| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 10:39:12
Please help and advise, I am getting more and more desperate I have had constant sciatica for over 2 years as some of you know tingling in both feet and pain down side of left leg, have had every test, read all Dr. Sarno's books, just finished Dr. Schubiners and am NO better, I am just so scared and discouraged and beginning to think I am NEVER going to be rid of this painb. Please please help Thank you and much appreciated. Ophelia |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Allan |
Posted - 03/27/2012 : 09:32:51
Yes, Balto, that is about it.
"When you have nothing to lose, and everthing to gain, it is usally best to do it."
I had nothing to lose. It was imposible to aggravate the pain and make it worse.
Allan |
| Wodg |
Posted - 03/27/2012 : 05:05:43
Years ago my back would become so stiff and sore it would take me a few minutes to get out of the work van after a long trip...one day I thought fcuk it and lept out of the van. Pain disappeared and I wasn't really stiff it was TMS. I kept this up by slouching at my desk and lifting things incorrectly.
Also had ITB so started to stomp the pavement harder than ever and even started to stomp with my leg in awkard positions. That is now my cure when I get ITB. |
| balto |
Posted - 03/27/2012 : 04:49:05
quote:
Originally posted by Allan
My goal was to climb the stairs in my house without holding on to the banister. The first step was horrible pain. When I raised my leg for the second step the pain went off the scale. I didn’t care I was going all the way no matter what it took. The pain kept increasing and I was ready to give up. But I kept trying. When my foot came down the pain went away. I guess my unconscious got the massage – the pain was harmless, it couldn’t hurt me, and I was going all the way no matter what it took. And the pain never came back.
In another word, you just refused to fear your symptoms, no matter what. |
| Allan |
Posted - 03/26/2012 : 19:24:05
I had back pain but it went away thanks to Dr. Sarno. But then, almost right away, I got sciatica pain from my hips to my ankles. The symptom imperative per Dr. Sarno. Yes, screaming pain. I walked with a cane. I like to say that Dr. Sarno took away my back pain and Fred Amir took away my sciatica pain. His book was Rapid Recovery from Back and Neck Pain. Fred was big on setting goals.
My goal was to climb the stairs in my house without holding on to the banister. The first step was horrible pain. When I raised my leg for the second step the pain went off the scale. I didn’t care I was going all the way no matter what it took. The pain kept increasing and I was ready to give up. But I kept trying. When my foot came down the pain went away. I guess my unconscious got the massage – the pain was harmless, it couldn’t hurt me, and I was going all the way no matter what it took. And the pain never came back. |
| Darko |
Posted - 03/25/2012 : 00:47:44
My pleasure!  |
| WordButterfly |
Posted - 03/24/2012 : 20:54:42
quote:
Originally posted by Darko
quote:
I am working on not fearing this pain but im just not there yet..Being a victim of the pain as you say is the worst place you can be. How do you confront such scary pain and stop the fear?? It's so frustrating to know deep down the source of this pain is psychological but not be able to stop it yet..
This can be addressed in a number of ways. Firstly, try accepting the pain. Resisting it won't make your life any easier only harder. Make peace with it and accept that the pain will be there as long as it needs to be....your job is to live as best you can with the pain. It's NOT permanent so no need to stress over it.
You only fear that which you don;t understand. Take a look at what it is exactly that you fear about the pain....what stories have you made up in your head and understand that they're not true! I gave you some tips on what to start doing...I suggest you start doing them right away. All too often we seek to understand or see the path before we take massive action....and what I have learned is that most of the time the path IS NOT clear until we start taking the action. Take the action NOW...you will not solve this by thinking about it or trying to understand it from a conceptual level....you can only understand it from an experiential level.
Take a look at your thoughts!!!!!!!!!! This is the most important thing. Negative thoughts, beliefs and stories are going to cause you negative emotions. Cease trying to STOP THE PAIN...allow it and focus on your emotions and thoughts. This is the key....shift your focus.
- You cannot push something away from yourself, you can only ATTRACT something different.
- What you focus on expands and grows........what are you focusing on????? You bring about what you think about
- What you fear you bring to yourself because fear is another way of focusing on it!
Get it?
D
I'm a bit late. This is so what I needed to read today. Such helpful reminders. Thanks Darko! |
| andy64tms |
Posted - 03/24/2012 : 14:47:41
Ophelia, there is no video for this exercise, and you don't need one anyway! I sense you are looking for a cure in the stretching exercises.
