| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| moose1 |
Posted - 02/08/2005 : 07:19:50
Hello All,
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with TMS pain that strikes at night and/or first thing in the morning? I know this has been an ongoing topic from time to time...how to gain control over TMS when you're asleep, but I'm really struggling with it right now.
It really does seem like my brain attacks my body at night while I'm "off guard", despite trying all sorts of different pre-sleep strategies, like positive self-talk, relaxation techniques and reading Sarno before retiring. It's as if the TMS says, "Ok, he's asleep, let's get him." As a result, I wake up at least once or twice a night with that same incessant, grinding, nagging low back pain, as well as upon waking in the morning. I need to gain some kind of control over my nighttime TMS, so I appreciate any advice anyone can offer.
Best,
Moose |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Albert |
Posted - 02/08/2005 : 12:05:00
One night I told myself before going to sleep, I will not wake up with back pain at 3:00. I woke up at 3:00 without back pain, but my right ankle which has never bothered me before, hurt like hell (boy TMS is funny). After that night I started waking up inbetween 5:00 and 6:00, even when I went to bed extra early.
I agree with you that night time TMS is a matter of programming.
Sometimes I think that it doesn't want me to dream, because I might find something out. The later hours of sleep are when I tend to dream the most. In the past while dreaming, I've found out about things that are bugging me that I didn't know about while awake.
It's actually good that TMS has inteferred with my sleep, because it was wake up call to stop seeing my chiropractor and find another solution. The TMS approach. Plus it has given me time to do my TMS work before I go to work.
quote:
Originally posted by moose1
Thanks a lot Albert. I appreciate your input.
So I guess the question is: How do you decondition yourself from doing something that occurs when you are not awake?
Thanks again!
Moose
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| moose1 |
Posted - 02/08/2005 : 10:54:53
Thanks a lot Albert. I appreciate your input.
I think my biggest problem with this is that I KNOW that I'm conditioned to get the pain at night and especially in the morning. I know this because on occassion I will wake up an hour or two early and will have no pain. Or, I will spend the night at a friend's house and will wake up without it. The pain IS in the same place, but I still know that it's TMS.
So I guess the question is: How do you decondition yourself from doing something that occurs when you are not awake? When I've woken up at night with the pain, I've tried thinking psychological, tried envisioning a rush of blood to the affected muscles, tried looking at my list, but my TMS is incredibly stubborn, so it's clear to me that I need a more effective strategy.
One thing I have not tried yet is working on my anger, a la Facing the Fire. Sure, I've acknowledged for years that I've got a massive pool of unconciouse rage...no question about that, but I think I need to get some of it out once and for all. I have a feeling that might at least help.
Thanks again!
Moose |
| Albert |
Posted - 02/08/2005 : 10:19:52
Hello Moose:
This is advice from somebody who is still working on beating TMS (I've been at it for about 5 weeks or so).
I went through a period of about 3 months where I was getting just 3-4 hours of sleep per night because of low back pain. I would get out of bed at 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning with the thought: "If I don't get out of bed now, I'm going to really be in trouble."
But then I found out about TMS and started to take a different approach. When I would wake up at 3:00 or 4:00 I would tell myself, this is due to TMS, so it won't get worse. At first when I did this everytime I would try to fall asleep, a spasm would wake me up.
After a few days or so of this strategy, I got to the point where I could get enough sleep (I only need 5-6 hours a night). One thing I've done on weekends is made a point of staying in bed even after I wake up, in order to defy TMS. And you know what. The spasms don't become worse simply because I stay in bed longer.
I still have some spasms when I get up in the morning, but they are mild compared to what they used to be, and they come after I've gotten 5-7 hours of sleep.
One thing that has helped is noticing that the spasms aren't always in the exact same spot. If my bed/a physical problem were really the culprit, they would cause the spasms to manifest in the same place all the time. They don't.
Initially I would try to think psychologically whenever night time pain would occur, but this is hard to do when you're drowsy. A good thing to do is to bring your list of things that have made you angry over your life to bed with you, and start reviewing it whenever pain wakes you up. Doing so doesn't require as much concentration as trying to dig up an anger related memory. And you don't actually have to feel anger for every item you read. It is enough to just simply focus your attention on that which is opposite of what TMS pain is trying to keep out of your awareness.
Another thing I've noticed is that when I get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, I have little or no pain even though I've already been laying in bed for several hours. One would think that if my bed is actually responsible for the pain, several hours would be enough to get it going.
The key thing to remember is that the pain can't cause you actual physical harm. Therefore, it isn't necessary to let it tell you when to get out of bed. Try to fall asleep again even if you have spasms. And if you feel wide awake, try to think psychologically. If part of your mind doesn't want to do this, it might cave in to drowsiness as opposed to making you feel wide awake. |
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