| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jitterygal |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 18:30:56
Hi,
I have been diligently following Dr. Sarno's advice, and I read Steve O's book...brilliance. I am continuing to see improvement. But I was wondering if the muscles are just going to take some time to calm down, especially the paraspinals. It has been only a month since I began the process of going thru my emotions, and I can definitely see a trend upward. But I was just wondering if anyone hear had been diagnosed with "facet arthritis" and how long it took for their paraspinals to calm down once they embraced the TMS concept. Thanks everyone, and hoping all of you are well!
Jitterygal |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| SteveO |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 23:11:54
I can't stress (pardon the usage of the word) enough that people have to stop thinking about how they are healing. It was the main reason I took so long to heal. By giving daily report cards on yourself you paradoxically slow your healing. The concept will always be the same; stop thinking about health and start living and enjoying your family and friends and your time. If you do this your pain will fade. People are way too uptight about what others think, and they forget about what they want.
The medical industry has crippled us, and continues to do so every day by telling us to worry about this and that. It's a long argument on something called "defensive medicine." I think defensive medicine in "a purest state" kills us, others think it saves us. There is evidence for both sides of the debate, but it all depends on your personality and how you absorb your surroundings.
Instant coffee girl, to your point, please think psychologically. Every time you wake up and try to determine if you are better that day, you have set back your healing because you are still monitoring your progress.
"As long as he is in any way preoccupied with what his body is doing, the pain will continue." John E. Sarno, MD, Healing Back Pain, pg. 83.
Monitoring is preoccupation.
Yes, if you have the financial means "by all means" go see a therapist, BUT!..that therapist needs to understand TMS. Dr. Sarno often sent his patients to see psyhologists at NYU and the patient would stray and begin talking about life and childhood, etc. The therapists would then call the good doctor back to say, "this patient is wandering..." And the good doctor would then pull them back in to realign them. Both patient and therapist need to stick to the point. Try to connect the symptoms to the emotions that are unfelt. Try to connect the physical to the psychological. Talking about the past is fine and can be healthy and fun, but it doesn't necessarily solve health problem--or TMS.
Just "plain old worry" doesn't cause the problems if the problems are big. Worry can cause small problems. The worry is a trigger for a deeper need, the kindling that ignites the larger fire. Finances are certainly a contributor to our health problems. But beware any deeper needs.
Rbart, well said. It is so hard to give up on the old ways. These old ways are called memories--neural pathways. For good or for bad they are what has made us who we are, and should be embraced, or their energy purged.
Good luck, I have walked the bumpy road and feel so much better today for the experience. Don't view pain as all bad, it has some merits in our lives because it connects the unconnected and serves to tell us that we are off track--not happy. It drives us to action or inaction. It reveals who we are and what ultimately sustains us.
Steve |
| jitterygal |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 16:47:05
Thank you, Steve O. I sometimes do find my myself thinking "Well, itks been x amount of time, so why isn't it all gone? I need to think "healing every day." I appreciate the candidness in telling me to get back to thinkign psychological. I am thinking of seeing a psychologist to help, or do you think I should just keep repeating my daily rminders? I feel like the represssed feelings have been surfaced, but can just plain ole worry cause this? Because I have been in a constant state of worry over finances for 4 years due to my hubby's job. Maybe that is what still has a hold on me... |
| rbart4506 |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 11:14:02
I've been gone from this site for bit, trying to collect my thoughts, and since then have gotten a medical diagnosis for my sciatica...Mild arthritis in the spine and hip...
Really?? Duh, I'm 45, who doesn't have some mild arthritis...
Your post SteveO, has rung so true for me and describes the ebb and flow of my recovery...
It is so hard to give up on old way of dealing with things...
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| SteveO |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 00:07:06
Jitterygal, your name instantly reminds me of coffee, and also reminds me of instant coffee. The Sanka yin and yang...
Please do not think of paraspinals or any other type of muscles, or body parts. Forget about your body altogether. Do not think about your body. Think about your life, all that you have, all that you love, all that you want to be. Your body is a vehicle for your dreams and goals. Go get them.
The more your brain thinks of these things, the more you play into your brain's strategy, and the more you continue to TMS. Every time you think of how your body is healing, the slower you actually heal. It isn't that any muscles are taking "some time to calm down," it is the brain that controls the muscles that need to calm down. So every time you think about muscles that need to calm down, you raise the awareness in your brain to keep the muscles tense.
The vicious cycle continues as long as you think about your body. You increase your SNS through conscious awareness by igniting the fight/flight. Thinking of fear brings on that fear.
Remember the Millay poem the good doctor cited. Pity me. The brain takes so long to change its behavior that people get frustrated, and when they do they slow their healing.
Everyone's brain takes a different time to let go of the past/fear. Heal in your time only, don't adhere to others' healing times. In my book I spoke of the elephants tied to the sticks and capturing themselves without the help of others. Don't tie yourself to someone elses' stick.
Also, try not to "diligently" follow any advice. That is the perfectionism that got you into your current state. As Dr. Sopher told me early on, "Rest easy." His words brought me great calm and healing. Healing has a paradox like the Chinese fingercuffs. The harder you pull the less you gain. Stop trying to heal and you will heal. Give your brain time to let go of its fear. Be more patient.
Muscles don't take time to calm...the brain does.
If you have any questions please ask. I want to see you happy. When you are where you want to be in your relationships, you will begin to let go.
Steve |
| Aussie |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 23:11:13
Yes, It was assumed i had facet arthritis as the back specialist i was seeing could not find another issue that was causing my chronic low back pain.
I had no evidence of arthritis on MRI or Xray... However they have to at least take a 'guess' at what is causing the pain so in my opinion if there is no disc problem then facet arthritis is where most physicians are pointing the finger these days.
Do not forget most adults would have signs of wear and tear with zero pain. My mother has actual bone spurs in her lumber spine from degeneration and never has back pain.
Facet arthritis is nothing more than an assumption as to what is causing the pain. The specialists i saw even said that if one did have bad facet arthritis there is no real treatment and it will not respond long term to steroid injections.
If it looks like TMS and smells like TMS then usually it is TMS! |
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