The best way I can help you with this request is to say you should not be doing any exercises to help your pain. There is a huge difference between exercises for the pain verses exercise for your general health.
Even having previous success with TMS in the past I sometimes get this point wrong myself. Dr. Sarno states that all exercises for pain should be stopped, I believe him. How about exercises that give you pain? These would be similar to running through your sciatica pain in the form of a jog and thus ignoring it. You are thus saying to it that you do not fear it!
Wait a minute! Didn’t Darko say the same thing?
Then one day I sat in a very hot bath for quite a while then got out and did some stretches targeting the sciatica nerve directly. I did heaps of stretching...and I can tell you it hurt, but I repeated this for a few days. At the time I just didn't care as it was so bad I had to try it anyway as I felt I had nothing to lose. The next few days I was in even more pain, but then after that it started to get better.
This did an amazing thing for me....it showed me that I can beat it, it's nothing more than tension and there is nothing really wrong.
Yes he did say the same thing! The floor stretch is the only one you really need. I encourage you to do what Darko did, including the hot bath.
Stay with this forum, there is so much wisdom here. Read and read until you feel able to write about the real reason for your pain, repressed emotions or anger.
I‘m doing the Wiki Educational program and am on day 10, as I‘ve come to realize there are no short cuts, see you there perhaps.
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 10 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Books: Healing Back Pain
& Unlearn your Pain |
| lynnl |
Posted - 03/24/2012 : 13:17:20
Ophelia, is your sciatic pain limited strictly to the leg and foot? Or does it include the buttock?
I rarely see anyone mentioning the buttocks, but for me that was usually far worse than the leg pain. It was a very deep pain, that felt like being squeezed by a vise.
Is the relief you get in bed sleeping obtained the same way by simply lying awake on a couch. Do you have to be in a fully prone position, or do you get the relief in a reclining or sitting postion? My purpose in asking is to possibly enable you to notice a pattern that would help you eliminate from your mind any structural cause.
Lynn |
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/24/2012 : 09:02:30
quote:
Originally posted by andy64tms
Ophelia,
I woke up thinking about Ophelia in France because your post bothered me last night.
I agree with Darko 1000%, I did the same as he did, with the addition of a very aggressive jog. You can read about it in my success Storey 2000.
Now I sent you the exact exercises that I do in a previous post , try version #2 gently at first, and build up.You will be speaking directly to your source of pain and chastising it. You will get some control of your situation. You have to accept the pain will come back, but at least you have a tool to combat it.
As with Darko and myself the pain will diminish, and possibly even go away completely.
Get well
Andy
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 5 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Sciatic Nerve Sitting Excercise Help? Andy, I tried successfully via the video link to do the wonderful stretches on the floor but i just CAN'T seem to visualise the sitting one, and wondered if there was a video link for this one too?? sorry to be so pathetic but don't want to do it wrong [goodism] i suppose?!! Many thanks again for the wonderful floor stretch and hears hoping you can help me figure out the sitting one. Take care Ophelia |
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:45:54
quote:
Originally posted by andy64tms
Hi Ophelia,
I am glad to see are doing much better, I somehow feel relieved about this. The following U-tube video is the exact exercise that I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD-bBucZNfY
You will find it at 3 minutes 15 seconds into the video.
It may be rather advanced if you are a beginner, so I have added some more video links for you to start with. Ignore the comments regarding pinched nerves.
These exercises are for your general health and not the answer to your TMS pain which you have to work on finding out, this is important to understand.
I have used the above exercise in lieu of taking Tylenol PM for 12 years, I use it everywhere, airports in the office, even in bed. Yoga is free and you sometimes get nice and relaxed, give it a try, but take it slowly at first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM5qHPGKmAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPV4-DmFIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIgH5TMjvw
My sciatic yoga stretches two versions:Version 1 in chair: Sit upright in chair with feet on the ground. Cross and rest ankle over opposing knee. You should be able to hold the sole of your foot in this position. Tuck in chin, curl and lean forward while exhaling. Lean forward to the point of slight pain, and hold breath for one minute or so. You should be feeling a muscle in your lower back-buttock stretch and tingle. Return to a normal position and relax and sigh.
Version 2 on floor: Lie on the floor on your back and bring one knee up to chest. Cross ankle over opposing knee. Clasp the opposing knee with both hands, (fingers interlocked). Pull knee towards head. Tuck in chin, curl forward while exhaling. Curl forward to the point of slight pain, and hold breath for one minute or so. Your head might nearly touch your knee in this position. As above you should be feeling a muscle in your lower back-buttock stretch and tingle. Return to a normal position and relax and sigh.
