| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| smth416 |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 20:56:39
I recently discovered TMShelp and plan to use the forum as an outlet. Let me begin by telling my story. In April 2003 I was pushed by an angry co-worker and landed on my lower back. I had no history of any type of pain. I began 3x a week chiropractic treatments. Three months past with a small amount of local lower back pain. Then came the MRI. It showed a sequestered disc at L5/S1 which is essentially a broken disc fragment which was "pinching" a nerve. It was after this diagnosis that the severe pain began- Sciatic pains shot down my right leg and into the foot. As time passed the pain increased and eventually became disabling. I was now on short term disability and because I couldn't "perform" like I used to a three year relationship was "fizzling out" -AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO (I wish I knew what I know now). After seeing a well known Nuerologist and A very well known back surgeon, I was told surgery was my only option. After this prescription the pain became so bad that I was bed-ridden at 25 years old. My relationship was destroyed due to my increasing depression and my wieght was balooning. I had sugery in November 2003 and made a stunning recovery. In two weeks (to the sugeons surprise)my back pian was 90% gone. I returned to work and told myself all was well. Unfortunatly, as I now realize-ALL WAS DEFINITELY NOT WELL.
While I was pain free for almost nine months, I began to realize I was very unhappy. I was alone and found my status in work was not where it was when I left. On top of this I had gained wieght and found my self esteem was very low. That's when it hit--- September 2004 I was taking a shower , turned my head and felt a twinge in my neck. The next day I remember telling co-workers how bad of a stiff neck I had. Three months later when my "stiff neck" turned into severe pain that shot down my right arm I seeked medical help. The diagnosis was "muscle tension" caused by bieng on one and sometimes two phones for five hours a day (I am a phone clerk on the New York Mercantile Exchange). Natuarlly the pain increased and spread. I was confused as were my Chiropracter, Nuerologist, Primary Care Physisian, Accupunturist(for a month),Pain Management Specialist and finally Physical therapist when the pain started on the left side of the neck, shoulders and buttocks. I also began to feel general muscle fatigue all over. I also was getting bad headaches, arm numbness and to top it all off I broke out with severe acne(which I had never gotten). Finally I went for an MRI- which showed a small (less than 1 millimeter) herniation on the LEFT side of my neck(c6/c7). "Well thank God I have an answer to why i am in pain" I told myself and I began 3x a week phsical therapy. My schedule was Monday- Chiro/Phisical Tues-Same Wed-Pain Management Thurs-same as Mon. Fri-chiro/accupunture and I began taking Percoset 4x a day. That's when I found Dr. Sarno. A guy I worked with who I knew was having disc problems told me he was all of the sudden pain free. When I asked how he just told me to READ THE BOOKS and I did.
It's been 2 weeks since I read "Healing Back Pain" and I just finished "The Mindbody Prescription". Three weeks since I dropped going to ALL TREATMENTS on the same day. This day I aslo threw out my TENS unit, my heating pad, my "memory foam" pillow, my pain pills...etc....etc....
My pain is about 75% better and a week ago I began to exersice and feel great. My acne all of the sudden disappeared and my self esteem is returning. I am about to see a TMS specialist (Dr Paul Gwordz) but I do not even feel I need him to cornfim what I already know.....I HAVE TMS! I know feel my back surgery was a mistake and have thrown myself 100% into this treatment. As I begin to tell people my story I realize people don't think Mindbody disorders are bogus, just the opposite...the support had been overwhelming. As I face some of the many reasonsfor my Pain I get better every day.
My hopes are now high and I know my story will continue to be a success story. Sorry for being so longwinded but after reading many of your stories I found myself getting choked up at the NATIONAL EPIDEMIC THAT IS TMS---Thank you |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| verdammt |
Posted - 03/23/2005 : 18:56:47
Great story, smth416!
