| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Texasrunner |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 14:19:18
TennisTom made an interesting comment in a recent post: "Most people need their pain." Not only do I agree with this, but I think it is an important concept of TMS. The fact is, for most people, even those who are aware of TMS, the absence of their pain would leave a void or vacuum that would need to be filled by something else. In a sense, they need their pain because it is a known quantity- something they are familiar with. That may be one reason many have a hard time letting it go. Of course this is subconcisous- no one consciously wants their pain!
PS- Personal report: I no longer need my pain. I am getting ready for an upcoming marathon, and I ran one of my biggest training weeks two weeks ago- 60 miles, and yesterday ran a 22 miler with NO butt pain! (This is after 8 years of butt/hamstring pain that at times had me almost limping) so don't give up EVER! PSS- Aside from genreal physicals, I never once went to a doctor for it, because I figured they just wouldn't have a clue about how to approach the problem. |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| pault |
Posted - 01/12/2005 : 04:50:03
Michelle , i have a friend who cured her bad back (tms) and her doctor told her she was just lucky.He also deserves the middle finger! Paul. |
| pault |
Posted - 01/12/2005 : 04:47:00
Jack I was unable to run for years because of back pain,the thing that helped me most was telling my unconscious brain that the pain was harmless.I was defiant about it and kept pushing forward,no pain now.Were you ever diagnosed by tms Doc? Paul. |
| jack |
Posted - 01/11/2005 : 06:32:56
michele-
i noticed your posts about running. i was wondering how you are making out with your running and tms. were you able to beat it? i am still struggling and not running much to my chagrin. it's been about 5 weeks since i've run with no improvement in my groin pain.
maybe you have some hints
jack |
| lobstershack |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 20:25:06
I can definitely relate to "wanting" the pain as well as fearing its departure. I am almost 23 now and have lived with a dull headache in my temples since I was 17. When I first starting reading about Sarno in early November I remember becoming very anxious--exactly what was I going to do without my pain. Over the years it has become a "close companion"--as I am sure many of you can relate--and I even found myself thinking that I don't want it to go away! I'm too afraid. But I have found something that helps. Every time these thoughts would creep into my head I would immediately dismiss them as illogical. My rational was that it was my unconscious attempting to draw me back into the "game" so to speak. Over the past few months it has definitely decreased, and I am intending to continue to utilize this technique along with the other TMS work, and most importantly, trying to stay PATIENT!
Also, for a while I was a bit confused as to how I would go about de-conditioning myself, seeing that I am an active person and have learned to live with the headache/symptoms whereby I do not restrict my activities at all. But I got to thinking; my conditioning has taken a slightly different form. For instance, at one point I was putting myself on myriad elimination diets because I thought certain foods were making my headache more intense. But now, say when I go to eat something sugary (which is quite often unfortunately), instead of fearing that my headache will intensify (as I did in the past) I try not to entertain the thought at all. And if in fact it does get a bit worse, I tell myself that it has nothing to do with what I just ate--and trust me, I've practically restricted EVERYTHING there is to restrict so I know this is not my problem. I'm wondering what else I should be doing to decondition aside from restating the principles whenever I begin to think physically.
Lastly, while my headache was a bit better for a while then as of a week or two ago it has increased a bit (I'm not letting this get me down, in fact after reading many of the postings I expected it). Now, it has remained pretty steady in intensity, but I am experiencing a feeling that is a bit difficult to describe. It's almost like a "return to normalcy"--not physically, but emotionally (?). Or maybe I'm just making all of this up. One more thing: Did anyone--when they were in the throes of TMS--experience a loss of libido? I definitely have, and am sure that having a chronic headache can do that to you, although it's a bit discouraging considering my age. I posit that when the symptoms abate the drive will return? Has anyone experienced this?
The think that I like about this board is that I actually get to read and talk to people who have had success. So many other message boards (and trust me, I've been to plenty over the past 5 years) do not have such inspiring stories. Mostly I've found them to be a bit depressing.
Thanks!
Seth |
| Michele |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 16:26:43
Good luck with your upcoming marathon! You don't post on the RW forum by chance, do you? I post in the masters forum.
I am also encouraged by your post, as I am bound and determined to run another marathon (or more). I want a picture of me crossing the finish line so I can send it to the a*hole doctor who told me I was no longer an athlete, needed to quit doing all weight bearing exercises, and learn to live with my pain getting progressively worse. (I have mild arthritis in my hips.) I would also give him the 1-finger salute, but I'm trying to be mature about it.  |
| Hilary |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 16:25:07
Good news about your running, Texasrunner!
I'm fairly new to pain, but not new to TMS as I've had other symptoms for the last 10 years. I find it hard to imagine that I "want" this discomfort but I know exactly what you mean. I've oftened wondered what the heck I'd think about if I didn't think about being dizzy every single day. These symptoms have absolutely dominated my life and have dictated some major life decisions along the way.
I think Dr Sarno is quite careful about how he approaches this issue - I can't remember exactly what he says, but I believe he really dislikes the behavioural psychology viewpoint that people with pain are getting a payoff from their pain.
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| n/a |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 14:52:06
I think it's spot on to say that some people need their pain, Texasrunner. Being aware of the mind/body connection and having pretty much cured myself of my back pain, I can look back objectively now at what went on when my TMS was at its worst. The only thing that was strong enough to take my mind off the very difficult family situations I was dealing with at the time was that pain.
The fact that I was in pain strong enough to make normal activities impossible kept me from being able to help family members some of the time - other people had to do it. On reflection, why didn't I tell them that I could not and would not carry the burdens alone? I sure as anything would do so now!
It was when these situations eased that I began to look into the causes of my pain - I no longer needed it.
Good luck with the marathon training. |
| Laura |
Posted - 01/10/2005 : 14:48:41
Texasrunner,
I agree with you and Tom about "needing" our pain/symptoms. It occupies so much of our time that imagine what we would do without it.
I also want to thank you for an encouraging post. Eight years is a long time and like you say, we should never give up. My dizziness is going on three years and there are days when I want to give up but I have no choice except to keep plugging away, like the rest of you. I'm glad to hear you are well. Keep up the good work and good luck with the upcoming marathon. I'm sure you will "kick butt!!!"
Laura
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