Good for both left and right. At the point of pain tell the pain you don’t care about it. Tell it you know it can’t hurt you. Tell it you are in control of it, as per Dr. Sarno.
Version 1. For restaurants movie theaters and other sitting positions
Version 2. For situations where you can lie on your back.
I recommend Yoga for general health. These stretches are not official in Yoga books that I know of. Go to a Yoga class and find the moves that help you the most. Good Luck
By the way if you want to find any postings from anyone, hit their name and go “Recent Topics” also to the link “Find all non-archived posts…”
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 6 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Screaming Sciatica & Ophelia thank you Andy so much for these
excercises and video, I love doing excercises and do them every day, so can't wait to get going on these. I will keep you all posted. Take care, Ophelia |
| Marlawantstohike |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 14:59:18
Does anyone find as soon as you start to tell people your pain is gone or almost gone it comes back with a kick?
Almost as soon as I wrote on this thread I was better my leg has been in pain the last 3 days getting worse each day.
I spent the last two hours listening to the audio of the mind body prescription book by Sarno.
I realize I want the quick way out, I don't want to accept the pain. I haven't been doing the exercises, as soon as I felt better I would stop.
There is no quick way to force the emotions out…you have to work it out. I get it…ugh! |
| andy64tms |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 14:33:13
Hi Ophelia,
I am glad to see are doing much better, I somehow feel relieved about this. The following U-tube video is the exact exercise that I am talking about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD-bBucZNfY
You will find it at 3 minutes 15 seconds into the video.
It may be rather advanced if you are a beginner, so I have added some more video links for you to start with. Ignore the comments regarding pinched nerves.
These exercises are for your general health and not the answer to your TMS pain which you have to work on finding out, this is important to understand.
I have used the above exercise in lieu of taking Tylenol PM for 12 years, I use it everywhere, airports in the office, even in bed. Yoga is free and you sometimes get nice and relaxed, give it a try, but take it slowly at first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM5qHPGKmAs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaPV4-DmFIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIgH5TMjvw
My sciatic yoga stretches two versions:Version 1 in chair: Sit upright in chair with feet on the ground. Cross and rest ankle over opposing knee. You should be able to hold the sole of your foot in this position. Tuck in chin, curl and lean forward while exhaling. Lean forward to the point of slight pain, and hold breath for one minute or so. You should be feeling a muscle in your lower back-buttock stretch and tingle. Return to a normal position and relax and sigh.
Version 2 on floor: Lie on the floor on your back and bring one knee up to chest. Cross ankle over opposing knee. Clasp the opposing knee with both hands, (fingers interlocked). Pull knee towards head. Tuck in chin, curl forward while exhaling. Curl forward to the point of slight pain, and hold breath for one minute or so. Your head might nearly touch your knee in this position. As above you should be feeling a muscle in your lower back-buttock stretch and tingle. Return to a normal position and relax and sigh.
Good for both left and right. At the point of pain tell the pain you don’t care about it. Tell it you know it can’t hurt you. Tell it you are in control of it, as per Dr. Sarno.
Version 1. For restaurants movie theaters and other sitting positions
Version 2. For situations where you can lie on your back.
I recommend Yoga for general health. These stretches are not official in Yoga books that I know of. Go to a Yoga class and find the moves that help you the most. Good Luck
By the way if you want to find any postings from anyone, hit their name and go “Recent Topics” also to the link “Find all non-archived posts…”
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 6 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.) |
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 12:49:25
quote:
Originally posted by Aussie
quote:
Originally posted by Darko
quote:
I am working on not fearing this pain but im just not there yet..Being a victim of the pain as you say is the worst place you can be. How do you confront such scary pain and stop the fear?? It's so frustrating to know deep down the source of this pain is psychological but not be able to stop it yet..
This can be addressed in a number of ways. Firstly, try accepting the pain. Resisting it won't make your life any easier only harder. Make peace with it and accept that the pain will be there as long as it needs to be....your job is to live as best you can with the pain. It's NOT permanent so no need to stress over it.
You only fear that which you don;t understand. Take a look at what it is exactly that you fear about the pain....what stories have you made up in your head and understand that they're not true! I gave you some tips on what to start doing...I suggest you start doing them right away. All too often we seek to understand or see the path before we take massive action....and what I have learned is that most of the time the path IS NOT clear until we start taking the action. Take the action NOW...you will not solve this by thinking about it or trying to understand it from a conceptual level....you can only understand it from an experiential level.
