| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Waylon |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 16:05:21
I have had ripping, agonizing sciatica pain for 5 weeks now. I've been told that it should run it's course but it seems to be getting worse and worse. My life has been turned upside down by it.
I was recommeded Sarno's books and downloaded them from Audible - 'Healing Back Pain' and 'Divided Mind'. It's frustrating because both books seem to deal with trying to convince the reader that the pain is actually caused by hidden rage, a concept I acccept. It doesn't seem to give enough tools to deal with the rage. In other words, I don't know what to do besides the 12 statements at the end of HBP.
Is it really just learning about Tms? I'm in such pain.
Any advice? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Waylon |
Posted - 05/22/2010 : 11:11:29
Thanks Dave - Really I realized that before I went to those other doctors. Still, it was something I felt like I had to do given the severity of the pain. I'm glad it's behind me now and I can focus on TMS. |
| Dave |
Posted - 05/22/2010 : 09:55:27
quote:
Originally posted by Waylon
The Sarno concept of hidden rage makes perfect sense to me but I felt like I wanted to cover my bases. So this week I had appointments with a massage therapist, an acupuncturist and my general practitioner.
Hopefully, you now realize that this is entirely counterproductive if you accept that TMS applies to you.
Stopping all physical treatments is absolutely essential to recovery. |
| Waylon |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 19:50:44
Thank you so much guys for taking the time and showing the interest to respond. I will keep you posted on my progress.
It was quite a week for me. Last week the pain crescendoed. I was away on business and was getting up at 5 in the morning to walk, sometimes limp, around the hotel parking lot while listening to Sarno. An hour or two of walking usually loosens up the leg enough for me to feel OK and do my work. The Sarno concept of hidden rage makes perfect sense to me but I felt like I wanted to cover my bases. So this week I had appointments with a massage therapist, an acupuncturist and my general practitioner. It was quite funny some of their questions. "Which pocket do you keep your wallet in?" etc. Ie. these guys were clueless about TMS. And they offered no help really from within their own disciplines. At one point I told the GP's nurse "I think that the cause of my pain in psychosomatic ... hidden rage." She laughed out loud. They couldn't wait to give me more Vicoden.
So I'm glad that due diligence is finished and I can concentrate just on TMS. Monday I see a TMS specialist. I'm lucky enough to have one in my town. I have started a journal and the voice recorder on my iphone has become a valuable tool for me to capture my thoughts about the rage and where it may come from. Eckhart Tolle audiobooks also seem to help me. I have to stay patient and keep at it. Thank you again for your suggestions and encouragement! |
| Dave |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 10:19:02
You don't "need" any tools. Frankly, suggesting that you need something more to recover from TMS is just an excuse that perpetuates the syndrome.
The steps to recovery are simply stated but difficult to follow. It takes belief (or at least a leap of faith), determination, and a long-term outlook.
1. Repudiate the structural diagnosis. Accept completely that the pain is not due to any physical problem or abnormality but originates in the unconscious mind.
2. Resume normal physical activity. While it may be counterproductive to try to do too much too soon, as soon as you feel able, you should try to get back to a normal lifestyle including physical activities associated with the pain.
3. Think psychologically. Really try to dig deep and figure out what the "child inside" is "in a blind rage" about. This is not the same as what stresses you out on a daily basis. It is a level deeper than that, and typically associated with how you feel about yourself and how you resent the pressures that life puts on you (or more aptly, you put on yourself).
4. Accept the importance of conditioning. The pain will come in the manner that is most likely to convince you there is a physical problem. If you are used to getting pain while sitting, the pain will worsen while sitting. If you are used to pain at night, it will come at night.
It is going to take time to get relief, and at first, the pain might get worse as your unconscious mind tries even harder. Don't let it win. Push through the pain and try to uncover the "dark secrets" that are painful, embarassing, and that you really don't want to admit about yourself. Be totally honest with yourself and accept that these "bad" emotions are perfectly normal and nothing to fear. Then try your best to feel them. You may not be able to actually feel them, but it is the trying that is important.
Good luck. |
| Darko |
Posted - 05/21/2010 : 00:57:26
Hey Waylon,
I posted just recently to another person who also has sciatica, suggest you read it as you might be able to take something away from that. Subject is "newbie need help with sleeping and back pain please" It's still on the first page at the time of writing this.
It takes a bit of time before you'll actually get any ease from pain. The first time I was free in about 6 weeks. It also depends very much on your belief about the pain. If you think the cause is physical AT ALL then your chances are limited.....and there is no tricking yourself either. Best your honest about it so you don't waste time. The repressed emotions concept has to make complete sense, and you must be completely committed to it. Sarno tools are limited, read Pain free for life by Scott Brady. He gives excellent prompts on what to write about. The first time I healed I didn't write, so it may not be needed for you to heal either. One thing you must deal with is the fear, if you still fear the symptoms then you're trapped. If you believe it emotional, then you know it's not physical so there is nothing to fear.......the pain will go away, and even if it doesn't, you know it nothing serious.
Good luck
D |
| Waylon |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 20:35:43
Thanks Forest. I will look into your suggestions and keep keeping on as they say! :)
I'm new to it all so i'm just learning that I have to be diligent and patient.
Kind Regards,
|
| forestfortrees |
Posted - 05/19/2010 : 20:18:45
Heya, Waylon,
Looks like no one has responded to this topic, so I'll give it a try.
You can find a lot of tips in the wiki's So You Think You Might Have TMS... page. I'd go through that like a checklist and make sure that you've done EVERY SINGLE step.
Going deep into your emotions using journaling (step 9) can take a while. A natural extension to it is to hire a psychotherapist, which can take even longer, but many would say has its own rewards.
If, in the meantime, you want to try other techniques, Monte Hueftle has a couple of techniques you can try. I can't link to his website from here since his website sells stuff, but you can find it very easily by googling it. Monte might have had Sciatica (if I remember correctly), so that might be helpful as well.
Forest
My story at tmswiki.org |
|
|
