a book, "To be or not to be. . . pain free." I have it on order from Amazon.
Allan
|
| armchairlinguist |
Posted - 11/15/2007 : 15:29:01
mamab, what a great metaphor with the broom closet! So true. I love your descriptions of things. I think therapists do help us realize that behind our broom closet doors there can be a lot of cobwebs, because they see us in ways that are different from the ways we see ourselves.
--
It's not 100% belief that's required, but 100% commitment. |
| art |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 08:33:27
Hey Mary,
What better cause to spend money on than your own happiness...
You're a tough, courageous lady (though it might not feel that way all the time)... |
| skizzik |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 07:51:40
La kevin,
All your points are confirming everything I've gone thru this year.
Especially the "spread of pain" if you will. I'ts either a 10 in one spot, or a 3 here, a 4 there, and an alternating 1 or 2 some where else.
I'ts such good advice to stop fighting TMS w/ mind battles, and accept it.
I'ts like in the 80's, the "War on drugs" back fired to the point that it made illegal drugs so profitable, it was worth the risk of dealing them to get ahead in life.
Also, seeing the drug war everyday put into my head as a youngster something I was unaware of (illegal drugs) until it was plastered all over the news.
I'm not advocating legalizing drugs, and don't want to get a discussion going on it. But rather use this example to illustrate that "fighting" off the pain can perpetuate it.
|
| marytabby |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 06:42:07
Thanks everyone. I guess I have to work harder at not fighting the pain, like la_kevin suggests. Art, I agree, something in my life is making me unhappy and I am really trying hard to get to what that might be. I am in therapy as well as I am working with a life coach to try to figure out where my life is not on track with my "authentic self." This is taking a lot of time (and money). |
| mamaboulet |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 06:22:40
la_kevin, you make a good point about the resistant stuff and therapists. From what I've read, insight-based therapy can be an uncomfortable experience, because the therapist will push you in directions that your subconscious does not want to go. I think it is entirely possible for somebody to journal faithfully yet still avoid opening some of the scariest doors. Sometimes it takes a therapist to notice that when you are walking down the hall, you keep walking by that certain door, because your brain sneakily labeled it broom closet. |
| mamaboulet |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 06:16:07
the dog whisperer thing made me giggle. I can just see you talking to your brain: "You, mr Brain, need some boundaries, rules, and limitations, and I, as your pack leader, am going to enforce them. Chhh!!" |
| la_kevin |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 03:27:28
Oh, I forgot to include a trick that might help. Embrace the pain. I know that sounds weird, but what I mean is don't fight it in your mind. Just tell yourself it's there, you don't have "control" of it yet, you know it's purpose, it's gettin old, it's not needed anymore, and you're going to go on with life. I really know by my own experience that this rehearsal of calm and assertive(ok i sound like the dog whisperer) talk to the pain is much more useful than getting angry or fighting it.
I had my pain shift to extreme fatigue and flu like symptoms today. I just laughed at it taking away all it's power, acknowledged that I was anxious about going through my dead Aunt's boxes of photos, and it lifted after about a half hour. Just by saying "I know exactly what you're doing". Just remember that fighting TMS is a losing situation, at least in my opinion. Taking away it's power is much better.
In addition, remember that seeking advise is one thing. But no matter what CONSCIOUS reason you may look for, you're in the wrong place of the mind. I feel that if you're at a level where stubborn TMS is nagging you, the unconscious realm is needing something. It's something that I found can never be treated by some sort of thinking like "Am I not journaling enough" or " Should I journal 5 times today to get it all out?" It's usually something like a splinter in the brain that doesn't realy get hit on until some random ass thought comes in your head and you have an "OHHHHHH I SEEEEE" moment. That's why I think therapists help. They see what we or our "journals" can't see, and act as better mirrors. But changing the approach like you said is a good start. Trying something different may be the need obviously. |
| la_kevin |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 03:16:20
I find that if you're not in a "flareup" cycle or at the stage that most fibro and CFS people are at, your pains will be more of an annoyance and they will share the load just enough to make you pay attention. Different than the experience of your whole body hurting and having TMS just explode on you.(severe cases).
It's so bizarre how it happens. I always think of it in terms of "10" being the load capacity. If a neck is a 7, the leg will be a three. If the neck is a 10, the leg will be zero. If they're both 5's then you feel extra screwed. But I rarely find that pains share an even load. It's usually one that dominates more. Like the old thing where someone says to you,"Would you like me to step on your foot?" when you have a headache.
I think REAL pain from real injury hurts regardless, and it doesn't seem to go back and forth. TMS has this unusual sharing characteristic, which makes me totally believe it's a more cerebral event.
|
| Lizzie |
Posted - 11/14/2007 : 02:39:51
Maryalma I can understand this pattern. I have pain that moves around between neck and low back with other quirky short term aches inbetween. Sometimes I think it is because I expect to feel pain and so on some level look for it. I think this is because I have had pain for so long, it is my habit/pattern. My latest line of attack to this TMS is to try and think of anything else, not necessarily what is causing the pain, as thinking about negatives all the time is not much fun. I am also trying to reward myself if things go well. That way I have something nice (usually chocolate to look forward to which is a distraction in itself). I have had a moderate level of success with this method. I envy those that can beat TMS quickly and that is a source of anger too for me but I hope I will get pain free and feel in control of TMS in the end.
Lizzie |
| art |
Posted - 11/13/2007 : 12:37:24
Mary,
SOrry to hear. At least you've not doubting the TMS angle. I'm sure I've said this before, but in my opinion when you've got a person like yourself who's done all the work faithfully and who clearly has TMS, it might be time to look at life issues..If there are things in your life that are making you unhappy/angry/sad, it just might be that some of that needs to be addressed...I know this is counter to established orthodoxy, but I do continue to believe that unhappiness cna make us ill...
You've struggled long and hard. My heart goes out to you... |
|
|
