| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Covenant |
Posted - 05/02/2010 : 12:12:23
I'm pretty new to the idea of TMS but after having constant pains in my hands/wrists for about eight years now and seemingly nothing physically wrong with either I started looking into other options.
I had thought it might be an RSI because for the last ten years I've been a very heavy computer user but after various tests and X-Rays I keep being told there's nothing wrong. So in looking elsewhere I came across this site and after reading about TMS and others success stories I am starting to believe that this could really be the cause of my pain.
The personality traits definitely check out such as the pain starting during a rough childhood period and it continued. Looking back I could see the main flare ups came with periods when I was most anxious/stressed/angry and when I think about it in this context I find that this repression really could be part of the cause. It's difficult starting out as I only realize now how much of my day is based around the pain or thinking about it, and I always seem to have more flares ups when I start concentrating on it (or notice that the pain isn't that bad at that time and it flares up the second I think it.)
I've ordered one of the books online and I've been reading success stories from others. Sometimes it's hard to not react in a way I normally would when I get the pain flare up but even just over the last few days, changing my thought process has helped and I really look forward to continuing this journey. It's just nice to know there are people going through a similar thing to me as I always felt that the doctor's just thought I was imagining it or something. |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 05/08/2010 : 17:07:33
quote:
Seems a bit of a breakthrough to me and though it might take me a while, things do seem to be improving a lot. I just wish I'd found out about TMS before stupidly buying expensive gadgets (new mouse and chair) to 'improve' my ergonomics for the RSI. But we live and learn at least.
Voice Recgnition software: £100
New Laptop with the RAM to play Dragon: £400
New ergonomic mouse: £70
New Footmouse from America: £200
Another new Footmouse after the first one broke: £200
New ergonomic computer chair: £100
No longer having RSI: Priceless
The big breakthrough (which you seem to have already made) is noticing how the RSI is influenced by non-physical events. As soon as you see that, you'll begin to catch it before it starts - getting stressed? Start to look for the RSI to manifest itself, and when it does, go, "aha! You're not physical at all!" Use it as confirmation that this is a mind-body problem. Once you've got that, the fear goes - you no longer have to fear physical activity.
Check out the TMS website: www.rsi-backpain.co.uk |
| HilaryN |
Posted - 05/08/2010 : 11:00:09
That's great progress!
Hilary N |
| Covenant |
Posted - 05/08/2010 : 02:52:49
A little update. Yesterday I went shopping with a friend as part of a birthday treat. Before we left and then in the car my pain was a little worse because I was feeling nervous/worried but once we arrived and started shopping I was so distracted I didn't think or worry about my hands and I felt very little pain all day. Even when it got really cold and started raining, something that would normally freak me out (I seem to associate cold weather with making my pain worse, something I am now doing hard to break the conditioning of) I didn't let myself think 'oh this will hurt' I just ignored the weather and enjoyed myself.
It was strange to realize and see it this way, especially as the pain only seemed to come back on the way home when I was able to let myself think 'oh I haven't had much pain today.'
Seems a bit of a breakthrough to me and though it might take me a while, things do seem to be improving a lot. I just wish I'd found out about TMS before stupidly buying expensive gadgets (new mouse and chair) to 'improve' my ergonomics for the RSI. But we live and learn at least. |
| Covenant |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 13:10:25
Thanks for the responses. I have read The Mind/Body Prescription so far and a lot of the descriptions do fit me. It's hard going so far as though I've tried at least consciouslly confronting the likely reasons behind my pain I haven't had a huge success so far. (I have noticed that I've had a spike of pain elsewhere whilst thinking so it's like my mind is reacting to what I am doing and trying to distract me again) so it is keeping me going. Confronting things that have affected me in the past and remembering times when pain flared the most has helped but I know there's a long journey.
I also think part of me thinks of certain things like using the computer and links it with pain I might get, so I keep telling myself that the computer area won't cause me pain and that it's something else. It's not a miracle cure and I know I've a lot to work on. I just hope I can keep at it and not get frustrated as that won't help. (I've also seen more success so far than the placebo's I've tried in the past.) |
| pandamonium |
Posted - 05/04/2010 : 03:51:32
Welcome Covenant,
it sounds like you are on the right track. I think when "they can't find anything wrong" and you can relate the pain to times in your life when the stress is higher, then you are on the right track.
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A beginner's guide to psychology: If it's not your mum's fault.... it's your dad's... |
| Gibbon |
Posted - 05/02/2010 : 14:32:29
hiya covenant
Good luck on your journey - if you need any encouragement that RSI is a manifestation of TMS you only need to check out the 50+ success stories listed here:
http://tmswiki.wetpaint.com/page/Repetitive Strain Injuries - RSI
Many of them are really detailed and eloquently written accounts of former RSI sufferers finding success with the TMS approach. You can read my own story here:
http://www.rsi-backpain.co.uk/page2.html
All the best! If you have any questions feel free to ask, and let us know how you get on....
Andrew
Check out the TMS website: www.rsi-backpain.co.uk |
| LuvtoSew |
Posted - 05/02/2010 : 13:43:19
Your not alone and I've been on and off the board for a long time,
but I go back to the physical listening to my friends and doctors,
but I'm so tired of all the therapy, just plain tired, and you know what,
chiros made me worst,
PT didn't help
cranial osteo didn't help.
actually everything made me feel worst. |