You wrote: "Three weeks since I dropped going to ALL TREATMENTS on the same day. This day I also threw out my TENS unit, my heating pad, my "memory foam" pillow, my pain pills...etc....etc...."
What a riot! I did the same thing after discovering Sarno. A chiropractor had me surrounded by a complete life-support system. In addition to three weekly "adjustments," massages, and brain-washing sessions, he fixed me up with a back brace, water-filled pillow, heating pad, cold pack, neck roll, orthopedic shoe insoles, Obusform car seat, food supplements (glucosamine sulfate, "Relaxor" pills, i.e. marked-up vitamins), super-expensive ergonomic chairs (one for work, another for home), etc. And what do you know! All these things were conveniently for sale at the receptionist's desk. Most of the time, he didn't even ask. It was like, "Here, lift your arms while I put this on!" ($45.00 – You can pay on the way out. Cash, check or credit card). Or, "Here, we're starting you on the water-pillow today!" ($65.00 – You can pay on the way out, etc.)
Pretty slick. He did a great job keeping me focused on my so-called physical problems while he emptied my bank account. I felt pretty good, but I couldn't sleep at night worrying about the costs. How's that for irony!
After discovering Sarno, I said "Enough! To hell with these stupid crutches!" and just walked away from it all. Never looked back. It was glorious. |
| smth416 |
Posted - 03/23/2005 : 15:55:12
Thank you all for listening and responding to my story. I see that TMShelp is a tight knit online support group. To respond to AnneG, yes I have used those sensless magnets - another waste of time and money that found it's way into my garbage. As I learn more about the syndrome I am shocked at it's unlimited scope. TMS appears to be responsible for so many maladies people suffer from. And I take nothing away from the rest of the world- their doctors are just as shortsighted as the ones in the U.S., making TMS a certified GLOBAL EPIDEMIC.Thanks-Al |
| tennis tom |
Posted - 03/23/2005 : 09:55:50
Dear Smth,
Thanks for your TMS tale. To the contrary, rather than being "long winded", you were quite concise. You wrote an excellent TMS testimonial, journalisticly detailing your case, worthy of a magazine aricle. Well done. You've performed a life transformation.
Best Wishes,
tt |
| n/a |
Posted - 03/23/2005 : 02:19:24
Thanks for relating your story so well, smth416. What you have gone through will sound familiar to many of us who post here. I used a TENS machine for around two years and used to use it just about all the time - even leave it on at night, even though the instructions clearly stated that it should not be used in bed.
Oh yes, I had all the rest of the paraphanalia you mention as well - and a few other things as well. Did you ever try those little magnets you stick over the painful areas? Also, like you, I had doctors, chiros, physiotherapists, etc. etc. Nothing helped - and the money I spent - I could have probably bought a couple of new Mercedes cars with that!
You are right to have high hopes - reading MBP was what began to turn things around for me and it has been the only thing that was not a temporary placebo 'cure'.
One thing you are wrong about though - it's not a national epidemic - it's an international epidemic.
Best wishes
Anne |
| Baseball65 |
Posted - 03/22/2005 : 21:16:52
That is excellent.
You seem to have had about the quintessential TMS experience.I never got acne,but I did stop biting my nails for some reason after the pain went away.
I forgot all about those TENS units....what a laugher!!
I used to turn the thing almost off when the therapist wasn't looking...I didn't know about TMS,but I had asked a bunch of times "How is shocking me supposed to relieve pain??? It feels gross!!"
I never bothered to get my own.....I can get a lantern battery and shock myself with copper wire if I ever get the urge.
I have a friend who swears by his TENS unit....his back fully recovered from using it....Oh yeah...he also left his $15 dollar an hour electrician job and makes 6 figures a year working for a bank as a computer consultant after 'vocational rehab'.
I'll be there for him when the TENS placebo effect can't break through the TENSion myositis syndrome anymore....placebos are always temporary.
Great story...It's amazing how that book never gets stale...HBP is still my favorite.
peace
Baseball65 |
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