Take a look at your thoughts!!!!!!!!!! This is the most important thing. Negative thoughts, beliefs and stories are going to cause you negative emotions. Cease trying to STOP THE PAIN...allow it and focus on your emotions and thoughts. This is the key....shift your focus.
- You cannot push something away from yourself, you can only ATTRACT something different.
- What you focus on expands and grows........what are you focusing on????? You bring about what you think about
- What you fear you bring to yourself because fear is another way of focusing on it!
Get it?
D
Thanks mate i see what your saying... And it really rings true for me and my current negative thought patterns.
I had a total meltdown in the last 24 hours as i have had a pain increase right after doing a heap of hard phyical work. It upset me so much cause i immediately started thinking my pain must be physical as the hard work has flared up an "injury" then the standard What if i get worse?, What if i wind up needing surgery? etc etc questions were firing through my brain. Just reading your advice i can see that when i get a pain increase rather than not stress i completely melt down and go into a massive slump. The negative thoughts are out of control and its almost like i can't believe i can let myself think that way. It comes from a helpless feeling that the pain wont go and will only worsen in time. I will work on what youv'e suugested as it makes total sense to me.
Cheers BRIILIANT, Aussie you make so much sense and i can really relate to what you are saying, i love the bit cease trying to stop the pain, and to make peace with it, and as you say and so incidentally does my husband it is NOT permanent! Thank you, thank you Ophelia
|
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 12:42:17
quote:
Originally posted by andy64tms
Ophelia,
I woke up thinking about Ophelia in France because your post bothered me last night.
I agree with Darko 1000%, I did the same as he did, with the addition of a very aggressive jog. You can read about it in my success Storey 2000.
Now I sent you the exact exercises that I do in a previous post , try version #2 gently at first, and build up.You will be speaking directly to your source of pain and chastising it. You will get some control of your situation. You have to accept the pain will come back, but at least you have a tool to combat it.
As with Darko and myself the pain will diminish, and possibly even go away completely.
Get well
Andy
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 5 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.)
Andy64 can you explain how i would do the excercise version #2 that you mentioned I'm guessing i have to look at TMS Experience in 2000 but am not sure how to go about it!! Much appreciated Ophelia |
| Ophelia |
Posted - 03/18/2012 : 12:36:21
quote:
Originally posted by lynnl
Ophelia, I can certainly sympathize with you. I suffered with the same condition for over three years, before finding Dr Sarno's solution.
You say you've read Dr Sarno's books. It takes a little more involvement on your part than just reading the books to make the pain stop. You will need to apply the steps Dr Sarno points out and exercise some patience and perserverance.
If you'd like to contact me via email, I'd be happy to communicate with you and try to offer pointers and guidance. Of course ultimately it will have to be you that wins the battle. But don't give up. You can and will defeat this.
Lynn
SCREAMING SCIATICA thanks lynnl darko, marlawantstowalk tennis tom aussie. andy64tms for all your encouragement, i have printed up all 14 pages your 'pearls of wisdom' and want you to know that i am not scared of the pain, i excercise and stretch like a fiend every day walk up 4 flights of stairs constantly and hold my head up high with all your help i will shake this off, i have resisted 'the injection' route, and take no pain medication, so many thanks. Ophelia |
| Aussie |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 22:17:53
quote:
Originally posted by Darko
quote:
I am working on not fearing this pain but im just not there yet..Being a victim of the pain as you say is the worst place you can be. How do you confront such scary pain and stop the fear?? It's so frustrating to know deep down the source of this pain is psychological but not be able to stop it yet..
This can be addressed in a number of ways. Firstly, try accepting the pain. Resisting it won't make your life any easier only harder. Make peace with it and accept that the pain will be there as long as it needs to be....your job is to live as best you can with the pain. It's NOT permanent so no need to stress over it.
You only fear that which you don;t understand. Take a look at what it is exactly that you fear about the pain....what stories have you made up in your head and understand that they're not true! I gave you some tips on what to start doing...I suggest you start doing them right away. All too often we seek to understand or see the path before we take massive action....and what I have learned is that most of the time the path IS NOT clear until we start taking the action. Take the action NOW...you will not solve this by thinking about it or trying to understand it from a conceptual level....you can only understand it from an experiential level.
