| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Cath |
Posted - 01/04/2012 : 08:56:57
I have been trying to get the Sarno theory into my head for about 4 months now. I have Chronic Myofascial Pain, TMJ and possibly Fibromyalgia (my doctor won't say for certain that I have Fibro because there is no test for this condition). Over the last 3 years I have had MRI scans, minor surgery on my jaw (which made my condition worse), dental splints, and tried many different therapies to no avail. I saw a TMS therapist a month ago who diagnosed TMS, so I have been following her good advice, journalling frequently, and also reading some of the posts here on this forum. I have two problems. One of them is that for 18 months I was having John Barnes Myofascial Release therapy. John Barnes believes that your fascia holds memories of trauma or stress.. I don't know whether anyone out there has tried this therapy. It's not trigger point work, but rather focuses on repairing the fascia. It promotes "unwindings" which feel like you're actually stretching the fascia out. These unwindings are almost subconscious, and I really have to concentrate to stop myself from "stretching out"
every day. For the most part it feels good to stretch out, and the stretches are almost akin to doing yoga. But when I do this too much it makes the neurological pain in my face, jaw, shoulders and back worse. If I make myself stop for a few days, the muscles become tight and eventually the pain becomes worse again anyway. I really want to stop these unwindings because (and here I come to my second probem), I know that I am focussing too much on the body and my physical symptoms, partly because of the unwindings and partly because of all the research I did on the conditions the doctors said I had. I just can't get all this information out of my head.
I feel that I have exhausted the journalling thing. I really have no stress in my life at all, and have reconciled everything I can possibly think of in the past. My life is good. I am in a privileged position of not needing to work and have hobbies that I can look forward to if only my neurological pain would just leave me in peace.
Any advice anyone?
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| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Bugbear |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 15:34:46
Great news about the reading and the art course sounds like it will also help to take your mind off the physical symptoms. I recently took up some hobbies that I used to enjoy but ones that had fallen by the wayside for too long.
As for your faithful friend, well you said originally that you didn't really have any stress. This sounds pretty stressful. I have a dog and he's one of the family. I would be quite cut up if he wasn't well.
I too am not one who made a miraculous recovery after a few weeks. It's an ongoing battle for me but one I am convinced I can win. I am not calendar watching or putting any added pressure on myself. I have plenty going on at the moment that could potentially exacerbate my physical symptoms so I try and keep focused on dealing with all the emotional stuff. And there are enough skeletons in my past to fill my attic, but let's not go there! |
| Cath |
Posted - 01/05/2012 : 05:12:33
Thanks Bugbear. Deep down I know this is what I need to do. I suppose I have been doing a lot of waiting around for my symptoms to subside, and lately I have been trying to focus more on the fact that basically, I am healthy and physically able, just physically able with pain.
I do have another slight problem in that I have a sick dog to look after at home which does tend to isolate me, but I love him dearly and coildn't think of parting with him. So although I have looked at volunteer work, there isn't anything suitable in the area where I live which would fit in with my responsibility towards my faithful hound.
I am embarking very soon on a correspondence art course, which will keep me busy when I have a few spare hours and is also good therapy in itself, as I find that I can lose myself in drawing, which helps to divert my attention from pain for a while.
The good news is that I have been able to start reading again - something I haven't been able to do for the last 3 years. I started off with just a few pages at a time, and graually worked my way up to reading for almost an hour at a time. So I'm sure that Dr Sarno's theory is working for me, maybe I'm just one of those that is a slow burner in recovery, as opposed to those that seem to recover within a few weeks. |
| Bugbear |
Posted - 01/04/2012 : 14:52:44
My advice in a nutshell is to shift your focus away from your body and reprogram your mind to concentrate on other things. You mention some hobbies. Have you been engaging in these hobbies or are you waiting for the pain to abate? I would just get on with it. Do whatever you want to do, telling your brain that you are no longer going to obsess over all these physical treatments you have had or all the reading you have done. None of it has provided you with any significant relief so why believe in this stuff?
The other suggestion is one from Balto, who implores us to go out and spend time with friends, family and, if you are so inclined, do some volunteer work with those less fortunate than yourself. This too will shift the focus away from your pain. Years and years ago, long before my current awareness, I did just this while I was suffering from depression. It brought me up from the deep hole I was in without the use of any drugs and was key to my recovery.
Incidentally this evening I was in the company of some people who were in the know about the myofascia stuff. One was a trigger point therapist, in fact. I smiled to myself and thought, I'll stick with the TMS/PPD stuff, thank you very much. |
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