| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 09:47:30
Hi. New here and I guess I'm looking for reassurance. After well over a year of chronic back pain I thought I was on the road to recovery. My pain is back now as it was before I read Dr. Sarno's books. I do feel it's TMS because I was relatively pain free and back in November 2004 we went on vacation and you would never I ever had back problems. That led to my discovery of Dr. Sarno as I couldn't explain why my pain disappeared on vacation and came back when we returned.
Anyhow, I now have back pain again and I have been thinking what it could be from. The only thing I can think of that I have been dwelling on is my own mortality. Although I workout regularly (bodybuilding) my father has been in and out of hospitals since Christmas so it has me thinking of my own fate one day and I guess that's a fear I don't want to face as I want to be around my 5 year old daughter for as long as I can.
The other thing is I started deadlifting again after being told I shouldn't lift heavy in certain exercises. When I started deadlifting I felt fine so I felt it couldn't be a problem with my discs or I wouldn't even be able to move the weight off the ground. Now as I progress on that exercise and the weights are getting heavier, I guess I have a fear hurting myself seriously. I was told I have 2 herniated discs at L4-L5 btw.
So part of me knows it's not that because I shouldn't be able to lift what I already have many times in the last few weeks, but there's that doubt. Is that enough to make the pain come right back?
Reading what I just wrote seems to me I know the reasons for my pain and just need to work harder and convincing myself (mind) that it's not physical.
I guess I was hoping for reassurance that what I feel is TMS, truly is. That vacation back in November is what made me believe it wasn't physical. I mean how could someone be in agony the week before vacation and not feel a thing while on vacation and then have the pain come right back upon return.
I am going to re-read Dr. Sarno's book again along with Fred Amir's book I picked up a few weeks ago.
Thanks for listening. It's amazing what a little doubt can do
Jay |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 02/22/2005 : 12:56:28
Just want to thank those that gave me feedback. I worked out Sunday with the exercise I have been fearing (deadlifts) and did them pain free as I knew I probably could. Like you mentioned Larry, working out usually wasn't the problem. It was afterwards that I would worry if I did any damage. Sometimes there's that doubt when you start thinking in the physical realm. I haven't had any pain to speak of since that workout so I know I just need to practice correcting what my mind is telling my body. As I sit right now writing this I feel nothing and sitting for so long was usually my issue.
It will never cease to amaze me what our minds can make us feel from one moment to the next. To those out here that have doubts, it's normal but if you know there have been times when you were pain free, remember those times so you will remember that it's not physical. How could it be. IMO if something was structually wrong with us, we would hurt most of the time, not just some times. And I sure as hell couldn't be deadlifting 
Keep at it folks. As long as you search for answers you're a winner 
Jay |
| diverlarry |
Posted - 02/18/2005 : 10:34:03
Jay
I had the same pattern you do. I would work out or do something and be fine. But when i sat down i would get sore or have symptons. Or the next day i would here. Then i would start to worry. I knew that it made no sense when i worked out i was fine but when i rested i hurt. This was crazy to me. I remember asking vaious doctors about this and their replies never made any sense or they would say they didn't know. This pattern progressed for a number of years. When i read Dr Sarno...it made sense. Finally a answer that made sense.
Its been very hard to break this programming cycle. Thinking psycholigical,ignoring the symptons,going on with your life is the path i took. For me it takes time for things to sink in, so i figured it would take some time. Reading success stories here helps to. To see people that have gone through this is great motivation. It takes a lot of courage to get through this. |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 21:36:24
Thanks Jim. I will never give up lifting weights or doing the exercises I enjoy. I've worked too hard to get in the shape I'm in and even when I stopped for a while based on the advice of "doctors" to not lift anything heavy, it did nothing to ease my back pain. Even the rehab and the daily stretching didn't do anything. I know this will pass because I've experienced what it's like to be pain free.
My only real issue at the moment is sitting for extended periods of time so I must break out of that thought pattern that sitting is dificult. I've conditioned myself to expect it to hurt so it does. Breaking old habits can be tough. But as you said, perseverence will pay off.
I've been working on distracting myself today and it helped quite a bit. Therefore, I know it's just TMS but a part of my brain sure is stubborn in accepting that notion 100%.
Jay |
| Jim D. |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 15:02:37
I think strenuous exercise (and, in particular, weight-training) is such an opportunity for TMS that the brain can't resist taking advantage of it. After all, there is often some discomfort, even pain involved in exercise, and don't a lot of people say lifting weights is crazy (just asking for back pain)? On this board a lot of runners have testified to the influence of TMS. I myself have found weight-training particularly difficult with TMS. "No wonder your back/elbow hurt--you added a pound to the bar today." And every weight-training book cautions on the dangers of certain exercises.
My only advice is the usual--persevere and try to ignore the pain and keep asking what is really going on in the mind.
Another thought about exercise: It makes us feel better about ourselves, and since many people with TMS don't have a good self-image, it is logical that the brain will try to sabotage the attempt to improve our view of ourselves. |
| wolf29 |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 11:08:54
Thanks Larry. The odd thing is when I workout I don't feel anything in my back. Maybe a little tightness depending on the exercise but that's to be expected if I'm doing back exercises. Maybe cause I'm focussed on my workout I forget about my back for that time period. Then when I'm done I start to worry if I'm going to wake up the next day in pain. And I usually do because I kept thinking about it. It can be a viscious cycle but a cycle I know that can be broken. I did it after that vacation when I first learned about TMS, I can do it again but like you said, somethings are easier said than done. Old habits can be hard to break  |
| diverlarry |
Posted - 02/17/2005 : 10:30:33
Jay
I have experienced the same problems as you with exercise. I think i have the same anxiety that you do about increasing weights then fear about getting hurt. Every once and awhile that doubt or fear tries to creap in. To me this means my subconscious has not totally accepted the TMS theory. And there are things that are bothering me.
Im never sure what the real reasons are .
Its a tough fight. Those triggers are just waiting to kick my ass again. So i read parts of HBP and journal and read here. I have been in a programmed cycle for so long that it has taken time for me to break it. I read Fred Amir's book. Its not a book i would read again.
It had some good points. I had always know that in order to be completely "cured" you need to do everthing you use to do.
Im still working on that.
menvert had a very good post(2/13/05). I have it printed out along with a number of other good posts here. It talks about pushing throughthe pai/fears/emotions. Pushing through the emotion fears is as difficult as pushing through the physcial fears.
I do think anxiety about exercise can cause pain. For me when i don't think about it im fine. Keep lifting weights....prove to TMS you know its tricks. This is easier said then done.
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