Take a look at your thoughts!!!!!!!!!! This is the most important thing. Negative thoughts, beliefs and stories are going to cause you negative emotions. Cease trying to STOP THE PAIN...allow it and focus on your emotions and thoughts. This is the key....shift your focus.
- You cannot push something away from yourself, you can only ATTRACT something different.
- What you focus on expands and grows........what are you focusing on????? You bring about what you think about
- What you fear you bring to yourself because fear is another way of focusing on it!
Get it?
D
Thanks mate i see what your saying... And it really rings true for me and my current negative thought patterns.
I had a total meltdown in the last 24 hours as i have had a pain increase right after doing a heap of hard phyical work. It upset me so much cause i immediately started thinking my pain must be physical as the hard work has flared up an "injury" then the standard What if i get worse?, What if i wind up needing surgery? etc etc questions were firing through my brain. Just reading your advice i can see that when i get a pain increase rather than not stress i completely melt down and go into a massive slump. The negative thoughts are out of control and its almost like i can't believe i can let myself think that way. It comes from a helpless feeling that the pain wont go and will only worsen in time. I will work on what youv'e suugested as it makes total sense to me.
Cheers |
| Darko |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 16:17:24
quote:
I am working on not fearing this pain but im just not there yet..Being a victim of the pain as you say is the worst place you can be. How do you confront such scary pain and stop the fear?? It's so frustrating to know deep down the source of this pain is psychological but not be able to stop it yet..
This can be addressed in a number of ways. Firstly, try accepting the pain. Resisting it won't make your life any easier only harder. Make peace with it and accept that the pain will be there as long as it needs to be....your job is to live as best you can with the pain. It's NOT permanent so no need to stress over it.
You only fear that which you don;t understand. Take a look at what it is exactly that you fear about the pain....what stories have you made up in your head and understand that they're not true! I gave you some tips on what to start doing...I suggest you start doing them right away. All too often we seek to understand or see the path before we take massive action....and what I have learned is that most of the time the path IS NOT clear until we start taking the action. Take the action NOW...you will not solve this by thinking about it or trying to understand it from a conceptual level....you can only understand it from an experiential level.
Take a look at your thoughts!!!!!!!!!! This is the most important thing. Negative thoughts, beliefs and stories are going to cause you negative emotions. Cease trying to STOP THE PAIN...allow it and focus on your emotions and thoughts. This is the key....shift your focus.
- You cannot push something away from yourself, you can only ATTRACT something different.
- What you focus on expands and grows........what are you focusing on????? You bring about what you think about
- What you fear you bring to yourself because fear is another way of focusing on it!
Get it?
D
|
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 14:07:06
FYI, I had sciatica pains so bad in the beginning days of my TMS journey, I had to rig a pulley above my bed to stretch my leg out at night so I could sleep. My sciatic pain is entirely gone so it can be done, just like any other TMS symptom.
G'luck! |
| Marlawantstohike |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 13:21:54
I am pretty new here and just beginning to learn but I am dealing with sciatic pain also. At first after the pain died down I was afraid to do anything no matter what others said here. Then after weeks of doing nothing but a walk now and then I thought this is never going to change, they are right I have to take my life back.
I started going out more, sitting more and I went back to the gym. After 3 days on the elliptical machine I noticed my pain was almost gone.
I once read in a book the way to overcome fear is to face it. It is scarey but once you do it sets you free.
Reminds me of the time I hiked half dome in Yosemite years ago, the last part is very high up and holding onto iron rings, only one set so people coming down have to go by you. I remember a guy sitting at the base of the rock, he had hiked all the way there but could not do the last part. I forced myself to do it and on top of the rock I was running around and singing out loud with joy at what I did.
I look at this as the same thing, we can come so far but be like that guy who sadly sat at the bottom of the rock not able to do the hardest part.
It's our choice to face our fears head on or give into them. |
| andy64tms |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 10:44:05
Ophelia,
I woke up thinking about Ophelia in France because your post bothered me last night.
I agree with Darko 1000%, I did the same as he did, with the addition of a very aggressive jog. You can read about it in my success Storey 2000.
Now I sent you the exact exercises that I do in a previous post , try version #2 gently at first, and build up.You will be speaking directly to your source of pain and chastising it. You will get some control of your situation. You have to accept the pain will come back, but at least you have a tool to combat it.
As with Darko and myself the pain will diminish, and possibly even go away completely.
Get well
Andy
Andy
Past TMS Experience in 2000, with success.
Now on Day 5 Wiki Edu.
Charlie horse on neck for 20 years. (to be evicted soon.) |
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